French Phrase
Prépare un kit d'urgence.
Meaning
This sentence is a direct instruction telling someone to assemble an emergency kit – a collection of supplies (water, food, flashlight, first‑aid items, etc.) that can be used in a crisis or natural disaster.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving safety advice, during a preparedness workshop, or when reminding a friend or family member to get ready for a storm, power outage, or any situation that may require quick access to essential items.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Prépareunkitd'urgence.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Prépare’ is the affirmative imperative form of the verb ‘préparer’ used when giving a direct command to ‘tu’.
Indefinite article ‘un’
‘un’ is the masculine singular indefinite article, matching the gender of the noun ‘kit’.
Borrowed noun ‘kit’
‘kit’ is a loanword from English, masculine in French, and does not change in plural (les kits).
Contraction ‘d’’
‘d’’ is the contracted form of ‘de’ before a vowel or mute ‘h’; it links the noun ‘kit’ with the complement ‘urgence’.
Noun ‘urgence’
‘urgence’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘emergency’; in this construction it functions as a complement of the noun ‘kit’.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est‑ce qu'on doit faire avant la tempête ?
What should we do before the storm?
Prépare un kit d'urgence.
Prepare an emergency kit.
✕Common Mistakes
une kit d'urgence
‘Kit’ is masculine; the correct article is ‘un’.
Préparer un kit d'urgence
Using the infinitive ‘préparer’ does not give a command. Use the imperative ‘Prépare’.
un kit de urgence
Before a vowel, ‘de’ contracts to ‘d’’. The correct form is ‘d'urgence’.
↔Alternatives
Constitue un kit d'urgence.
Put together an emergency kit.
Mets en place un kit d'urgence.
Set up an emergency kit.
Prépare un sac d'urgence.
Prepare an emergency bag.
Cultural Tip
In France and many francophone regions, civil protection agencies recommend keeping a ‘kit d'urgence’ at home and in the car. The kit usually contains bottled water, non‑perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first‑aid kit, and copies of important documents. When speaking about safety, a slightly formal register is preferred, so the imperative ‘Prépare…’ works well in written instructions or public announcements.