ocuparse
“ocuparse” means “to take care of” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to take care of
Also: to handle, to look after
📝 In Action
No te preocupes por los platos, yo me ocupo.
A1Don't worry about the dishes, I'll take care of them.
Ella se ocupa de organizar la reunión.
A2She is in charge of organizing the meeting.
Debemos ocuparnos de este problema ahora mismo.
B1We must deal with this problem right now.
to occupy oneself
Also: to keep busy
📝 In Action
Se ocupa en leer novelas históricas.
B1She occupies herself with reading historical novels.
Me gusta ocuparme en el jardín durante los fines de semana.
B1I like to keep busy in the garden during the weekends.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "ocuparse" in Spanish:
to handle→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ocuparse
Question 1 of 2
If you want to say 'I'll take care of the dog,' which is correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the verb 'ocupar' and the reflexive pronoun 'se'. 'Ocupar' comes from the Latin 'occupare', meaning to seize or take over.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'ocuparse' always need 'me, te, se'?
Yes! Because it is reflexive, you must use the pronoun that matches the person doing the action (e.g., 'Yo ME ocupo', 'Tú TE ocupas').
Can 'ocuparse' mean 'to have a job'?
In some formal contexts or specific regions, it can refer to being employed, but 'trabajar' is much more common for that meaning.