Maten är klar nu.

to be

Breakdown of Maten är klar nu.

• maten: the food
• nu: now
• klar: done

Questions & Answers about Maten är klar nu.

Why is it maten and not just mat?

Because maten is the definite form of mat.

• mat = food
• maten = the food

In Swedish, definiteness is often shown by adding an ending to the noun instead of using a separate word like the in English.

So:

• mat = food
• maten = the food

In this sentence, Swedish is talking about a specific meal or food that both speaker and listener already know about, so maten is natural.

Does maten mean the food, or can it mean the meal / dinner?

It can mean both, depending on context.

In everyday speech, maten är klar nu often means something like:

• the food is ready now
• dinner is ready now
• the meal is ready now

If someone calls people to the table, maten often refers to the meal being served, not just food in a general sense.

What does klar mean here?

Here, klar means ready.

So maten är klar means the food is ready to be eaten or served.

But klar can also mean other things in other contexts, such as:

• finished
• done
• clear

For example:

• Jag är klar. = I’m done.
• Är du klar? = Are you ready? / Are you done?

So the exact English translation depends on the situation.