listo
masculine, Mexico
In Mexico "ready" is listo for a man and lista for a woman, used with the verb estar: estoy listo or estoy lista. It is also called ya estoy.
Meaning: prepared, set to go (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| listo | masculine, Mexico |
| ya estoy | casual |
| lista | feminine |
People ask ¿ya estás listo? before leaving the house, and the answer can be a simple ya.
Which one should you use?
With ser the meaning changes: es listo means "he is clever". For "ready", use estar as in está listo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Mexicans often add ya for emphasis, as in ya estuvo, which can mean "it is done" or "that is it".
Did you know?
- The phrase ya estuvo is very Mexican and can close a task or a conversation, depending on the tone.
Examples in context
- Ya estoy lista, vámonos.I am ready, let us go.
- ¿La comida ya está lista?Is the food ready yet?
- Todavía no estoy listo.I am not ready yet.
Example conversation
Paola and her brother Diego get ready to leave for school in Toluca.
- PaolaDiego, ¿ya estás listo?Diego, are you ready?
- DiegoUn momento, busco mi mochila.One moment, I am looking for my backpack.
- PaolaApúrate, que ya es tarde.Hurry up, it is already late.
