Portuguese Phrase
A comida tá pronta pra comer?
Meaning
Literally, “Is the food ready to eat?” It’s an informal way to ask whether a meal has finished cooking and can be served. The question tone is conveyed by the rising intonation at the end.
When to use
Use this sentence in casual settings – at home, with friends, or with family members – when you want to check if the meal is ready. It’s too informal for a restaurant waiter or a business meeting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Acomidatáprontapracomer?
tá (está)
‘tá’ is the colloquial contraction of the verb ‘estar’ in the third‑person singular, used in informal spoken Portuguese.
pronta (adjective agreement)
‘pronta’ agrees in gender and number with ‘comida’; the masculine form would be ‘pronto’.
pra (para)
‘pra’ is the spoken contraction of the preposition ‘para’, meaning ‘for’ or ‘to’.
A (definite article)
The article ‘a’ marks the noun ‘comida’ as feminine singular.
comer (infinitive)
The infinitive ‘comer’ follows ‘pronta’ to express purpose: ‘ready to eat’.
🗨In Conversation
A comida tá pronta pra comer?
Is the food ready to eat?
Ainda falta um minutinho, já já tá pronta.
It still needs a minute, it’ll be ready soon.
✕Common Mistakes
A comida tá pronto pra comer?
‘Pronto’ is masculine; the noun ‘comida’ is feminine, so the adjective must be ‘pronta’.
A comida tá pronta para comer?
In casual speech Brazilians say ‘pra’; using ‘para’ sounds overly formal in this context.
A comida está pronta pra comer?
While grammatically correct, ‘está’ sounds stiff in a relaxed home setting; learners often over‑formalize.
↔Alternatives
A comida está pronta?
Is the food ready?
Já está pronta a comida?
Is the food already ready?
A comida já está pronta para comer?
Is the food already ready to eat?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, dropping the final ‘r’ of ‘para’ (making it ‘pra’) and using ‘tá’ instead of ‘está’ are hallmarks of everyday speech. They convey friendliness and informality, but in formal contexts (e.g., speaking to a teacher or a client) you should use the full forms ‘está’ and ‘para’. Also, Brazilians often ask about food readiness while the kitchen is still busy, so a quick “já tá quase” (it’s almost ready) is a common reply.