Portuguese Phrase
Deixa os ingredientes prontos antes.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to have the ingredients ready beforehand. It’s a directive often used in cooking or preparation contexts, emphasizing that the ingredients should be set up prior to starting the next step.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re coordinating a cooking session, a workshop, or any activity that requires materials to be prepared in advance. It’s informal, so it works best with friends, family, or colleagues you’re on familiar terms with.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Deixaosingredientesprontosantes
Deixa (imperative of deixar)
‘Deixa’ is the informal imperative form of the verb ‘deixar’, meaning ‘to let’ or ‘to leave’. It is used when giving a casual command.
os (definite article)
‘os’ is the masculine plural definite article, equivalent to ‘the’ in English.
ingredientes (noun)
‘ingredientes’ is a masculine plural noun meaning ‘ingredients’.
prontos (adjective)
‘prontos’ is the masculine plural form of ‘pronto’, meaning ‘ready’. It agrees in gender and number with ‘ingredientes’.
antes (adverb)
‘antes’ means ‘before’ and can be used to indicate a prior action or condition.
🗨In Conversation
Deixa os ingredientes prontos antes.
Make sure the ingredients are ready beforehand.
Claro, já estou a cortar os legumes.
Sure, I’m already chopping the vegetables.
✕Common Mistakes
Deixe os ingredientes prontos antes.
‘Deixe’ is the formal imperative; using it in a casual setting sounds stiff.
Deixa os ingredientes pronta antes.
‘Pronta’ is feminine; it must agree with the masculine plural ‘ingredientes’.
Deixa os ingredientes prontos antes de.
Adding ‘de’ after ‘antes’ changes the meaning; ‘antes de’ needs a verb phrase, not a noun.
↔Alternatives
Tenha os ingredientes prontos antes.
Have the ingredients ready beforehand.
Prepare os ingredientes antes de começar.
Prepare the ingredients before starting.
Certifique‑se de que os ingredientes estejam prontos antes.
Make sure the ingredients are ready before.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, using the informal imperative ‘deixa’ is common among friends and family, but in a professional kitchen you might hear the more formal ‘por favor, deixe…’ or ‘certifique‑se…’. Also, Brazilians often stress the importance of having everything ‘pronto’ before cooking to keep the workflow smooth.