German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Ready" in German: fertig
fertig
Note: also: bereit
Ready in German is fertig. Say Ich bin fertig or Bist du fertig?. Bereit also means ready, but for this headword use fertig as the main word.
Leaving the house
Zwei Minuten — dann bin ich fertig.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce fertig
Say it
FAIR-tikh
/ˈfɛʁtɪç/
FAIR-tikh. Soft e; rolled or uvular r light; -ig like ikh.
"Ready" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| fertig | ready / finished Core adjective. | Core adjective. |
| ich bin fertig | I'm ready / I'm done Everyday line. | Everyday line. |
| fertig mit … | done with … Finished a task. | Finished a task. |
| fast fertig | almost ready Nearly there. | Nearly there. |
How to use fertig in real life
- 1Leaving the house
Zwei Minuten — dann bin ich fertig.
Two minutes — then I'm ready.
Ich bin fertig.
- 2Homework
Bist du fertig mit dem Essay?
Are you done with the essay?
Fertig mit.
- 3Cooking
Das Essen ist fertig, kommt bitte.
The food is ready, please come.
Ist fertig.
Mistakes English speakers make with fertig
Incorrect: Ich bin bereit. (only, for this page)
Correct: Ich bin fertig.
Bereit is a note synonym; teach fertig as the headword.
Incorrect: Ich bin ready.
Correct: Ich bin fertig.
Use fertig.
Good to know
Fertig covers both ready to go and finished with a task. Tone decides: Ich bin fertig can mean I'm done here emotionally if said sharply.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Catching a train together
ChatPal
Sind die Schuhe schon an?
Are your shoes on already?
You
Ja. Ich bin fertig und warte an der Tür.
Yes. I'm ready and waiting at the door.
ChatPal
Gut, ich bin auch fertig. Los!
Good, I'm ready too. Let's go!
You
Bahnsteig fünf, oder?
Platform five, right?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Ready" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Ready" in German
How do you say ready in German?
Fertig.
How do you say I'm ready?
Ich bin fertig.
Is bereit wrong?
Not wrong, but fertig is the headword here.
How do you say almost ready?
Fast fertig.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
