Parler français, c'est comme se préparer pour un voyage: il faut être "prêt"! Mais saviez-vous qu'il existe bien plus d'une façon de dire "ready" en français? Ce n'est pas toujours aussi simple que "prêt" ou "prête"!

Que vous vous prépariez pour une conversation, un examen, ou même un repas, maîtriser ces nuances vous aidera à parler comme un vrai natif.

Alors, êtes-vous "ready" à découvrir 9 façons différentes d'exprimer "ready" en français et d'enrichir votre vocabulaire? C'est parti!

The standard 'ready' – prêt/prête

The French adjective prêt (or prête in its feminine form) is the most common and versatile word for 'ready'.

Like most French adjectives, prêt must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies (or the subject of the verb être). You'll encounter it as: prêt - masculine singular (e.g., Il est prêt. - He is ready.) prête - feminine singular (e.g., Elle est prête. - She is ready.) prêts - masculine plural (e.g., Ils sont prêts. - They are ready.) prêtes - feminine plural (e.g., Elles sont prêtes. - They are ready.)

Prêt/prête can be used in a wide range of situations, from informal daily conversations to more formal contexts, making it your go-to word for 'ready'.

While prêt/prête means 'ready,' expressing what one is ready for requires specific prepositions, primarily à or pour.

Generally, use être prêt(e) à when followed by an infinitive verb, meaning 'to be ready to do something'. Use être prêt(e) pour when followed by a noun, meaning 'to be ready for something/someone'.

For instance, Je suis prêt à partir (I am ready to leave) uses à because partir is a verb. In contrast, Nous sommes prêts pour le dîner (We are ready for dinner) uses pour because le dîner is a noun.

The phrase prêt-à-porter (literally 'ready to wear') is a well-known example of prêt in action, referring to off-the-rack clothing. It highlights the idea of something being immediately available and prepared for use.

In most contexts, the meaning of prêt/prête is straightforward. The choice between à and pour will usually be clear depending on whether you're ready to do something (verb) or ready for something/someone (noun).

While prêt/prête is universally understood, in some informal settings, you might hear C'est bon ! (It's good/It's done!) used to imply 'I'm ready' or 'It's ready,' especially when something has been completed, though prêt is more explicit.

💡 * Je suis prêt. (I am ready.)

Elle est prête à partir. (She is ready to leave.)

Nous sommes prêts pour la fête. (We are ready for the party.)

Êtes-vous prêts, les enfants ? (Are you ready, kids?)

Les documents sont prêtes. (The documents are ready.)

The 'to be ready to' – être prêt/prête à

The phrase you'll often hear when someone is prepared for an action is être prêt/prête à.

The expression être prêt/prête à directly translates to "to be ready to" in English. It's used when someone is prepared or willing to perform a specific action, which is always followed by an infinitive verb.

As prêt is an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the subject of the verb être. You'll use prêt for masculine singular subjects (e.g., il est prêt), prête for feminine singular (e.g., elle est prête), prêts for masculine plural (e.g., ils sont prêts), and prêtes for feminine plural (e.g., elles sont prêtes).

The preposition à is crucial here. It acts as the link between the adjective prêt/prête and the infinitive verb that follows, indicating the action one is ready for. Without à, the meaning changes or the phrase becomes grammatically incorrect when followed by a verb.

This phrase is incredibly versatile and used in many everyday situations. Whether it's being ready to leave, to eat, to start a task, or to face a challenge, être prêt/prête à is your go-to expression. It conveys a sense of preparedness and intention for an immediate or upcoming action.

Remember that être is an irregular verb, so you'll need to conjugate it correctly according to the subject. For example, je suis prêt(e) à, tu es prêt(e) à, nous sommes prêts/prêtes à, etc.

💡 * Je suis prêt à partir. (I am ready to leave.)

Elle est prête à manger. (She is ready to eat.)

Nous sommes prêts à commencer. (We are ready to start.)

Êtes-vous prêts à relever le défi ? (Are you ready to take on the challenge?)

Ils ne sont pas prêts à abandonner. (They are not ready to give up.)

The 'available' (implies readiness) – disponible

Disponible is a common and versatile French adjective that translates directly to 'available' in English. It's used in a variety of contexts, from indicating physical presence to readiness.

One of the most straightforward uses of disponible is to describe something that is physically present, accessible, or not currently in use. This applies to objects, rooms, tickets, or even products in a store.

When referring to people, disponible often means 'free' or 'having time.' You might use it to ask if someone is free for an appointment or if they are available to talk.

Beyond simple availability, disponible can also imply a state of readiness, willingness, or openness. For instance, someone might be disponible for a new project, a relationship, or to help others, suggesting they are prepared and able to engage.

Unlike many French adjectives, disponible is invariable. This means its form does not change to agree in gender or number with the noun it modifies. It remains disponible whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural.

You'll frequently encounter disponible in phrases like 'être disponible' (to be available), 'un poste disponible' (an available position/job opening), or 'places disponibles' (available seats).

💡 * Le livre est disponible en magasin. (The book is available in store.)

Es-tu disponible demain après-midi ? (Are you free/available tomorrow afternoon?)

Elle est toujours disponible pour aider ses amis. (She is always ready/willing to help her friends.)

Nous n'avons plus de chambres disponibles. (We no longer have any rooms available.)

Je suis disponible pour de nouvelles opportunités. (I am open to new opportunities.)

The 'prepared' or 'ready' (for action) – paré/parée

The French adjective paré (masculine) or parée (feminine) translates to “prepared” or “ready,” often implying readiness for action, departure, or a specific event.

As an adjective, paré/parée must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. So, you’ll use paré for masculine singular subjects and parée for feminine singular subjects. For plural forms, it becomes parés (masculine plural) and parées (feminine plural).

This adjective is frequently used in contexts of readiness for departure, a task, or an event. For instance, sailors might say Le navire est paré (The ship is ready for departure) or someone might ask Es-tu paré pour le défi ? (Are you ready for the challenge?). It conveys a sense of being fully equipped and mentally prepared.

The adjective paré/parée comes from the verb parer, which means “to prepare,” “to adorn,” or “to ward off.” In this context, it emphasizes the preparatory aspect, indicating that something or someone has been made ready.

💡 *Le bateau est paré au départ. (The boat is ready for departure.)
*Nous sommes parés pour la randonnée. (We are ready for the hike.)
*Elle est parée pour sa présentation. (She is prepared for her presentation.)
*Les athlètes sont parés pour la compétition. (The athletes are ready for the competition.)
*Est-ce que tout est paré ? (Is everything ready?)

The 'all set' or 'fully ready' – fin prêt/fin prête

The “all set” or “fully ready” – fin prêt/fin prête

Fin prêt (masculine) and fin prête (feminine) are expressions used to convey that someone or something is completely ready, perfectly prepared, or “all set” for an upcoming event, task, or situation.

The word fin here acts as an intensifier, similar to “fully” or “completely” in English. It’s not related to the end (la fin), but rather an older adjectival use meaning “fine” or “perfect.”

As an adjective, prêt must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun it modifies. Thus, you'll see fin prêt (m.sg.), fin prête (f.sg.), fins prêts (m.pl.), and fins prêtes (f.pl.).

This phrase is commonly used when someone has completed all necessary preparations and is awaiting a specific moment. Think of it as being at the peak of readiness, with nothing left to do.

It implies a strong, active state of preparedness, often with an element of anticipation. It's more emphatic than simply saying prêt.

💡 * Je suis fin prêt pour l'examen de demain. (I am fully ready for tomorrow's exam.)

Elle était fin prête pour son grand discours. (She was all set for her big speech.)

Les athlètes sont fins prêts pour la compétition. (The athletes are fully ready for the competition.)

Les valises sont fins prêtes, nous pouvons partir. (The suitcases are all packed, we can leave.)

Es-tu fin prêt à relever le défi ? (Are you completely ready to take on the challenge?)

The 'to be about to' (implies readiness) – être sur le point de

The 'to be about to' (implies readiness) – être sur le point de

Être sur le point de is a common French expression that literally translates to “to be on the point of”. It conveys the idea of being about to do something very soon, often implying a sense of immediate readiness or imminence. It's stronger than just “going to” and suggests the action is practically at hand.

The structure is straightforward: conjugate être according to the subject, then add sur le point de followed by an infinitive verb. For example, Je suis sur le point de partir (I am about to leave).

This phrase is perfect for situations where an action is imminent. It suggests that the subject is prepared or positioned to perform the action right away. Think of it as being “on the verge of” or “on the brink of” doing something.

While the simple future (Je partirai - I will leave) indicates a future action, être sur le point de specifically highlights its immediate proximity. It's more emphatic than the futur proche (aller + infinitive) when emphasizing absolute imminence.

💡 * Nous sommes sur le point de manger. (We are about to eat.)

Elle est sur le point de partir. (She is about to leave.)

Le train est sur le point d'arriver. (The train is about to arrive.)

Ils étaient sur le point de commencer le film. (They were about to start the movie.)

Je suis sur le point de t'appeler. (I am about to call you.)

1. The 'in a state of readiness' – en état

The French phrase en état literally translates to "in a state" or "in condition". It's used to describe something or someone being in a particular state or condition, often implying readiness, working order, or a specific status.

While en état can stand alone, it's very frequently followed by a preposition, most commonly de, to specify the state. For instance, en état de marche means "in working order" or "operational", and en état de nuire means "in a state to cause harm".

Often, en état implies a capability or readiness for an action. For example, if a vehicle is en état de fonctionner, it's capable of functioning. It's a versatile phrase that conveys the current condition or status of something.

💡 * La voiture n'est pas en état de rouler. (The car is not in a state to drive / is not roadworthy.)

Le moteur est en parfait état de marche. (The engine is in perfect working order.)

Elle n'était pas en état de parler après l'accident. (She was not in a state to speak after the accident.)

Nous devons vérifier que tous les équipements sont en état. (We must check that all equipment is in condition / ready.)

L'accusé a été déclaré en état d'arrestation. (The accused was declared under arrest.)

The 'operational' or 'ready for use' – opérationnel/opérationnelle

The French adjective opérationnel/opérationnelle signifies 'operational' or 'ready for use'. It describes something that is fully functional, prepared for deployment, or capable of executing its intended purpose effectively.

This term is frequently encountered in technical, business, and military domains. It indicates that a system, piece of equipment, or a project phase has been thoroughly tested and is now fully functional, stable, and prepared for active service or implementation.

Beyond inanimate objects, opérationnel can also characterize an individual who is prepared and able to perform a task, or a strategy that is concrete, viable, and ready for execution. For instance, 'être opérationnel' means to be ready to act.

As an adjective, opérationnel must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It becomes opérationnelle for feminine singular, opérationnels for masculine plural, and opérationnelles for feminine plural.

💡 * Le nouveau système est enfin opérationnel. (The new system is finally operational.)

L'équipe est opérationnelle pour la mission. (The team is ready for the mission.)

Le plan d'urgence est opérationnel depuis ce matin. (The emergency plan has been operational since this morning.)

Nos machines sont toutes opérationnelles. (All our machines are operational.)

Elle est très opérationnelle et gère bien les imprévus. (She is very effective/ready for action and and handles unforeseen events well.)

The 'ready for use' (for objects) – prêt à l'emploi

The French expression for 'ready for use' or 'ready-to-use' when referring to objects is prêt à l'emploi.

Literally, prêt means 'ready', à means 'to' or 'for', and l'emploi means 'the use' or 'the employment'. So, it directly translates to 'ready for the use'.

This phrase is most commonly applied to products, solutions, or items that are prepared and available for immediate function without further assembly or preparation. It is an invariable expression, meaning it doesn't change for gender or number, unlike prêt/prête/prêts/prêtes when used alone as an adjective.

Think of it as equivalent to English phrases like 'ready-to-use', 'off-the-shelf', 'pre-assembled', or 'pre-packaged'.

💡 * Le logiciel est prêt à l'emploi dès l'installation. (The software is ready for use right after installation.)

Nous vendons des kits de bricolage prêts à l'emploi. (We sell ready-to-use DIY kits.)

Ce plat surgelé est prêt à l'emploi après quelques minutes au micro-ondes. (This frozen dish is ready-to-use after a few minutes in the microwave.)

Les nouveaux ordinateurs sont livrés prêts à l'emploi. (The new computers are delivered ready-to-use.)

Are there other ways to say 'ready' in French?

Are there other ways to say ‘ready’ in French?

Our list covers the most common and versatile ways to say ‘ready’ in French. However, like any language, French is rich with nuances, including older expressions, regionalisms, and even evolving slang terms for being prepared that might not be on our main list.

If you're curious about specific regional variations, try an online search for “comment dire prêt en ___” followed by a particular Francophone country or region.

You might stumble upon some interesting synonyms or idiomatic expressions for prêt. Always make sure to look up the word’s exact meaning and observe how it's used in different contexts before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

As you immerse yourself in French media — reading, watching films, or listening to music — pay close attention. You might discover unique and colorful ways people express readiness or preparedness in real-life situations.

For a comprehensive deep dive into the various shades of 'ready' and related expressions, the WordReference entry for prêt is an excellent starting point to expand your knowledge.

I hope this article has helped you feel more confident in expressing readiness in French. To conclude, here’s a fitting thought from Louis Pasteur: “Le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés.” (Chance favors only the prepared mind.)

9 ways to say "ready" in French