El almuerzo está listo.

to be

Breakdown of El almuerzo está listo.

• el almuerzo: the lunch
• listo: ready

Questions & Answers about El almuerzo está listo.

Why is “estar” used here instead of “ser”?

In Spanish, estar generally indicates a state or condition that can change. Saying El almuerzo está listo means that the lunch is in a ready state. If you used ser, you would imply a more permanent characteristic, which doesn’t fit well with something that’s temporarily ready.

Is “almuerzo” always used for lunch?

Typically, almuerzo refers to lunch in most Latin American countries. However, in some regions, almuerzo can also mean a mid-morning snack or brunch-type meal. Context usually helps clarify exactly what meal is meant.

Why is the article “el” used before “almuerzo”?

Spanish often requires definite articles where English might omit them, especially for general statements about meals. In English, you might say Lunch is ready, but in Spanish it’s standard to use El almuerzo. The article makes the sentence more natural-sounding in Spanish.

Can I say “La comida está lista” to mean the same thing?

Yes. In many Spanish-speaking regions, la comida is a general term for “the meal,” often referring to lunch. Saying La comida está lista could mean roughly the same thing. However, to be specific about lunch, El almuerzo está listo is more precise.

Do I need to worry about any regional differences with this phrase?

Not significantly. Across Latin America, El almuerzo está listo will be understood to mean The lunch is ready. The main difference might be that some people could prefer other words for lunch (such as comida), but your phrase will still be clear everywhere.