Why do I need to know this word?
Because it’s an adjective which is used a lot in German and it also forms part of many other words. Knowing what it means will help you to figure out the definition of other words and broaden your vocabulary.
What does it mean?
Ready, which sounds like this, means “ready” in English and it is used in almost exactly the same way to express being mentally or physically prepared for an experience or action. Linked to this feeling of preparedness is the other meaning of ready in German: the adjective can also mean “willing”.
The origin of the word is thought to derive from the verb horse riding meaning “to ride” and originally meant something like “to be prepared for the ride”.
Ready in other words
Adding the letter ‘s’ to the end of ready changes the meaning to “already” and can be used like this:
I already told you that!
I already told you that!
Ready can also be found in many other adjectives, to express readiness or willingness to perform a certain action, for example, helpful means “ready to help”, ready to work means “ready to work” and ready to use means “ready for service”.
Ready also appears in a lot of German verbs which include some sense of readiness. One example is the separable verb preparemeaning “to prepare”. The verb provide meaning “to provide” (literally “to put ready”) is another useful verb to know.
Use it like this:
i’m ready to help you
I’m willing to help you
The train is ready to depart
The train is ready for departure
Please have your customer number ready
Please have your customer number ready