la cena è pronta
The English phrase "dinner is ready" is translated into Italian as la cena è pronta.
la cena è pronta is used to inform others that the evening meal has been prepared and is available to eat. In a household setting, instead of using a full sentence, people often simply shout A cena! to call others to the table.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase la cena è pronta literally translates to "the dinner is ready".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective pronta must be in its feminine form to agree with the feminine noun cena.
Did you know?
- While la cena è pronta is the standard phrase, Italians often use the word cena in a way that implies a specific time of day, usually much later in the evening than English speakers eat 'dinner'.
- The word cena shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'core', both stemming from a root meaning 'to cut' or 'to divide'.
- In a formal Italian dinner setting, it is considered impolite to start eating as soon as you hear la cena è pronta until the host has specifically signaled for guests to begin.
Examples in context
- La cena è pronta.Dinner is ready.This sentence shows the basic way to state that dinner is ready.Tatoeba #380183 by Pharamp, translation #39682 by CK
- La cena è pronta da mangiare.Dinner is ready to eat.This sentence is useful for expressing that dinner is ready to be eaten.Tatoeba #3116180 by Guybrush88, translation #1830632 by CK
- La cena è pronta, quindi possiamo mangiare quando vogliamo.Dinner is ready, so we can eat whenever we want.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to explain that people can eat whenever they want.Tatoeba #842614 by Guybrush88, translation #324624 by CK
- La cena è pronta, vieni a tavola!Dinner is ready, come to the table!
- Tavola apparecchiata, venite a mangiare!The table is set, come to eat!
- Mangiamo! La cena è servita!Let's eat! Dinner is served!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a kitchen during the evening.
- MatteoChiara, vieni in cucina!Chiara, come to the kitchen!
- ChiaraPerché, Matteo?Why, Matteo?
- MatteoLa cena è pronta.Dinner is ready.
- ChiaraOttimo, arrivo subito.Great, I'm coming right now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cena, la, è, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
