Why Preparar Is More Than "To Prepare"
Preparar is the verb of cooking, packing, and planning, and its reflexive prepararse is how you get ready yourself. It is regular and very frequent, and its participle preparado says that someone or something is ready.
Learn these six patterns as whole chunks and you will cook, pack, and plan without translating word by word.
Pattern 1: Preparar la cena — "To make dinner"
For meals, Spanish often prefers preparar to "cook". It covers breakfast, dinner, coffee, and drinks, and it sounds a bit more careful than hacer.
- Voy a preparar la cena. — I'm going to make dinner.
- ¿Qué preparas hoy? — What are you making today?
- Preparo el desayuno todos los días. — I make breakfast every day.
Chunk to learn:
Preparar + [la cena / el desayuno / un café]
Pattern 2: Prepararse para… — "To get ready for…"
The reflexive prepararse plus para says what you are getting ready for. Use it for exams, trips, interviews, and big days. For more on the reflexive pattern, see Reflexive Verbs Chunks.
- Me preparo para el examen. — I'm getting ready for the exam.
- Prepárate para la entrevista. — Get ready for the interview.
- Nos estamos preparando para el viaje. — We're getting ready for the trip.
Chunk to learn:
Prepararse para + [event / infinitive]
Pattern 3: Preparar la maleta — "To pack your suitcase"
Spanish says "to prepare the suitcase" for packing. Use it before trips, and add el equipaje for luggage in general. For travel plans, see [Ir] Chunks.
- Tengo que preparar la maleta. — I have to pack my suitcase.
- Ya preparé el equipaje. — I've already packed my luggage.
- ¿Preparaste la mochila para mañana? — Did you pack your bag for tomorrow?
Chunk to learn:
Preparar la maleta / el equipaje / la mochila
Pattern 4: Estar preparado para… — "To be ready for…"
Preparado says that you are ready, so it uses estar. It changes with gender and number, and the neutral phrase estar listo works the same way. Use it for challenges, news, and decisions.
- Estoy preparado para lo que venga. — I'm ready for whatever comes.
- ¿Estás preparada para el cambio? — Are you ready for the change?
- No estamos preparados para eso. — We're not ready for that.
Chunk to learn:
Estar preparado/a para + [thing / lo que venga]
Pattern 5: Te preparé una sorpresa — "I planned a surprise for you"
With an indirect pronoun, preparar becomes something done for someone: a treat, a gift, a party. It is the chunk of small acts of care. For more with attached pronouns, see Object Pronouns Chunks.
- Te preparé una sorpresa. — I planned a surprise for you.
- Mi madre me prepara la comida. — My mother makes my food for me.
- ¿Me preparas un té? — Could you make me a tea?
Chunk to learn:
Te preparé + [una sorpresa / la cena] / ¿Me preparas + [thing]?
Pattern 6: Prepárate para lo peor — "Prepare for the worst"
The warning and the pep talk. It is a well-known piece of advice, espera lo mejor y prepárate para lo peor, and it appears in everyday talk about plans and risks.
- Prepárate para lo peor. — Prepare for the worst.
- Espera lo mejor y prepárate para lo peor. — Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
- Hay que prepararse para cualquier cosa. — You have to be ready for anything.
Chunk to learn:
Prepárate para lo peor / Prepararse para cualquier cosa
Preparar vs. Prepararse
Preparar is for the thing you make ready: Preparo la cena. Prepararse is for yourself: Me preparo para salir. Note that estar listo also means "ready", while ser listo means "clever". For another verb of study and effort, see [Estudiar] Chunks.
Start with prepararse para… and estoy preparado para…. You will use both the next time you speak Spanish.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.