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listo

lees-tohˈlisto

“listo” means “ready” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

ready

Also: done, finished
A cartoon illustration of a track runner crouched low at the starting block, looking focused and poised, ready to begin the race.

📝 In Action

La cena está casi lista.

A1

Dinner is almost ready.

¿Estás listo para salir?

A1

Are you ready to go out?

¡He terminado! ¡Listo!

A2

I've finished! Done!

Necesito que los informes estén listos para el lunes.

B1

I need the reports to be ready by Monday.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • desprevenido (unprepared)

Common Collocations

  • estar listo para – to be ready for/to
  • ¡Listos, ya! – Ready, set, go!

smart

Also: clever, cunning
Mexico
A colorful illustration of a child successfully placing the final piece of a complex jigsaw puzzle, with a small, bright lightbulb illuminating above their head, symbolizing cleverness and intelligence.

📝 In Action

Mi hermana es la más lista de la clase.

A2

My sister is the smartest in the class.

Es un perro muy listo, aprende los trucos rápido.

A2

He's a very smart dog, he learns tricks quickly.

Tienes que ser muy listo para resolver este problema.

B1

You have to be very clever to solve this problem.

Ten cuidado con ese vendedor, es muy listo.

B2

Be careful with that salesman, he's very cunning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • tonto (silly, dumb)
  • estúpido (stupid)

Common Collocations

  • ser muy listo – to be very smart
  • pasarse de listo – to be a wise guy, to get too clever for one's own good

Idioms & Expressions

  • el listo de la clase – The know-it-all of the class

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "listo" in Spanish:

clever→cunning→done→finished→ready→smart→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: listo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly says, 'The students are ready for the test'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
lista(list) — Noun
listillo(know-it-all, smart aleck) — Adjective / Noun
listar(to list) — Verb
alistarse(to get ready, to enlist) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The origin is likely from a Germanic language, possibly Gothic 'lists,' which meant 'cunning' or 'skill.' It's related to the English word 'list.' The meaning of 'ready' probably developed from the idea of something being arranged or prepared, like items on a list.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

German: ListEnglish: list

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important difference between 'ser listo' and 'estar listo'?

It's all about permanent vs. temporary! Use 'ser listo' to describe a person's intelligence, which is seen as a permanent characteristic ('He *is* a smart person'). Use 'estar listo' to describe a temporary state of being prepared or ready for something ('He *is ready* for the game').

Can 'lista' mean something other than the feminine form of 'listo'?

Yes! 'La lista' is also a very common noun that means 'the list,' as in a shopping list ('la lista de la compra'). The context almost always makes the meaning clear.