Spanish Phrase
Vamos a preparar uno.
Meaning
Literally, “We’re going to prepare one.” In everyday speech it functions as “Let’s prepare one (of them)”, often referring to a single dish, a single item, or a single plan that the speakers will make together.
When to use
Use this phrase when you and at least one other person are about to start making a single thing – a recipe, a project, a presentation, etc. It’s informal and works best in collaborative, friendly settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vamosaprepararuno
Vamos a + infinitivo
This periphrastic construction expresses a near‑future intention or plan, equivalent to English “let’s …” or “we are going to …”.
Infinitive verb
‘preparar’ stays in its infinitive form after ‘vamos a’, because the action is not yet performed.
Indefinite pronoun ‘uno’
‘uno’ works as a stand‑alone pronoun meaning “one (of them)”. It replaces a noun that has already been mentioned.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué vamos a cocinar hoy?
What are we going to cook today?
Vamos a preparar uno.
Let’s prepare one.
✕Common Mistakes
Vamos a preparar un.
‘un’ is an article, not a pronoun. Use ‘uno’ when the noun is omitted.
Preparamos uno.
While correct, it changes the nuance from a collaborative suggestion to a simple future statement.
Vamos a preparar una (when referring to a masculine item).
Only use ‘una’ if the omitted noun is feminine; otherwise it sounds mismatched.
↔Alternatives
Vamos a hacer uno.
Let’s make one.
Prepararemos uno.
We’ll prepare one.
Vamos a preparar una.
Let’s prepare one (feminine).
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, ‘Vamos a …’ is the go‑to way to suggest a joint activity. It conveys teamwork and a casual tone. Remember that the gender of ‘uno/una’ must match the implied noun (e.g., ‘una’ for ‘tarta’, ‘uno’ for ‘plato’).