ocupada
/oh-koo-PAH-dah/
busy
When a person has a full schedule, they are ocupada (busy).
📝 In Action
Mi hermana está muy ocupada con el nuevo proyecto.
A1My sister is very busy with the new project.
¿Puedes llamarme más tarde? Ahora estoy ocupada.
A1Can you call me later? I am busy right now.
La semana pasada fue una semana muy ocupada para ella.
A2Last week was a very busy week for her.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Since this entry is 'ocupada,' remember it is only used when describing a feminine person or thing (like 'la mesa' or 'la vida').
Estar vs. Ser
Use 'estar' (to be temporarily) with 'ocupada' to describe a temporary state ('She is busy now'). Using 'ser' (to be permanent) is rare and implies 'taken up' or 'inhabited' in a stable way.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Gender Agreement
Mistake: "La doctora es ocupado."
Correction: La doctora es ocupada. (The adjective must match the feminine noun 'doctora'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Polite Refusal
Saying 'Estoy ocupada' is the most common and polite way to decline an invitation or request when you don't have time.
If a room or seat is currently being used, it is ocupada (occupied).
ocupada(Adjective)
occupied
?room, seat, territory
,taken
?a spot or table
engaged
?phone line
,inhabited
?a dwelling
📝 In Action
La única silla libre ya estaba ocupada.
A2The only free chair was already taken.
No puedo llamar a casa; la línea telefónica está ocupada.
B1I can't call home; the phone line is engaged (busy).
La casa fue ocupada por una familia de refugiados.
B2The house was occupied by a refugee family.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing a State
When describing a place, 'ocupada' tells you its current condition: it is not available for use.
Passive Construction
The form 'fue ocupada' (was occupied) is used to describe an action that happened to the feminine thing, like 'La ciudad fue ocupada' (The city was taken over).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mistaking 'Busy' for 'Engaged'
Mistake: "The English 'busy' for a phone line translates to 'ocupada' in Spanish, not necessarily another word like 'activa'."
Correction:
⭐ Usage Tips
Checking Availability
If you are asking if a seat is free, you can ask '¿Está ocupada esta silla?' (Is this chair taken?)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ocupada
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'ocupada' to mean a scheduled event, not a location?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use 'ocupada' instead of 'ocupado'?
'Ocupada' is the feminine form. You use it any time you are describing a feminine person or a feminine noun (like 'la mujer,' 'la mesa,' or 'la línea'). If you were describing a man ('el hombre') or a masculine noun ('el asiento'), you would use 'ocupado'.
Is 'ocupada' a temporary or permanent state?
It is almost always used to describe a temporary state, which is why it usually pairs with the verb 'estar.' Being busy or having a seat taken is a condition that can change.