How to say gluten-free in German, plus the phrases for the table
“Gluten-free” in German is glutenfrei. That’s the word you’ll see on packs and menus. At the table you need a little more: that it’s a medical condition, which grains to avoid, and the kitchen questions. Here they are, in German, with the English meaning.
The phrases that help at the table
Show the German line to the staff; the English underneath tells you what it says.
| What it says | German |
|---|---|
| I have coeliac disease I have coeliac disease, an autoimmune medical condition, not a diet choice or preference. |
Ich habe Zöliakie, eine Autoimmunerkrankung, keine Ernährungsvorliebe. |
| What I can’t eat I cannot eat wheat (including spelt, kamut, durum and semolina), barley, rye or standard oats, or anything made from them: bread, pasta, batter, breadcrumbs, flour. |
Ich kann keinen Weizen (einschließlich Dinkel, Kamut, Hartweizen und Grieß), keine Gerste, keinen Roggen und keinen herkömmlichen Hafer essen, und nichts, was daraus hergestellt ist: Brot, Nudeln, Teig, Paniermehl, Mehl. |
| Even a crumb Even a tiny amount, a crumb, makes me genuinely ill. |
Schon kleinste Mengen, ein Krümel, machen mich ernsthaft krank. |
| Clean pan and utensils Please use a clean pan, clean utensils and boards, and fresh oil. |
Bitte verwenden Sie eine saubere Pfanne, saubere Küchenutensilien und Schneidebretter sowie frisches Öl. |
| The shared fryer Was this fried in a shared fryer or in shared oil? Oil used for breaded food is not safe for me. |
Wurde das in einer gemeinsamen Fritteuse oder in gemeinsam genutztem Öl frittiert? Öl, in dem Paniertes frittiert wurde, ist für mich nicht sicher. |
| Hidden gluten Does this contain soy sauce, malt, flour, breadcrumbs or stock cubes? Could you check? |
Enthält das Sojasauce, Malz, Mehl, Paniermehl oder Brühwürfel? Könnten Sie das bitte prüfen? |
| Please check with the kitchen Could you please check the ingredients with the kitchen? I am very happy to wait. |
Könnten Sie bitte die Zutaten mit der Küche klären? Ich warte sehr gerne. |
| What I can eat I can eat rice, corn, potatoes, plain fresh meat and fish, eggs, dairy, vegetables and fruit, as long as they are not cooked with, or alongside, the items above. |
Ich kann Reis, Mais, Kartoffeln, unverarbeitetes frisches Fleisch und Fisch, Eier, Milchprodukte, Gemüse und Obst essen, solange sie nicht mit den oben genannten Zutaten zusammen oder daneben zubereitet werden. |
| Thank you Thank you so much for taking care of this, it genuinely makes all the difference. |
Ganz herzlichen Dank für Ihre Sorgfalt. Das macht für mich wirklich einen großen Unterschied. |
What the staff might answer
- Ja, wir können das separat zubereiten, mit sauberer Pfanne und sauberen Küchenutensilien.
Yes, we can prepare it separately, with a clean pan and clean utensils. - Es tut mir leid, das können wir heute nicht garantieren.
I am sorry, we cannot guarantee that today. - Einen Moment, ich frage in der Küche nach.
One moment, let me ask the kitchen.
On labels
In Germany, Austria and the rest of the EU, «glutenfrei» is a regulated claim: 20 mg/kg or less. «Kann Spuren von Gluten enthalten» (may contain traces) is voluntary and doesn’t cancel a glutenfrei claim. The national association in Germany is the DZG (Deutsche Zöliakie-Gesellschaft).
Local things to watch
- Dinkel (spelt) is wheat: it is often marketed as a healthy alternative, but it is not gluten-free.
- Mehlschwitze (roux) is the default thickener in many sauces and Eintöpfe (stews): ask.
- Breaded Schnitzel dominates fryers and pans; ask for unbreaded (‘natur’) in a clean pan.
- Malzbier, malt sweets and many muesli mixes contain barley malt.
- Spätzle, Semmelknödel (bread dumplings) and the rusk used as a binder in many sausages are wheat-based; even Kartoffelknödel (potato dumplings) often contain flour, semolina or bread croutons: ask.
About these translations: written and checked by native speakers against our English master.
Take it with you
- Free card tool: these phrases on your phone, spoken aloud, with the staff answer buttons
- The printable German card (A6, phone and wallet size)
- Our hand-picked gluten-free places in Germany
- The Atlas: gluten-free places near you
Reviewed against the HTGF methodology: every claim sourced, every listing tiered and dated. This article is practical guidance, not medical advice.
Gluten-free confidence in your inbox.
Practical tips, new guides and community stories. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.