How to Say "is busy" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “is busy” is “ocupa” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi trabajo me ocupa mucho tiempo libre.
My job takes up a lot of my free time.
Ella ocupa el puesto de directora de marketing.
She holds the position of marketing director.
¿Quién ocupa ese asiento? Está reservado.
Who is occupying that seat? It's reserved.
Using 'Ocupar' Reflexively
To say you are busy or occupied, you must use the reflexive form: 'ocuparse'. For example, 'Estoy ocupado' (I am busy) comes from 'Yo me ocupo' (I occupy myself).
Confusing 'Ocupar' and 'Preocupar'
Mistake: “Using 'ocupa' when you mean 'preocupa' (it worries).”
Correction: If something causes worry, use 'preocupa'. If it just takes time or space, use 'ocupa'. 'Me preocupa el examen' (The exam worries me).
Related Translations
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