adjective

parat

ready

Es bedeutet, dass jemand oder etwas bereit ist und sofort handeln oder benutzt werden kann.

Definition & meaning

The German word "parat" describes something that is ready, available, or at hand for immediate use. It is used in two primary contexts:

Physical availability: When an object is within reach and ready to be used. For example, having a tool or a document "parat" means it is right there when you need it.
Mental readiness: When information, an answer, or an excuse is immediately accessible in someone's mind. If you have an answer "parat," you don't need to think long to provide it.

In common usage, it often appears in the phrase "etwas parat haben" (to have something ready/at hand).

Grammar & Word origin

"Parat" is an adjective. In modern German, it is mostly used predicatively (following a verb) rather than attributively (before a noun).

The word originates from the Latin "paratus," which is the past participle of "parare" (to prepare or make ready). It entered the German language in the 17th century, initially as a term used in military and administrative contexts to indicate readiness.