Mám potravinovou alergii.

When to use

This is a vital phrase for anyone with dietary restrictions due to allergies. It should be stated clearly before ordering to ensure safety.

How it works

This phrase uses the verb 'to have' followed by an adjective-noun combination.

• Mám: The first-person singular form of the imperfective verb 'mít' (to have). It means 'I have'.
• potravinovou alergii: This means 'a food allergy'. 'Potravinovou' is the adjective form of 'potravina' (foodstuff), and 'alergii' is the noun 'allergy'.

Grammatical Gender and Case

'Alergie' is a feminine noun. Since it is the direct object of the verb 'mám' (I have), both the noun 'alergii' and its modifying adjective 'potravinovou' are in the accusative case. For feminine nouns, the accusative singular often ends in '-ii' for nouns and '-ovou' for adjectives.

Specifying the Allergen

This phrase states you *have* an allergy. If you need to specify *what* you are allergic to (e.g., 'I have an allergy to nuts'), you would add 'na' (on/to) followed by the allergen in the accusative case: 'Mám alergii na ořechy' (I have an allergy to nuts).

Notes

Inform your server about a food allergy to prevent accidental exposure to harmful ingredients.