Mamá prepara un almuerzo especial para mí.

Mom prepares a special lunch for me.

Breakdown of Mamá prepara un almuerzo especial para mí.

• la mamá: the mom
• para: for
• especial: special
• preparar: to prepare
• el almuerzo: the lunch
• mí: me

Questions & Answers about Mamá prepara un almuerzo especial para mí.

Why is "Mamá" used here instead of "Madre"?

In many Spanish-speaking contexts, Mamá is a warm, familiar term for "mom," similar to how an English speaker might say Mom instead of Mother. Using Mamá feels more affectionate and casual than using the more formal Madre.

What does "almuerzo" mean, and how is it different from other mealtimes?

In Latin America, almuerzo generally refers to "lunch." In some countries, people may also use the word comida to refer to the midday meal. However, in most places, almuerzo specifically points to the midday meal, while cena is dinner or supper.

Why do we say "un almuerzo especial" instead of "una almuerzo especial"?

In Spanish, nouns have a grammatical gender—almuerzo is a masculine noun, so you use the masculine indefinite article un. If it were a feminine noun, such as cena, it would be una cena especial.

Why do we use "para mí" instead of "a mí" in this sentence?

When expressing something being done for someone’s benefit, Spanish uses para followed by the pronoun mí. The phrase para mí translates directly to "for me." The usage a mí is often used to express direction or emphasis on the person receiving an action, but doesn't fit the idea of "for me" in this context.

Why is the verb "prepara" in the present tense instead of something like "está preparando"?

The simple present tense prepara can be used in Spanish to describe an action that is happening now or a habitual action. If the context makes it clear that it's happening at the moment, prepara is sufficient. If you wanted to emphasize that it's happening right now, you could say está preparando, but a simple present tense is perfectly natural here.