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PhrasesDietary RestrictionsPreferisco piatti senza alcol.
B1

Preferisco piatti senza alcol.

I prefer dishes without alcohol.

Pronunciation

AHL-kol — stress on first syllable. Both syllables are short and clear.

When to use it

Use when alcohol is a religious or personal restriction. Many Italian sauces — especially for meats — use wine. Tiramisu and zabaglione contain alcohol.

What it means

'Preferisco' (I prefer) is more polite than 'non voglio' (I don't want). 'Senza alcol' = without alcohol. Wine is used extensively in Italian cooking to deglaze pans, braise meats, and make risotto.

Variations

Non bevo e non mangio alcol.

I neither drink nor eat alcohol.

Explicitly covers both drinking and cooking alcohol.

Il sugo contiene vino?

Does the sauce contain wine?

Checking for cooking wine in a sauce.

Il tiramisù ha liquore?

Does the tiramisù have liqueur?

Tiramisù traditionally contains marsala wine or rum.

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Preferisco piatti senza alcol. L'ossobuco è fatto con vino? Cameriere: Sì, si cucina con vino bianco. Cliente: Capisco. Allora prendo il pollo arrosto. Cameriere: Il pollo è cotto senza vino, perfetto per lei.

Client: I prefer dishes without alcohol. Is ossobuco made with wine? Waiter: Yes, it's cooked with white wine. Client: I see. Then I'll have the roast chicken. Waiter: The chicken is cooked without wine, perfect for you.

Cultural Note

Wine is a cooking staple in Italian kitchens. Ossobuco, risotto, cacciatore, and many braises all use wine. However, the alcohol largely evaporates during cooking — if this matters, specify 'cottura senza alcol' (alcohol-free cooking).