Fertig

Fertig is a German adjective and past participle derived from the verb fertigen, meaning to manufacture, prepare, or complete. In everyday usage, fertig primarily means that something has been finished or is ready for use. It can describe a finished state for objects, tasks, or meals, and is commonly used with the verb sein: Das Essen ist fertig. Das Projekt ist fertig.

As a prefix or in compound forms, fertig appears in terms that emphasize completeness or readiness. Examples include Fertiggerichte (ready meals), Fertigprodukte (finished products), and Fertigpizza (ready-made pizza). The noun form Fertigstellung refers to the act or state of completion, and Fertigstellung is often used in project planning and construction contexts.

Nuances and related terms: bereit and fertig both indicate preparedness but in different senses. Bereit denotes readiness to begin or continue a task, whereas fertig emphasizes that a task is already finished. In phrases like „mit etwas fertig sein“ one conveys having completed something, while „Fertigstellung“ highlights the completion process or milestone.

Colloquial usage can have variations in meaning. For example, „Ich bin fertig“ can mean “I am exhausted” or, in the right context, “I am done with it.” Context, tone, and accompanying words determine whether fertig expresses fatigue, conclusion, or readiness.

In German-language contexts, fertig appears frequently in everyday speech as well as in technical and commercial terms to signal that something has been completed or is ready for use.