estamos listos
/estamos listos/from spelling rules
To say "we are ready" in Spanish, you say estamos listos.
This phrase is used to state that a group of people is prepared to do something. While listos can mean "smart" or "clever" in other contexts, in this specific phrase, it means "ready".
Which one should you use?
The phrase uses the verb estar rather than ser because being "ready" refers to a temporary state of preparation rather than a permanent characteristic of the group.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective changes based on the gender of the group. In the phrase estamos listos/as, listos is the masculine form and listas is the feminine form. If the group of people being referred to consists entirely of females, you must use estamos listas.
How do you pronounce it?
/estamos listos/
Did you know?
- If you want to say you are 'ready' in the sense of being highly alert or vigilant, particularly in Spain, you might use the idiomatic expression estamos al loro instead of the standard estamos listos.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, shouting ¡listo! as a one-word exclamation acts as a conversational signal to show a deal is 'settled' or a task is 'done'.
- If a group consists of one hundred women and only one man, the phrase must still use the masculine estamos listos.
Examples in context
- Estamos listos para comenzar la reunión.We are ready to start the meeting.
- Estamos listos para presentar nuestro informe.We are ready to present our report.
- Estamos listos para recibir a los invitados.We are ready to welcome the guests.
- Nos encontramos preparados para firmar el contrato.We are ready to sign the contract.
- Nos encontramos preparados para responder a sus preguntas.We are ready to answer your questions.
- ¡Estamos listos para salir de fiesta!We are ready to go partying!
- ¡Estamos listas para cantar karaoke!We are ready to sing karaoke!
- ¡Estamos listos para ver la película!We are ready to watch the movie!
- ¡Ya estamos listos para jugar al fútbol!We are ready to play soccer!
- ¡Ya estamos listas para ir de compras!We are ready to go shopping!
- Ya estamos listos para salir.We are ready to leave now.
- ¡Estamos listos para el examen!We are ready for the exam!
- Si ya estamos listos, podemos irnos.If we are ready, we can go.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are preparing to leave for a trip.
- Daniel¿Ya estamos listos, Lucía?Are we ready yet, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, Daniel, estamos listos.Yes, Daniel, we are ready.
- DanielPerfecto, voy a buscar las maletas.Perfect, I am going to get the suitcases.
- LucíaYo llevo las llaves.I'll take the keys.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
