Preparado

Preparado is the masculine past participle of preparar in Spanish, meaning “prepared” or “made ready.” In addition to its use as a verb form, it functions as an adjective and, in several technical contexts, as a noun. The precise sense depends on the domain and country.

As an adjective, preparado describes something that has been prepared or is ready for use. It agrees with gender and number: preparado, preparada, preparados, preparadas. Common phrases include plato preparado (a prepared dish) or materiales preparados (materials prepared for use).

As a noun, preparado can refer to a defined object or substance in various fields. In pharmacy or chemistry, un preparado (también “una preparación”) is a medicinal preparation or compounded drug—a mixture made for administration. In biology or pathology, un preparado de microscopía denotes a prepared slide with a specimen mounted for examination. In cooking, un preparado may mean a base or mixture ready to be used, such as a spice blend, stock base, or other ready-to-use components.

Usage varies by región; in everyday speech, people may simply say listo or ya preparado to indicate readiness. The term is more common in technical, scientific, or culinary contexts where it carries a precise sense of something manufactured, assembled, or prepared in advance.

See also: preparar, preparación, preparado alimentario, preparado farmacéutico, preparado de microscopía.