Italian Phrase
Prepara gli ingredienti in anticipo.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to get all the cooking components ready before you start the actual preparation. It emphasizes planning ahead to make the cooking process smoother and faster.
When to use
Use this phrase in a kitchen setting when you’re coordinating a meal, giving instructions to a cooking partner, or reminding yourself to do the ‘mise en place’ before you begin cooking.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Preparagliingredientiinanticipo.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Prepara’ is the informal command form of the verb ‘preparare’, used when speaking to one person you know well.
Definite article ‘gli’
‘gli’ is the plural masculine definite article (the) that precedes nouns beginning with a vowel or ‘i’.
Noun agreement
‘ingredienti’ is a masculine plural noun, so it matches the article ‘gli’.
Adverbial phrase ‘in anticipo’
‘in anticipo’ means ‘in advance’ or ‘ahead of time’ and works as an adverb modifying the verb.
🗨In Conversation
Prepara gli ingredienti in anticipo.
Prepare the ingredients in advance.
Certo, così risparmierò tempo durante la cottura.
Sure, that way I’ll save time while cooking.
✕Common Mistakes
Preparare gli ingredienti in anticipo.
‘Preparare’ is the infinitive; you need the imperative ‘Prepara’ when giving a command.
Prepara gli verdure in anticipo.
If the ingredients are feminine (e.g., ‘le verdure’), the article must agree: ‘le verdure’. Using ‘gli’ with a feminine noun is incorrect.
Prepara gli ingredienti anticipo.
Do not split the adverbial phrase; ‘in’ must stay together with ‘anticipo’.
↔Alternatives
Metti da parte gli ingredienti prima di iniziare.
Set aside the ingredients before you start.
Organizza gli ingredienti prima di cucinare.
Organize the ingredients before cooking.
Fai la mise en place prima di cominciare.
Do the mise en place before beginning.
Cultural Tip
Italian cuisine values ‘mise en place’ – having everything ready before you start cooking. Chefs and home cooks alike will often say ‘prepara gli ingredienti in anticipo’ to avoid scrambling mid‑recipe. In family kitchens, this habit also shows respect for the host and keeps the cooking flow smooth.