How to Order Vegan Food Abroad in 35 Languages
Knowing the word vegan is just the start. In many places it means vegetarian or gets misunderstood. These cards show what to say, how to say it, and the common traps to avoid.
English
UK, USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland
I'm vegan
VEE-gun
Full exclusions
No meat, poultry, fish or seafood. No dairy, eggs, honey or gelatine.
VTG Destinations
German
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Ich bin vegan
ikh bin VAY-gahn
Full exclusions
Ohne Fleisch, Geflügel, Fisch oder Meeresfrüchte. Ohne Milchprodukte, Eier, Honig oder Gelatine.
OH-nuh flysh, guh-FLEW-gel, fish OH-der MEH-res-frookh-tuh
VTG Destinations
French
France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec
Je suis vegan
zhuh swee vay-GAHN
Full exclusions
Sans viande, volaille, poisson ni fruits de mer. Sans produits laitiers, œufs, miel ni gélatine.
sohn vee-AHND, vo-LIE, pwah-SOHN nee frwee duh mehr
VTG Destinations
Dutch
Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders)
Ik ben veganist
ik ben vay-gah-NIST
Full exclusions
Geen vlees, gevogelte, vis of zeevruchten. Geen zuivel, eieren, honing of gelatine.
VTG Destinations
Swedish
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland
Jag är vegan
yah air VAY-gahn
Full exclusions
Inget kött, fågel, fisk eller skaldjur. Inga mejeriprodukter, ägg, honung eller gelatin.
VTG Destinations
Spanish
Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia
Soy vegano / vegana
soy veh-GAH-no / veh-GAH-na
Beans, tortillas, tamales, rice often cooked in pork fat (manteca).
¿Tiene manteca?
"Does it have lard?" — tee-EN-eh man-TEH-ka
Full exclusions
Sin carne, aves, pescado ni mariscos. Sin lácteos, huevos, miel ni gelatina.
VTG Destinations
Portuguese
Portugal, Brazil
Sou vegano / vegana
soh veh-GAH-noo / veh-GAH-nah
Portugal uses lard (banha) in pastries. Brazil uses bacon fat in rice and feijoada.
Tem banha? Tem caldo de carne?
"Lard? Meat stock?" — teng BAH-nya, teng KAL-doo deh KAR-neh
Full exclusions
Sem carne, aves, peixe ou frutos do mar. Sem laticínios, ovos, mel ou gelatina.
VTG Destinations
Italian
Italy, San Marino, Ticino
Sono vegano / vegana
SOH-noh veh-GAH-noh / veh-GAH-nah
Parmigiano added by default to pasta, risotto, soups. Fresh pasta has egg. Pesto has cheese.
Senza formaggio, per favore
"Without cheese, please" — SEN-tsa for-MAH-joh
Full exclusions
Senza carne, pollame, pesce o frutti di mare. Senza latticini, uova, miele o gelatina.
VTG Destinations
Greek
Greece, Cyprus
Είμαι βίγκαν
EE-may VEE-gan
Greek salads have feta by default. Tzatziki accompanies everything. Honey on desserts.
Χωρίς τυρί, χωρίς γιαούρτι
"No cheese, no yogurt" — ho-REES tee-REE, ho-REES yah-OOR-tee
Full exclusions
Χωρίς κρέας, πουλερικά, ψάρι ή θαλασσινά. Χωρίς γαλακτοκομικά, αυγά, μέλι ή ζελατίνη.
VTG Destinations
Turkish
Turkey
Ben veganım
ben veh-gah-NUHM
Yogurt served with most dishes. Butter in rice, vegetables, pastries. Meat stock in soups.
Yoğurt yok, tereyağı yok
"No yogurt, no butter" — yo-OORT yok, teh-reh-ya-UH yok
Full exclusions
Et yok, tavuk yok, balık yok, deniz ürünleri yok. Süt ürünleri yok, yumurta yok, bal yok.
VTG Destinations
Polish
Poland
Jestem weganinem / weganką
YES-tem veh-gah-NEE-nem / veh-GAN-koh
Smalec (lard) for frying. Śmietana (sour cream) with pierogi, soups, everything.
Bez smalcu, bez śmietany
"No lard, no sour cream" — bez SMAL-tsoo, bez shmyeh-TAH-nee
Full exclusions
Bez mięsa, drobiu, ryb lub owoców morza. Bez nabiału, jajek, miodu lub żelatyny.
VTG Destinations
Czech
Czechia
Jsem vegan
sem VEH-gan
Sádlo (lard) used extensively. Smetana (cream) with everything. Dumplings often contain egg.
Bez sádla, bez smetany
"No lard, no cream" — bez SAHD-la, bez SMEH-ta-nee
Full exclusions
Bez masa, drůbeže, ryb nebo mořských plodů. Bez mléčných výrobků, vajec, medu nebo želatiny.
VTG Destinations
Hungarian
Hungary
Vegán vagyok
VEH-gahn VAH-dyok
Zsír (lard) for frying. Tejföl (sour cream) with everything including goulash.
Zsír nélkül, tejföl nélkül
"No lard, no sour cream" — zheer NEL-kool, TAY-fool NEL-kool
Full exclusions
Hús, baromfi, hal vagy tenger gyümölcsei nélkül. Tejtermékek, tojás, méz vagy zselatin nélkül.
VTG Destinations
Russian
Russia
Я веган
ya VEH-gan
Сметана (sour cream) with everything. Сало (lard) for frying. Mayonnaise in salads.
Без сметаны, без сала
"No sour cream, no lard" — byez smeh-TAH-nee, byez SAH-la
Full exclusions
Без мяса, птицы, рыбы или морепродуктов. Без молочных продуктов, яиц, мёда или желатина.
VTG Destinations
Croatian
Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro
Ja sam vegan
yah sahm VEH-gahn
Kajmak (creamy spread), sir (cheese), pavlaka (sour cream) everywhere. Meat stock common.
Bez mliječnih proizvoda
"Without dairy" — bez mlee-YECH-neekh pro-EEZ-vo-da
Full exclusions
Bez mesa, peradi, ribe ili morskih plodova. Bez mliječnih proizvoda, jaja, meda ili želatine.
VTG Destinations
Hebrew
Israel
אני טבעוני / טבעונית
ah-NEE tiv-oh-NEE (m) / tiv-oh-NEET (f)
Kosher separation means dairy and meat are separate, but dairy appears in many "pareve" contexts. Outside Tel Aviv, awareness drops.
Full exclusions
בלי בשר, עוף, דגים או פירות ים. בלי מוצרי חלב, ביצים, דבש או ג׳לטין.
VTG Destinations
Korean
South Korea
저는 비건이에요
juh-neun BEE-gun-ee-eh-yo
Anchovy stock (myeolchi) and fish sauce (jeotgal) in kimchi, soups, stews. Many banchan contain seafood.
멸치 없이, 젓갈 없이
"No anchovy, no fish sauce" — myuhl-chee uhp-shee, juht-gahl uhp-shee
Full exclusions
고기 없이, 닭고기 없이, 생선 없이, 해산물 없이. 유제품 없이, 계란 없이, 꿀 없이.
VTG Destinations
Mandarin
China, Taiwan, Singapore
我吃全素
woh chir chwan-soo
蚝油 (oyster sauce) in most stir fries. 猪油 (lard) in rice, pastries, dumplings. Chicken powder common.
不要蚝油，不要猪油
"No oyster sauce, no lard" — boo yow how-yo, boo yow joo-yo
Full exclusions
不吃肉，不吃鸡，不吃鱼，不吃海鲜。不吃奶制品，不吃蛋，不吃蜂蜜。
VTG Destinations
Cantonese
Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong
我食全素
ngo sik chyun sou
蠔油 (hou yau) default for veg dishes. Dried shrimp in noodle soups. Dim sum often has hidden pork/shrimp.
唔要蠔油，唔要豬油
"No oyster sauce, no lard" — mm yiu hou yau, mm yiu jyu yau
Full exclusions
唔食肉，唔食雞，唔食魚，唔食海鮮。唔食奶類，唔食蛋，唔食蜜糖。
VTG Destinations
Arabic
UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco
أنا نباتي صرف
AH-na nah-bah-TEE sarf
نباتي (nabati) alone = vegetarian. Add صرف (sarf/strict) for vegan. Samn (clarified butter) in rice/pastries. Dialect varies — show text.
بدون سمن، بدون حليب
"No butter, no milk" — bidoon samn, bidoon haleeb
Full exclusions
بدون لحم، بدون دجاج، بدون سمك، بدون مأكولات بحرية. بدون حليب، بدون بيض، بدون عسل.
VTG Destinations
Swahili
Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Mimi ni mboga tu
MEE-mee nee mm-BOH-ga too
"Mboga tu" = vegetables only, doesn't exclude dairy/eggs. Meat stock in bean dishes. Dried fish in stews.
Bila nyama, bila samaki, bila maziwa, bila mayai
"No meat, fish, milk, eggs" — BEE-la NYAH-ma, BEE-la sah-MAH-kee, BEE-la mah-ZEE-wa, BEE-la mah-YAH-ee
Full exclusions
Bila nyama, bila kuku, bila samaki. Bila maziwa, bila mayai, bila asali.
VTG Destinations
Amharic
Ethiopia
የጾም ምግብ ብቻ እበላለሁ
yeh-TSOM muh-GUB buh-CHA uh-beh-LAH-leh-hoo
Niter kibbeh is in most dishes outside fasting periods. Clarified butter added to lentils, vegetables, stews.
ያለ ቅቤ፣ ያለ ወተት
"Without butter, without milk" — yah-LEH kuh-BEH, yah-LEH wuh-TET
Full exclusions
ያለ ሥጋ፣ ያለ ዶሮ፣ ያለ ዓሣ። ያለ ወተት፣ ያለ እንቁላል፣ ያለ ማር፣ ያለ ቅቤ።
VTG Destinations
Japanese
Japan, Okinawa
私はヴィーガンです
watashi wa VEE-gahn des
Dashi (fish stock) is in miso soup, ramen, simmered vegetables, rice seasonings. Saying "vegan" is not enough.
だしも使わないでください
"Please don't use dashi" — dashi mo tsukawanaide kudasai
Full exclusions
肉、鶏肉、魚介類は食べません。乳製品、卵、はちみつも食べません。
VTG Destinations
Thai
Thailand
ผม/ฉัน กินเจ
pom/chan gin jay
น้ำปลา (nam pla) is the backbone — curries, stir fries, soups, salads, desserts. Shrimp paste (กะปิ) equally pervasive.
ไม่ใส่น้ำปลา ไม่ใส่กะปิ
"No fish sauce, no shrimp paste" — mai sai nam pla, mai sai kapi
Full exclusions
ไม่กินเนื้อสัตว์ ไม่กินไก่ ไม่กินปลา ไม่กินอาหารทะเล ไม่กินนม ไม่กินไข่ ไม่กินน้ำผึ้ง
VTG Destinations
Vietnamese
Vietnam
Tôi ăn chay
toy an chai
Nước mắm in virtually everything — pho, stir fries, dipping sauces, marinades. "Ăn chay" understood but must exclude fish sauce.
Không nước mắm, không trứng
"No fish sauce, no egg" — kohng nook mahm, kohng troong
Full exclusions
Không thịt, không gà, không cá, không hải sản. Không sữa, không trứng, không mật ong.
VTG Destinations
Lao
Laos
ຂ້ອຍກິນເຈ
khoy gin jeh
Padaek (ປາແດກ) — fermented fish paste — is the backbone of Lao cuisine. More pungent than Thai fish sauce. In everything from laap to soups.
ບໍ່ໃສ່ປາແດກ ບໍ່ໃສ່ນ້ຳປາ
"No padaek, no fish sauce" — bor sai pa-daek, bor sai nam pa
Full exclusions
ບໍ່ກິນຊີ້ນ ບໍ່ກິນໄກ່ ບໍ່ກິນປາ ບໍ່ກິນອາຫານທະເລ ບໍ່ກິນນົມ ບໍ່ກິນໄຂ່ ບໍ່ກິນນ້ຳເຜິ້ງ
VTG Destinations
Indonesian
Indonesia, Bali
Saya vegan
SAH-ya VEE-gan
Terasi (shrimp paste) in most sambals and dishes. Ikan bilis (dried anchovies) common. Egg in nasi goreng.
Tanpa terasi, tanpa ikan
"No shrimp paste, no fish" — TAN-pa tuh-RAH-see, TAN-pa EE-kan
Full exclusions
Tanpa daging, tanpa ayam, tanpa ikan, tanpa makanan laut. Tanpa susu, tanpa telur, tanpa madu.
VTG Destinations
Malay
Malaysia, Brunei
Saya vegan
SAH-ya VEE-gan
Belacan (shrimp paste) in most sambals and curries. Ikan bilis (anchovies) in nasi lemak. Egg in roti and noodles.
Tanpa belacan, tanpa ikan bilis
"No shrimp paste, no anchovies" — TAN-pa buh-LAH-chan, TAN-pa EE-kan BEE-lis
Full exclusions
Tanpa daging, tanpa ayam, tanpa ikan, tanpa makanan laut. Tanpa susu, tanpa telur, tanpa madu.
VTG Destinations
Tagalog
Philippines
Vegan ako
VEE-gan ah-KOH
Patis (fish sauce) and bagoong (shrimp paste) are foundational. Used in adobo, sinigang, kare-kare, and most vegetable dishes.
Walang patis, walang bagoong
"No fish sauce, no shrimp paste" — wah-LAHNG pah-TIS, wah-LAHNG bah-goh-ONG
Full exclusions
Walang karne, walang manok, walang isda, walang pagkaing-dagat. Walang gatas, walang itlog, walang pulot-pukyutan.
VTG Destinations
Khmer
Cambodia
ខ្ញុំញ៉ាំបួស
knyom nyam buos
Prahok (fermented fish paste) is the backbone of Khmer cuisine. Fish sauce (tuk trey) equally pervasive. "Nyam buos" = eating like a monk.
អត់ប្រហុក អត់ទឹកត្រី
"No prahok, no fish sauce" — ot prahok, ot tuk trey
Full exclusions
អត់សាច់ អត់មាន់ អត់ត្រី អត់អាហារសមុទ្រ។ អត់ទឹកដោះគោ អត់ពង អត់ទឹកឃ្មុំ។
VTG Destinations
Hindi
India (North)
मैं वीगन हूँ
main VEE-gun hoon
"Vegetarian" in India = lacto vegetarian. Ghee is sacred — in dal, rice, roti, vegetables, sweets, chai. Cooks add it without asking.
घी नहीं, दूध नहीं, पनीर नहीं
"No ghee, no milk, no paneer" — ghee nah-HEE, doodh nah-HEE, pa-NEER nah-HEE
Tamil
Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, N. Sri Lanka
நான் வீகன்
naan VEE-gan
Ghee (நெய்) in dosas, sweets, rice. Curd (தயிர்) served with every meal. Coastal areas add fish to "vegetarian" dishes.
நெய் வேண்டாம், தயிர் வேண்டாம்
"No ghee, no curd" — ney VEN-daam, thayir VEN-daam
Full exclusions
இறைச்சி இல்லை, கோழி இல்லை, மீன் இல்லை, கடல் உணவு இல்லை. பால் இல்லை, முட்டை இல்லை, தேன் இல்லை, நெய் இல்லை.
VTG Destinations
Malayalam
Kerala, India
ഞാൻ വീഗൻ ആണ്
nyaan VEE-gan AAN
Kerala is a coastal state — fish curry (മീൻ കറി) is staple food. Fish stock sneaks into "vegetarian" dishes.
മീൻ വേണ്ട, മീൻ വെള്ളം വേണ്ട
"No fish, no fish stock" — meen VEN-da, meen VEL-lam VEN-da
Full exclusions
ഇറച്ചി വേണ്ട, കോഴി വേണ്ട, മീൻ വേണ്ട, കടൽ വിഭവങ്ങൾ വേണ്ട. പാൽ വേണ്ട, മുട്ട വേണ്ട, തേൻ വേണ്ട.
VTG Destinations
Nepali
Nepal
म भिगन हुँ
ma VEE-gan hoon
Ghee in dal bhat (national dish), butter in momo dough, curd (dahi) with meals. Milk tea is default.
घिउ छैन, दूध छैन
"No ghee, no milk" — ghee-oo CHAI-na, doodh CHAI-na
Full exclusions
मासु छैन, माछा छैन, दूध छैन, अण्डा छैन, मह छैन, घिउ छैन
VTG Destinations
Sinhala
Sri Lanka
මම වීගන්
mama VEE-gan
Umbalakada (dried tuna) is base flavoring in curries, sambols, pol sambol. So fundamental cooks don't mention it.
උම්බලකඩ නෑ, කිරි නෑ
"No Maldive fish, no milk" — um-ba-la-KA-da neh, KEE-ree neh
Full exclusions
මස් නෑ, කුකුල් මස් නෑ, මාළු නෑ, මුහුදු ආහාර නෑ។ කිරි නෑ, බිත්තර නෑ, මී පැණි නෑ။
VTG Destinations