preparado
/preh-pah-RAH-doh/
ready
When someone is in a state of readiness, they are preparado (ready).
preparado(adjective)
ready
?state of readiness
,prepared
?having made arrangements
trained
?having acquired skills
,qualified
?educated or skilled (about a person)
📝 In Action
¿Estás preparado para salir ahora mismo?
A1Are you ready to leave right now?
La comida ya está preparada, podemos comer.
A1The food is already prepared, we can eat.
Ella es una candidata muy preparada para el puesto.
B1She is a very qualified candidate for the position.
💡 Grammar Points
It Changes Form
Since 'preparado' acts like an adjective, it must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'preparada' (feminine singular), 'preparados' (masculine plural), and 'preparadas' (feminine plural).
Use with Estar vs. Ser
Use 'estar preparado' (to be ready) to talk about a temporary state of readiness. Use 'ser preparado' (to be prepared/qualified) to describe a person's permanent skill or education level.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Gender/Number Match
Mistake: "Los estudiantes está preparado."
Correction: Los estudiantes están preparados. (The ending '-os' must match the plural masculine students.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Source Word
'Preparado' comes from the verb 'preparar' (to prepare) and is its past participle form. This is why it often means 'having been prepared'.
As a noun, preparado refers to a ready-made mix or preparation, like a cooking solution.
preparado(noun)
preparation
?a ready-made mix or solution
,mixture
?a compound of several ingredients
concoction
?informal mixture
,premix
?commercial cooking product
📝 In Action
Necesitas un preparado especial para hacer ese pastel.
B1You need a special mix/preparation to make that cake.
El farmacéutico vendió un preparado de hierbas.
B2The pharmacist sold a herbal preparation.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When used as a noun meaning 'a mixture' or 'a compound,' 'preparado' is always masculine (el preparado), even if the ingredients themselves are feminine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Distinguishing Noun vs. Adjective
If you can replace the word with 'mixture' or 'product' and it makes sense, it's the noun 'el preparado.' If it describes someone or something's state, it's the adjective.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: preparado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'preparado' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'preparado' is a past participle, how do I use it to talk about completed actions?
You combine 'preparado' with a form of the verb 'haber' (to have). For example, 'Yo he preparado' means 'I have prepared.' It never changes form in this structure, regardless of gender or number: 'Hemos preparado la cena' (We have prepared dinner).
Does 'preparado' mean the same thing as 'listo'?
They are very similar! 'Preparado' emphasizes the effort or training that went into the readiness (the action of preparation), while 'listo' often just means 'ready now' or 'smart.' You can use them almost interchangeably when describing a state of readiness.