Italian Phrase
La cena sarà pronta tra poco.
Meaning
This phrase is used to inform others that the evening meal is in its final stages of preparation. It employs the future tense of the verb 'essere' to indicate an imminent state of readiness.
When to use
Use this phrase at home or in a social setting when you are cooking and want to let your family or guests know they will be eating very soon. It is a polite way to manage expectations and signal the start of a meal.
✦Grammar Breakdown
La cenasaràprontatra poco
Future Tense (sarà)
The verb 'sarà' is the third-person singular future form of 'essere' (to be), used here to describe a future state.
Adjective Agreement
The adjective 'pronta' (ready) uses the feminine 'a' ending to match the feminine noun 'la cena'.
Time Expressions
'Tra poco' is a fixed expression meaning 'soon' or 'in a bit'. 'Tra' and 'fra' are interchangeable in this context.
🗨In Conversation
Ho molta fame, quando mangiamo?
I'm very hungry, when are we eating?
La cena sarà pronta tra poco.
Dinner will be ready in a little while.
✕Common Mistakes
La cena sarà pronta in poco.
In Italian, 'tra poco' or 'fra poco' is the correct prepositional phrase for 'in a little while' regarding time duration.
La cena sarà pronto tra poco.
The adjective 'pronto' must agree with the feminine noun 'la cena', so it must be 'pronta'.
↔Alternatives
La cena è quasi pronta.
Dinner is almost ready.
Si mangia tra poco.
We eat in a little while.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, dinner is a significant social occasion that typically starts later than in many English-speaking countries, often around 8:00 PM or later. Saying 'tra poco' usually implies a wait of roughly 5 to 15 minutes, giving guests time to finish what they are doing and gather at the table.