Dietary & Allergies

1. ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ ਹਾਂ।

   Main shakahari haan.

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   Basic vegetarian declaration

   Grammar Note

   "haan" is 1sg copula

2. ਮੈਂ ਵੀਗਨ ਹਾਂ, ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਜਾਨਵਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਉਤਪਾਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦਾ।

   Main vigan haan, koi vi janavaran da utpad nahin khanda.

   I'm vegan; I don't eat any animal products.

   Usage

   Clarify avoidance of dairy/eggs (m.)

   Grammar Note

   Female: "khandi"; male: "khanda"

3. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਬਦਾਮ, ਅਖਰੋਟ, ਕਾਜੂ ਅਤੇ ਪਿਸਤਾ ਤੋਂ ਐਲਰਜੀ ਹੈ।

   Mainu badam, akhrot, kaju ate pista ton allergy hai.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Declares a tree-nut allergy by listing the species. Peanut (mūṅgphalī) is a separate allergen and must be stated separately

   Grammar Note

   "-ton" = "from" (cause). Do NOT use ਮੇਵੇ — it means "dried fruit" and takes in raisins (ਕਿਸ਼ਮਿਸ਼) and dried dates, so it does not line up with tree nuts; if it is heard as "sweet dried goods", raw almonds and cashews can read as safe. Punjabi has no food-labelling umbrella term, and India's FSSAI labelling rules only give the English "Tree nuts", so the species are listed

4. ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਗਲੂਟਨ-ਫ੍ਰੀ ਮੇਨੂ ਹੈ?

   Ki tuhade kol gluten-free menu hai?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   For celiac/gluten intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "Ki" begins a yes/no question

5. ਮੈਂ ਹਲਾਲ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸੂਰ ਦਾ ਮਾਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦਾ।

   Main halal khanda haan ate soor da maas nahin khanda.

   I eat halal; I don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Explain Muslim dietary rules

   Grammar Note

   "da" = masculine genitive

6. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਲੈਕਟੋਜ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਚਦਾ।

   Mainu lactose nahin pachda.

   I can't digest lactose.

   Usage

   Explain lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "pachna" is intransitive "to be digested"

7. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਖਾਣੇ ਤੋਂ ਐਲਰਜੀ ਹੈ।

   Mainu samundari khane ton allergy hai.

   I have a seafood allergy.

   Usage

   Declare seafood allergy

   Grammar Note

   "-ri" adjectivalising suffix

8. ਇਸ ਪਕਵਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀ-ਕੀ ਹੈ?

   Is pakvan vich ki-ki hai?

   What's in this dish?

   Usage

   Basic question to check ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "vich" = "inside"

9. ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪਿਆਜ਼ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਬਣਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?

   Ki tusin pyaz ton bina bana sakde ho?

   Can you make it without onion?

   Usage

   Ask to omit ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "sakde ho" = polite 2nd-person potential

10. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਂਡਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਐਲਰਜੀ ਹੈ।

    Mainu aandiyaan ton allergy hai.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Avoid egg-containing dishes

    Grammar Note

    Oblique plural "aandiyaan"

11. ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਐਲਰਜਨ ਦੀ ਸੂਚੀ ਹੈ?

    Ki tuhade kol allergen di suchi hai?

    Do you have an allergen list?

    Usage

    Request allergen list

    Grammar Note

    "di" = feminine genitive

12. ਇਹ ਜਾਨਲੇਵਾ ਐਲਰਜੀ ਹੈ।

    Ih janleva allergy hai.

    This is a life-threatening allergy.

    Usage

    Warn of severity

    Grammar Note

    "jan" = life, "leva" = taker

13. ਕੀ ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਤੇਲ ਜਾਂ ਮਸਾਲੇ ਹਨ?

    Ki is vich tel jaan masale han?

    Does this contain oil or spices?

    Usage

    Check for oil/spices

    Grammar Note

    "jaan" = "or"

14. ਕੀ ਇਹ ਹੋਰ ਖਾਣੇ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?

    Ki ih hor khane naal mil sakda hai?

    Could it mix with other food?

    Usage

    Ask about cross-contamination

    Grammar Note

    "sakda hai" = "may, can"

15. ਸਮਝਣ ਲਈ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ।

    Samajhan layi dhannvad.

    Thank you for understanding.

    Usage

    Thank for accommodating

    Grammar Note

    "layi" = "for"

16. ਮੈਂ ਮਾਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾ ਸਕਦਾ।

    Main maas nahin kha sakda.

    I can't eat meat.

    Usage

    State you can't eat meat

    Grammar Note

    Verb + "sakda" = potential; "nahin" prefixes negation

17. ਸੂਰ ਦਾ ਮਾਸ

    Soor da maas

    Pork

    Usage

    Point to check whether a dish contains pork — also a religious restriction for many

18. ਗਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਾਸ

    Gaan da maas

    Beef

    Usage

    Beef is almost never served in Indian Punjab and the topic is sensitive in some areas

19. ਮੁਰਗ਼ੀ ਦਾ ਮਾਸ

    Murgee da maas

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point to check for chicken; the loanword "chikan" is also understood

20. ਮੱਛੀ

    Machhee

    Fish

    Usage

    Point to check whether a dish contains fish

21. ਆਂਡਾ

    Aanda

    Egg

    Usage

    Point to check for egg — for allergies or vegetarian diets

22. ਦੁੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਬਣੀਆਂ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ

    Dudh ton baneeaan cheezaan

    Dairy products

    Usage

    Covers milk, yoghurt, paneer and ghee — Punjabi cooking uses dairy heavily

23. ਮੂੰਗਫਲੀ

    Moongphalee

    Peanut

    Usage

    Point to check for peanuts — a common anaphylaxis trigger

24. ਸੁੱਕੇ ਮੇਵੇ

    Sukke meve

    Nuts / dried fruit

    Usage

    Covers almonds, cashews and other tree nuts — note it also includes dried fruit

25. ਝੀਂਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਕੇਕੜਾ

    Jheenga ate kekarha

    Shellfish (shrimp and crab)

    Usage

    The technical word for crustaceans is not understood, so the actual foods are listed instead

26. ਕਣਕ

    Kanak

    Wheat

    Usage

    Point to check for gluten — roti and paratha are all wheat-based

27. ਸੋਇਆਬੀਨ

    Soiaabeen

    Soy

    Usage

    Point to check for soy; soy chunks are widely used in Punjabi cooking

28. ਤਿਲ

    Til

    Sesame

    Usage

    Point to check for sesame; used in winter sweets and fried snacks

29. ਸ਼ਰਾਬ

    Sharaab

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Drinkable alcohol; show when avoiding it for religious or medical reasons

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