A group of cheerful chefs in white hats standing behind a kitchen counter, holding various cooking utensils and getting ready to cook.

preparen

pre-PAH-rehn

verbA2regular ar

prepare?as a command to a group,get ready?making oneself or something ready

Also:make?used for food or drinks

Quick Reference

past Participlepreparado

infinitivepreparar

gerundpreparando

📝 In Action

¡Preparen sus maletas!

Prepare your suitcases!

Espero que preparen algo de comer.

I hope they prepare something to eat.

Quiero que ustedes preparen la presentación.

I want you all to prepare the presentation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

alisten (get ready)
elaboren (work out / produce)

Antonyms

desordenen (make a mess)
descuiden (neglect)

Common Collocations

preparen la cena – make dinner
preparen el terreno – lay the groundwork / prepare the field

Idioms & Expressions

preparen los motores – get ready for action

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Switch' Rule

Notice how the '-ar' verb ending normally uses 'a', but here it changes to 'e'. This happens when you are giving a polite command to a group (ustedes) or talking about wishes/hopes.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't forget the 'n'

Mistake: "prepare"

Correction: preparen when talking to more than one person.

⭐ Usage Tips

Cooking Tip

Use this word whenever you are telling a group of people to start making food or a recipe.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespreparen

vosotrospreparéis

él/ella/ustedprepare

nosotrospreparemos

túprepares

yoprepare

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesprepararan

vosotrosprepararais

él/ella/ustedpreparara

nosotrospreparáramos

túprepararas

yopreparara

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesprepararon

vosotrospreparasteis

él/ella/ustedpreparó

nosotrospreparamos

túpreparaste

yopreparé

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespreparaban

vosotrospreparabais

él/ella/ustedpreparaba

nosotrospreparábamos

túpreparabas

yopreparaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespreparan

vosotrospreparáis

él/ella/ustedprepara

nosotrospreparamos

túpreparas

yopreparo

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: preparen

Question 1 of 1

If you are telling a group of friends to get their things ready, you would say:

📚 More Resources

Word Family

preparar(to prepare) - verb

preparación(preparation) - noun

preparado(ready/prepared) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'preparen' used for 'they' or 'you all'?

Both! In Spanish, the form for 'they' (ellos/ellas) and 'you all' (ustedes) is the same for this verb form.

When do I use 'preparen' instead of 'preparan'?

Use 'preparen' (with an E) for commands or wishes. Use 'preparan' (with an A) to simply state a fact, like 'They are preparing the food'.