Spanish word

listo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlisto/

Meaning

  • adjectiveready

Example

¿Estás listo para salir?

Are you ready to go out?

Illustration for listo (ready)

More examples

¿Ya estás listo para empezar?

Are you already ready to start?

Core concept

Person poised at a doorway with a packed bag.

Common phrases

  • estar listo

    be ready

  • listo para empezar

    ready to start

Similar words

preparado: Prepared by finishing required steps or gathering needed materials.
prevenido: Prepared for surprises by anticipating issues and setting safeguards.
pronto: Ready to start at once or within a very short time.

Definition in Spanish

Señala que alguien o algo está preparado para actuar o, en referencia a personas, que tiene agudeza mental o destreza práctica.

Word origin

Comes from a Germanic root *list- via Old French list 'cunning', originally meaning 'clever' and later extended in Spanish to also mean 'ready'.

Usage tips

  • Estar listo expresses being prepared while ser listo means being clever, and the exclamation ¡Listo! commonly means 'all set' or 'done' in everyday speech.

Other meanings

  • smartadjective
  • doneinterjection

Opposites

  • desprevenidounpreparedadjective

Word lists with this word