Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'a fi gata' to say you are ready for something or that a task is finished.
- Means: To be ready or to be finished with something.
- Used in: Leaving the house, finishing meals, or completing work tasks.
- Don't confuse: Don't conjugate 'gata'; it stays the same for everyone!
Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:
Bedeutung
Being prepared for an action or event.
Kultureller Hintergrund
When visiting a Romanian home, 'Mâncarea e gata' is the most important phrase you'll hear. It's considered rude to stay 'gata' (ready) to leave too early; you are expected to enjoy the meal slowly. In social contexts, being 'gata' at the agreed time is often treated flexibly. If a party starts at 8:00, people might only be 'gata' to arrive at 8:30. In villages, 'gata' is used to signal the end of communal work (clacă). When the roof is 'gata,' the whole village celebrates. Romanian tech users often see 'Gata' as the button label for 'Done' or 'Submit' in localized apps, replacing the more formal 'Trimite'.
The 'No-Change' Rule
Remember that 'gata' is your best friend because it never changes for gender or number. One person is gata, ten people are gata!
Gata vs Deja
Never use 'gata' to mean 'already' in the middle of a sentence. 'I already know' is 'Știu deja', not 'Știu gata'.
The 'No-Change' Rule
Remember that 'gata' is your best friend because it never changes for gender or number. One person is gata, ten people are gata!
Gata vs Deja
Never use 'gata' to mean 'already' in the middle of a sentence. 'I already know' is 'Știu deja', not 'Știu gata'.
The One-Word Answer
If someone asks you a long question about if you've finished something, you can just say 'Gata!' to mean 'It's all done!'
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'a fi'.
Eu ___ gata de plecare.
For the first person singular 'Eu', the correct form of 'a fi' is 'sunt'.
Choose the correct sentence.
How do you say 'The food is ready'?
'Gata' never changes to 'gată', and 'mâncarea' is third person singular (este).
Match the Romanian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the most common variations of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
Taxi Driver: 'Sunt în fața casei.' Pasager: 'Vin acum, ___ gata!'
The passenger is talking about themselves (I am ready).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenEu ___ gata de plecare.
For the first person singular 'Eu', the correct form of 'a fi' is 'sunt'.
How do you say 'The food is ready'?
'Gata' never changes to 'gată', and 'mâncarea' is third person singular (este).
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the most common variations of the phrase.
Taxi Driver: 'Sunt în fața casei.' Pasager: 'Vin acum, ___ gata!'
The passenger is talking about themselves (I am ready).
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's an adjective/adverb. You need the verb 'a fi' (to be) to use it in a sentence.
No, 'gata' is indeclinable. It stays 'gata' for everyone.
It usually means 'Finished!', 'Done!', or 'Stop it!' depending on the context.
You can say 'Sunt aproape gata'.
It's neutral. You can use it in almost any situation, but 'pregătit' is slightly more formal.
It means 'on the very verge of' or 'just about to'.
Yes, 'Mâncarea e gata' is the standard way to say food is ready.
Yes, in the phrase 'Gata cu...' (Enough with...), it signals to stop something.
'Terminat' specifically means finished, while 'gata' can mean both finished and prepared.
Use the phrase 'haine de-a gata'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
A fi pregătit
synonymTo be prepared
A termina
similarTo finish
Gata-gata să
specialized formOn the verge of
De-a gata
specialized formReady-made / Without effort
Gata cu asta!
contrastEnough with this!
Wo du es verwendest
Leaving for a trip
Mama: Sunteți gata de plecare?
Copilul: Da, suntem gata!
At a restaurant
Chelner: Sunteți gata să comandați?
Client: Nu încă, mai avem nevoie de un minut.
Finishing a work task
Șeful: Când va fi gata raportul?
Angajat: Va fi gata până diseară.
Dinner time
Bunica: Gata! Hai la masă!
Nepot: Vin acum, bunico!
In a taxi/Uber
Șofer: Sunt aici. Sunteți gata?
Pasager: Cobor acum, sunt gata.
Gym/Sports
Antrenor: Ești gata pentru ultima serie?
Sportiv: Sunt gata, să mergem!
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Gata' as 'Got-a' plan. If you've 'Got-a' plan, you are GATA!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a runner at the starting blocks. The referee shouts 'Gata!' instead of 'Ready!'. The runner is wearing a shirt that says 'GATA' in big letters.
Rhyme
Când masa e gata, vine și tata! (When the meal is ready, dad comes too!)
Story
Imagine you are in a race in Bucharest. You tie your shoes (Sunt gata!), you finish your water (Gata!), and you cross the finish line (Gata!). The word follows you from start to finish.
In Other Languages
In Spanish, 'listo' functions similarly, meaning both 'ready' and 'clever.' In English, 'done' can mean both 'finished' and 'exhausted,' just like 'gata.'
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to say 'Sunt gata' every time you finish a small task today (like washing a dish or sending an email).
Review this on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the fact that 'gata' never changes its ending.
Aussprache
The 'g' is hard like in 'go', 'a' is open like in 'father'.
Formalitätsspektrum
Sunteți gata pentru plecare? (Departure)
Ești gata să plecăm? (Departure)
Gata de drum? (Departure)
Ești pe felie? Mergem? (Departure)
Derived from the Slavic 'gotovŭ' (ready). It entered Romanian during the early medieval period when Slavic tribes settled in the Balkan region.
Wusstest du?
Despite being a Slavic word, it is used in Romanian with the Latin verb 'a fi', creating a perfect 'hybrid' Romance-Slavic sentence.
Kulturelle Hinweise
When visiting a Romanian home, 'Mâncarea e gata' is the most important phrase you'll hear. It's considered rude to stay 'gata' (ready) to leave too early; you are expected to enjoy the meal slowly.
“Gata, am pus masa!”
In social contexts, being 'gata' at the agreed time is often treated flexibly. If a party starts at 8:00, people might only be 'gata' to arrive at 8:30.
“Sunt gata în 5 minute (usually means 15).”
In villages, 'gata' is used to signal the end of communal work (clacă). When the roof is 'gata,' the whole village celebrates.
“Casa e gata!”
Romanian tech users often see 'Gata' as the button label for 'Done' or 'Submit' in localized apps, replacing the more formal 'Trimite'.
“Apasă pe 'Gata'.”
Gesprächseinstiege
Ești gata pentru weekend?
Când va fi gata proiectul tău?
Ești gata să înveți o limbă nouă?
Häufige Fehler
Eu sunt gată.
Eu sunt gata.
L1 Interference
Am gata mâncarea.
Am terminat mâncarea / Mâncarea e gata.
L1 Interference
Sunt gata deja.
Sunt gata. / Am terminat deja.
L1 Interference
Ești gata pentru a pleca?
Ești gata de plecare?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Estar listo
Spanish adjectives decline for gender; Romanian 'gata' is indeclinable.
Être prêt
French requires gender agreement.
Bereit sein / Fertig sein
German has two distinct words for the two senses of 'gata'.
準備ができている (Junbi ga dekite iru)
Japanese focuses on the state of 'preparation' rather than an adjective of 'readiness'.
مستعد (Musta'idd)
Morphological changes based on the subject's gender and number.
准备好了 (Zhǔnbèi hǎole)
Uses a verb-complement structure rather than a 'to be' + adjective structure.
준비됐다 (Junbi dwaetda)
Uses the 'become' verb instead of the 'to be' verb.
Estar pronto
Portuguese 'pronto' declines for gender.
Spotted in the Real World
“Sunt gata de plecare, nu mă mai opresc.”
A popular Romanian pop song about moving on and being ready for a new journey.
“Ești gata pentru examen?”
A father asking his daughter if she is prepared for her final exams.
“#SuntGata pentru vară!”
Common hashtag used when showing off summer outfits or fitness progress.
“România este gata pentru aderarea la Schengen.”
Reporting on political readiness for international agreements.
“Gata de școală?”
Back-to-school campaign for the largest Romanian retailer.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners use 'gata' to mean 'already' because both imply completion.
Use 'deja' for 'already' (time) and 'gata' for 'ready' (state).
They both mean ready, but 'pregătit' is more formal.
Use 'gata' for daily life and 'pregătit' for professional or serious contexts.
Häufig gestellte Fragen (10)
No, it's an adjective/adverb. You need the verb 'a fi' (to be) to use it in a sentence.
grammar mechanicsNo, 'gata' is indeclinable. It stays 'gata' for everyone.
common mistakesIt usually means 'Finished!', 'Done!', or 'Stop it!' depending on the context.
usage contextsYou can say 'Sunt aproape gata'.
practical tipsIt's neutral. You can use it in almost any situation, but 'pregătit' is slightly more formal.
basic understandingIt means 'on the very verge of' or 'just about to'.
usage contextsYes, 'Mâncarea e gata' is the standard way to say food is ready.
practical tipsYes, in the phrase 'Gata cu...' (Enough with...), it signals to stop something.
usage contexts'Terminat' specifically means finished, while 'gata' can mean both finished and prepared.
comparisonsUse the phrase 'haine de-a gata'.
practical tips
