Breakdown of Das Mittagessen ist gleich fertig.
sein
to be
fertig
ready / finished
das Mittagessen
the lunch
gleich
almost / soon (in a moment)
Questions & Answers about Das Mittagessen ist gleich fertig.
Why does gleich translate to "almost" here? Doesn't it usually mean "equal" or "soon"?
You are right! gleich often means "equal", but when talking about time, it means "shortly", "in a moment", or "right away". Saying "Lunch is ready in a moment" translates most naturally to "Lunch is almost ready" in English.
How can I remember that Mittagessen means lunch?
It helps to break the word apart! Mittag means "noon" or "midday" (from Mitte plus Tag), and Essen means "food" or "meal". So, Mittagessen literally means the "midday meal".
Why is it das Mittagessen?
In German, when you combine words to make a new one (a compound noun), the gender is always determined by the very last word. Since it is das Essen (the food or meal), the combined word becomes das Mittagessen.
Does fertig mean "ready" or "finished"?
It can mean both! When talking about a meal being prepared, fertig means "ready". If you are talking about eating the meal or doing a task, it usually means "finished" or "done".
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