Vera

We leave tomorrow, and I need to print up a card that says I cannot eat raw onions or scallions, but can eat them if they have been cooked a long time like in a soup or sauce.
So this is what Babel Fish gave me, and I want to check its accuracy:
Prego nessun cipolle grezze. Le cipolle o gli scallions mi rendono il malato a meno che siano state cucinate un molto tempo come dentro una minestra o una salsa.

Correct?
Grazie,
Vera

Vera

ttt

lhs624

I don't know Vera..but if you get no response from her then I would ask your hotel once you get there to make sure the translation is correct.

Have a wonderful trip!

lhs624

i meant "No response from here" not her.

Neopolitan

I'm no expert but from my past experience with Babel Fish translations, that probably is the proper way to ask if they will put you in a big pot and cook you into some onion soup.

bellastarr

I would change just one word in the Babel fish translation. Instead of grezze (which means raw, as in uncut, rough) I would use the word "crude" (Cipolle crude) which means raw, as in uncooked.

SeaUrchin

I have learned from experience (trying to find out if a soup or a dish had beef in it) not to get too detailed in my question or they will just say no to get the question ended.

I think just say I can't eat onions and leave it at that, if they don't speak enough English to converse about the cooking procedure, etc.

SeaUrchin

but really if what you order is cooked how could it have raw onions in it?

bellastarr

Good point S, but then Vera migth be ordering a salad which she wouldn't wan to contain onions, and a minestra which could have onionds or a pasta which might have onions in the sauce.

This is making me hungry, think I'll go have some dinner!

bellastarr

So sorry, Maybe after I eat my spelling will improve!!!

Vera

LOL about the pot of onions. That's why I asked. Don't trust Babel fish either.
Bellastarr:
So I've changed the first line to: "Non posso mangiare cipolle crudo."
Would it be clearer to say, "mi fare malato..." instead of "mi rendono il malato"?
I can't find "siano state" in my phrase book, and is "dentro" correct for saying "Like in a soup or sauce?"

I'm going to print this up so I can give it to a waiter and if necessary he can print it on a card. The reason I worded it this way is that sometimes people freak out and say, but we have onions in everything. For instance, how could I eat at a Mexican restaurant? So it is important to say if it has been cooked a long time it is okay.

Grazie ancora,

Vera

bellastarr

Vera, yes, it's better to say mi fanno than mi rendono.

Also if you use the adjective crudo/cruda
you should either la cipolla cruda (which is better- it means onions in general.)
or a more English literal translation: le cipolle crude (the plural form of the adjective to go with the plural noun).

I love the idea of sharing your note with your waiter so he can help you out. That will make it a fun experience, and I bet you'll end up with a perfect translation!

PS:
IMO, Babelfish can be be like asking a robot how to express "I love you"!.

Vera

Grazie Mille!

Vera

bellastarr

Scusi Vera-
either
Non posso mangiare della cipolla cruda
"Mi fa malata"

Or here another try:

Sono allergìca a la cipolla cruda. Mi fa malata.
Però posso mangiarla solo quando e cucinata molto bene, come in una salsa, o una minestra.

May this will help, and I pray you don't end in in the soup pot!!!!!

Have a lovely trip, and Mangia benissimo!

Vera

Bravissimo. Tutto va bene!

Ciao,

Vera

shirleyvonhaven

I have your problem! In English, I
say, Onions hate me (to the waiter)/
After I've ordered, my husband asks
if there are fresh onions involved
...and there are LOTS OF wonderful
Italian dishes that are. I'm planning
to have our hotel staff write a note
for me....although when my daughter and
I went to Belgium, I spoke with chefs
(they almost always spoke English)
and told them my problem. Good luck.

catama1

Ciao Vera, my Italin is good after having lived in Florence for 13 yeras and married to an Italian. First of all it would be unusual to find Italians eating raw onions! They do however, esp. in Tuscany eat scallions raw dipped in olive oil called "pinzimonio".
So the other posters got it almost right.
I would say, "Per piacere, sono molto allergica alla cipolla cruda. Mi fa molto male. La posso mangiare solo se e' cotta bene. Grazie"
Buon Viaggio

catama1

My Italian is good but my typing is terrible!

bellastarr

Thanks from me too catama1, I was hoping someone with real expertise would see this thread and jump in so I could learn something new!

SHADRACH

"Non posso mangiare della cipolla cruda perché mi fa male. La posso mangiare soltanto se è cucinata a lungo, come per esempio in una minestra oppure in un sugo."