mach dich bereit
The English phrase "ready up" is translated into German as mach dich bereit.
The phrase is used to instruct someone to prepare themselves for an upcoming activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative mach (make), the reflexive pronoun dich (yourself) and the adjective bereit (ready).
Which one should you use?
While mach dich bereit is a command to *become* ready, the phrase bereit sein describes the state of *already being* ready.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are telling a group of people to "ready up", you use the plural imperative macht euch bereit instead of the singular mach dich bereit.
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, a German speaker might use mach dich fertig to mean 'get ready', but this phrase can also mean 'to destroy someone' or 'to exhaust someone'.
- If you use the phrase mach dich bereit in a military context, it can sound much more intense than the English 'get ready', implying a transition into a state of combat readiness.
- The German word bereit shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'ready', both tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning to prepare or ride.
Examples in context
- Bitte machen Sie sich bereitPlease get ready
- Mach dich bereit!Get ready!
- Bereitmachen!Ready up!
- Ja, ich bin bereit!Yes, I'm ready!
- Machen wir uns bereit zum Start!Let's get ready for the start!
- Mach dich bereit für das Rennen.Ready up for the race.
- Mach dich bereit, wir müssen los.Ready up, we have to go.
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are about to start an online game.
- FelixLaura, mach dich bereit!Laura, ready up!
- LauraIch bin fast fertig.I am almost finished.
- FelixBeeil dich, das Spiel startet.Hurry up, the game is starting.
- LauraOkay, jetzt bin ich bereit.Okay, now I am ready.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bereit, dich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
