prepárate
preh-PAH-rah-teh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¡Prepárate! El autobús llega en cinco minutos.
A1Get ready! The bus arrives in five minutes.
Prepárate para la sorpresa. Es algo increíble.
A2Prepare yourself for the surprise. It's something incredible.
Tienes que estudiar mucho. Prepárate para el examen final.
B1You have to study a lot. Prepare yourself for the final exam.
💡 Grammar Points
Command Form Rule
This word is a command telling 'you' (tú) to prepare. When giving an affirmative command in Spanish, the little word 'te' (yourself) is always attached directly to the end of the verb.
The Accent Mark
Notice the accent mark on the 'a' (prepárate). This is added to make sure the stress stays on the correct syllable, even after adding the pronoun 'te' to the end.
Base Verb
The original verb is 'prepararse,' which means 'to prepare oneself' (a reflexive action). The 'te' in 'prepárate' is the 'self' part.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Preparate (without accent)"
Correction: Prepárate. Without the accent, the stress shifts, and the word sounds wrong. Always add the accent when attaching pronouns to affirmative commands.
Using it for 'You all'
Mistake: "¡Prepárate! (when talking to a group)"
Correction: Use '¡Prepárense!' (formal/Latin America) or '¡Preparaos!' (Spain) for groups. 'Prepárate' is only for one person you know well.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Opposite Command
If you want to say 'Don't prepare yourself,' the word order changes completely: 'No te prepares.' The 'no' forces 'te' to move back in front of the verb.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: prepárate
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the opposite, negative command form of 'prepárate'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'prepárate' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is there to keep the natural stress of the word. When you attach the pronoun 'te' to the command 'prepara,' the stress would naturally shift, but the accent forces the stress to stay on the second 'a' (prepÁrate), making it sound like the base verb.
When should I use 'prepárate' instead of 'prepara'?
Use 'prepárate' (prepararse) when the action is done to the person themselves (get *yourself* ready). Use 'prepara' (preparar) when the action is done to an object (e.g., 'Prepara la cena' - Prepare the dinner).