Which one should you use?
You can be more specific by replacing la comida with el almuerzo for lunch or la cena for dinner. Note that if you use a masculine noun like el almuerzo, you must use the masculine adjective listo instead of lista.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people often say ¡A la mesa, que se enfría! to mean "To the table, it's getting cold!" In Mexico and parts of Central America, you might hear ¡A darle, que está en su punto!, which means "Let's go, it's perfectly cooked!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the verb estar (está) because it describes a state or condition rather than a permanent characteristic. The adjective lista is feminine to agree with the feminine noun comida. If you use a masculine noun such as el almuerzo, the adjective must change to the masculine form listo.
Did you know?
- The word lista can also mean 'smart' or 'clever' when describing a person, though the meaning depends on the context and tone.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, la comida does not just mean 'the food', but specifically refers to the main meal eaten mid-afternoon.
- The word comida comes from the past participle of the verb comer, literally meaning 'the eaten thing'.
Examples in context
- La comida está lista.The food is ready.This example demonstrates the use of la comida está lista.Tatoeba #2052064 by marcelostockle, translation #1806424 by Ameer
- Estimados invitados, la comida está lista. Por favor, acompáñenme a la mesa.Dear guests, the food is ready. Please, join me at the table.
- ¡Amigos, ya está la comida! ¡Vengan a comer!Friends, the food is ready! Come and eat!
- ¡Ven a la mesa, la comida está lista!Come to the table, the food is ready!
Example conversation
Daniel calls Maria to the dining room.
- DanielMaría, la comida está lista.María, the food is ready.
- María¡Qué bien! Ya voy, Daniel.Great! I'm coming, Daniel.
- DanielLávate las manos primero.Wash your hands first.
- MaríaTienes razón, lo haré ahora.You're right, I'll do it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comida, la, lista, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
