How to Say "engaged" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “engaged” is “ocupado” — use 'ocupado' when you mean 'busy' or when a phone line is in use. This is the most common and basic translation for being unavailable due to an activity..
ocupado
/oh-koo-PAH-doh//okuˈpaðo/
Examples
Lo siento, no puedo ir al cine, estoy muy ocupado.
I'm sorry, I can't go to the movies, I'm very busy.
Ella es una doctora muy ocupada, siempre tiene pacientes.
She is a very busy doctor, she always has patients.
Nos mantuvimos ocupados todo el fin de semana con la mudanza.
We kept ourselves busy all weekend with the move.
Quise entrar al baño, pero la puerta decía 'ocupado'.
I wanted to go into the bathroom, but the door said 'occupied'.
Always Use with 'Estar'
When you say someone is busy, you're talking about their current state or condition, which can change. For this, always use the verb 'estar'. So, you say 'estoy ocupado' (I am busy), not 'soy ocupado'.
Matching the Person
This word must change to match the person you're talking about. Use 'ocupado' for a man, 'ocupada' for a woman, 'ocupados' for a group of men or a mixed group, and 'ocupadas' for a group of women.
Still Uses 'Estar'
Just like when a person is busy, a place being 'taken' is a temporary state. So you continue to use 'estar'. For example, 'El baño está ocupado' (The bathroom is occupied).
Matching the Thing
The word ending must change to match the thing it describes. For example, 'el asiento está ocupado' (masculine), but 'la mesa está ocupada' (feminine).
Confusing 'Ocupado' and 'Preocupado'
Mistake: “Estoy muy preocupado con el trabajo, tengo muchas reuniones.”
Correction: Estoy muy ocupado con el trabajo, tengo muchas reuniones. 'Ocupado' means busy, while 'preocupado' sounds similar but means worried.
Using 'Ocupado' for a Full Container
Mistake: “La botella está ocupada con agua.”
Correction: La botella está llena de agua. Use 'ocupado' for a space that is in use by someone or something, and 'lleno' for a container that is full.
comprometido
/kom-proh-meh-TEE-doh//kom.pro.meˈti.ðo/
Examples
¿Sabías que Juan y María están comprometidos?
Did you know that Juan and María are engaged?
Mi hermana está comprometida y se casa en verano.
My sister is engaged and is getting married in the summer.
Temporary Status (Estar)
To express being engaged, you MUST use the verb 'estar' (to be temporarily), not 'ser'. 'Ella está comprometida' (She is engaged).
Confusing Ser and Estar
Mistake: “Mi novio es comprometido.”
Correction: Mi novio está comprometido. (Using 'es' would imply he is a generally committed person, not specifically engaged to be married.)
involucrado
/in-boh-loo-KRAH-doh//imboluˈkɾaðo/
Examples
Estaba muy involucrado en la organización de la fiesta.
He was very involved in organizing the party.
Necesitamos hablar con todas las personas involucradas en el accidente.
We need to speak with all the people involved in the accident.
Ella se siente involucrada emocionalmente con el problema de su amiga.
She feels emotionally involved with her friend's problem.
Agreement is Key
As an adjective, 'involucrado' must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes in both gender and number: involucrada (f. singular), involucrados (m. plural), involucradas (f. plural).
Forgetting the Gender Change
Mistake: “La mujer estaba involucrado en la reunión.”
Correction: La mujer estaba involucrada en la reunión. (The adjective must end in -a because 'mujer' is feminine.)
Busy vs. Engaged to Marry
Related Translations
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