Inklingo

How to Say "occupies" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “occupies” is “ocupa” — use 'ocupa' when referring to something that takes up physical space or consumes a duration of time..

English → Spanish

ocupa

oh-KOO-pah/oˈku.pa/

verbA1
Use 'ocupa' when referring to something that takes up physical space or consumes a duration of time.
A massive, smooth purple balloon completely fills a small, empty blue room, illustrating the concept of occupying space.

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).

detiene

/de-TYEH-neh//deˈtjene/

verbB2
Use 'detiene' when something 'occupies' your attention or holds your gaze, effectively stopping you.
A person gazes intently at a large, vibrant blue and purple butterfly perched on a flower, their attention completely fixed on the insect.

Examples

La obra de arte detiene la mirada de todos los visitantes.

The artwork captures the gaze of all the visitors.

Ella detiene su respiración antes de saltar.

She holds her breath before jumping.

Figurative Use

In this context, 'detiene' is used figuratively, often with intangible things like 'gaze,' 'attention,' or 'breath,' meaning to pause or fix them.

Confusing Space/Time with Attention

Learners often confuse 'ocupa' and 'detiene' by using the former when they mean to describe something captivating. Remember, 'ocupa' is for space and time, while 'detiene' is for capturing attention or stopping movement.

Related Translations

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