Inklingo
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ocupado

oh-koo-PAH-dohokuˈpaðo

busy

Also: tied up, engaged
A busy cartoon beaver wearing a headset and actively typing at a desk piled high with colorful documents.

📝 In Action

Lo siento, no puedo ir al cine, estoy muy ocupado.

A1

I'm sorry, I can't go to the movies, I'm very busy.

Ella es una doctora muy ocupada, siempre tiene pacientes.

A2

She is a very busy doctor, she always has patients.

Nos mantuvimos ocupados todo el fin de semana con la mudanza.

B1

We kept ourselves busy all weekend with the move.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • atareado (busy, swamped)
  • liado (tied up (informal))

Antonyms

  • libre (free)
  • desocupado (unoccupied, not busy)

Common Collocations

  • estar muy ocupado – to be very busy
  • mantenerse ocupado – to keep oneself busy
  • agenda ocupada – busy schedule

taken, occupied

Also: in use, engaged
A cozy wooden chair occupied by a sleeping orange tabby cat curled up on the cushion.

📝 In Action

Quise entrar al baño, pero la puerta decía 'ocupado'.

A2

I wanted to go into the bathroom, but the door said 'occupied'.

Este asiento está ocupado, lo siento.

A2

This seat is taken, sorry.

Intenté llamar a mi mamá, pero el teléfono estaba ocupado.

B1

I tried to call my mom, but the phone was busy/engaged.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • baño ocupado – occupied bathroom
  • asiento ocupado – taken seat
  • línea ocupada – busy line

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ocupado

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'ocupado' correctly?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ocupar(to occupy, to take up) — Verb
ocupación(occupation, job) — Noun
desocupar(to vacate, to free up) — Verb
preocupado(worried) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'occupātus', which is the past form of the verb 'occupāre', meaning 'to seize' or 'to take possession of'. You can see how this idea of 'taking' a space, a job, or someone's time led to all of its modern meanings.

First recorded: Around the 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: occupiedFrench: occupéItalian: occupato

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'ocupado' and 'preocupado'?

They sound similar but are very different! 'Ocupado' means 'busy' or 'occupied'. 'Preocupado' means 'worried'. A good way to remember is that 'preocupado' has 'pre-' like you are 'pre-occupied' with a worry.

Why do I have to use 'estar' with 'ocupado' and not 'ser'?

Great question! In Spanish, you use 'estar' for conditions or states that can change, and 'ser' for more permanent characteristics. Being busy ('ocupado') is a temporary state — you might be busy now, but you'll be free later. The same goes for a bathroom being occupied. That's why you always say 'estoy ocupado' or 'el baño está ocupado'.

How is 'ocupado' related to the verb 'ocupar'?

'Ocupado' is what's called the past participle of the verb 'ocupar' (to occupy). This form can be used with the verb 'haber' to form perfect tenses (e.g., 'He ocupado este asiento' - I have occupied this seat), but it's most commonly used on its own as an adjective to describe something that *is* occupied.