Spanish · Food & Drink

"I'm vegetarian" in Spanish: soy vegetariano/a

soy vegetariano/a

Say it: soy beh-heh-tah-RYAH-nohphrase/soi be.xe.taˈɾja.no/

I'm vegetarian is soy vegetariano if you are male, or soy vegetariana if you are female. The adjective matches your gender. Plural: somos vegetarianos / vegetarianas. Start with soy, then add sin carne if you need extra clarity.

Telling the waiter

Soy vegetariana. ¿Qué recomienda?
I'm vegetarian. What do you recommend?
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How to pronounce soy vegetariano/a

Say it

soy beh-heh-tah-RYAH-noh

/soi be.xe.taˈɾja.no/

soy beh-heh-tah-RYAH-noh / -nah. Stress RYAH. The g before e is a soft h sound in vegetariano. Keep soy short before it.

"I'm vegetarian" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
soy vegetarianoI'm vegetarian (male speaker)

Masculine form.

soy vegetarianaI'm vegetarian (female speaker)

Feminine form.

somos vegetarianoswe're vegetarian

Mixed or male plural group.

sin carne, soy vegetariano/ano meat—I'm vegetarian

Extra clarity for kitchens.

How to use soy vegetariano/a in real life

  1. 1Telling the waiter

    Soy vegetariana. ¿Qué recomienda?

    I'm vegetarian. What do you recommend?

    Female speaker form with soy.

  2. 2Male speaker

    Soy vegetariano; sin carne, por favor.

    I'm vegetarian; no meat, please.

    Male form soy vegetariano.

  3. 3Group travel

    Somos vegetarianos los dos.

    We are both vegetarian.

    Plural of the soy phrase.

Mistakes English speakers make with soy vegetariano/a

Incorrect: Estoy vegetariano.

Correct: Soy vegetariano.

Identity uses ser: soy vegetariano/a, not estar.

Incorrect: Soy vegetariano (said by a woman).

Correct: Soy vegetariana.

Match the ending: vegetariana with soy for a female speaker.

Good to know

Big cities across Latin America offer more vegetarian plates than small towns, but saying soy vegetariano/a still helps in any fonda. After soy vegetariano/a, add sin carne or sin pollo if menus are meat-heavy. Vegan is vegano/a—a separate word.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Checking options with a waiter

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Tienen platos si soy vegetariano?

    Do you have dishes if I'm vegetarian?

  2. You

    , soy vegetariana también.

    Yes, I'm vegetarian too.

  3. ChatPal

    Hay tacos de verdura.

    There are vegetable tacos.

  4. You

    Perfecto, esos quiero.

    Perfect, I want those.

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"I'm vegetarian" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "I'm vegetarian" in Spanish

How does gender work?

Men say soy vegetariano. Women say soy vegetariana. The ending matches the speaker.

Ser or estar?

Use ser: soy vegetariano/a. Estoy vegetariano sounds like a temporary state and is wrong for identity.

How do I say vegan?

Soy vegano / soy vegana. It is stricter than vegetariano/a.

How do I warn about broth?

After soy vegetariano/a, add sin caldo de pollo or ¿lleva carne?

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