German Phrase
Welche Infos muss ich parat haben?
Meaning
The sentence asks what pieces of information you need to have ready. It combines the informal noun 'Infos' with the idiom 'parat haben' to stress preparation.
When to use
Use this question before a meeting, interview, exam, or any situation where you need to gather the necessary data in advance. It’s common in casual conversation among colleagues or friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WelcheInfosmussichparathaben?
Welche (interrogative determiner)
Used to ask 'which' and agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.
Infos (colloquial plural)
Short for 'Informationen', used in informal spoken German; treat as feminine plural.
muss (modal verb)
Third‑person singular form of 'müssen', expresses necessity; conjugates with the infinitive at the end.
parat haben (idiom)
Literally 'to have at hand', meaning to have something ready or prepared.
🗨In Conversation
Welche Infos muss ich parat haben?
What information do I need to have ready?
Du brauchst die Kontaktdaten, das Projekt‑Briefing und deine Fragen.
You need the contact details, the project brief, and your questions.
✕Common Mistakes
Welche Infos muss ich haben?
Missing the idiom 'parat' which changes the meaning to simply 'must have' rather than 'must have ready'.
Welche Infos habe ich muss?
Incorrect word order; German places the modal verb before the infinitive at the end of the clause.
Welche Infos muss ich parat haben?
In formal contexts, use 'Informationen' instead of the colloquial 'Infos'.
↔Alternatives
Welche Informationen sollte ich bereit haben?
Which information should I have ready?
Was muss ich an Informationen bereithalten?
What information do I need to keep on hand?
Welche Daten brauche ich im Voraus?
Which data do I need in advance?
Cultural Tip
In formal German, replace the colloquial 'Infos' with 'Informationen' and the idiom 'parat haben' with 'bereit haben'. The modal verb 'muss' conveys a strong obligation; if you want to sound softer, use 'sollte' (should). Also, German speakers often ask this question in a brief, to‑the‑point way, especially in business settings.