French Phrase
On est prêts à commander le dessert maintenant.
Meaning
The sentence means “We are ready to order dessert now.” It conveys that the speakers have finished their main course and are prepared to ask for the sweet finish.
When to use
Use this phrase at a restaurant when the whole table has finished eating and wants to signal the waiter that it’s time to order dessert. It works in casual settings among friends or family.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onestprêtsàcommanderledessertmaintenant
On (informal we/one)
"On" is a neutral pronoun used in everyday French to mean "we" or "people in general".
être (est)
"Est" is the third‑person singular present of "être" and agrees with the subject "on".
Adjective agreement (prêts)
When "on" refers to more than one person, the adjective takes the plural form "prêts".
à + infinitive (à commander)
"À" introduces an infinitive to express readiness or intention: "prêt(s) à + verb".
Definite article (le dessert)
Use "le" when you are talking about the specific dessert on the menu.
Adverb of time (maintenant)
"Maintenant" places the action in the present moment.
🗨In Conversation
On est prêts à commander le dessert maintenant.
We’re ready to order dessert now.
Très bien, je vous apporte la carte des desserts.
Very well, I’ll bring you the dessert menu.
✕Common Mistakes
On est prêt à commander le dessert maintenant.
If "on" refers to several people, the adjective must be plural: "prêts".
On est prêts de commander le dessert maintenant.
The construction is "prêt(s) à + infinitive", not "prêt(s) de".
On est prêts à commander le dessert maintenant.
If you want a generic dessert, use "un dessert"; "le dessert" refers to a specific one on the menu.
↔Alternatives
Nous sommes prêts à commander le dessert maintenant.
We are ready to order the dessert now.
On peut commander le dessert maintenant.
We can order the dessert now.
C’est le moment de commander le dessert.
It’s time to order dessert.
Cultural Tip
In French dining, dessert is often enjoyed after coffee, but it’s perfectly acceptable to order it as soon as you’re finished with the main course. Using "on" keeps the tone friendly and informal; switch to "nous" in a more formal restaurant or with strangers.