How to Say "vacant" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “vacant” is “libre” — use 'libre' when asking if a seat, chair, or room is available and not occupied..
libre
/LEE-breh//ˈli.βɾe/
Examples
Disculpe, ¿está libre esta silla?
Excuse me, is this chair free?
El taxi tiene la luz verde, así que está libre.
The taxi has its green light on, so it's free (available).
No te puedo ayudar ahora, no estoy libre.
I can't help you now, I'm not free.
The Most Common Mix-up: 'Libre' vs. 'Gratis'
Mistake: “El café es libre.”
Correction: El café es gratis. Use 'libre' for things that are available or not busy (like a table). Use 'gratis' for things that have no cost.
disponible
/dees-poh-NEE-blehs//dis.poˈni.bles/
Examples
Los asientos de la primera fila no están disponibles.
The seats in the first row are not available.
¿Están ustedes disponibles para una reunión hoy?
Are you guys free for a meeting today?
Hay muchas opciones disponibles en el menú.
There are many options available on the menu.
Matching the Number
In Spanish, words that describe things must match the number of things they talk about. Because this word ends in 's', you only use it when talking about two or more people or objects.
One Form for All
Unlike many Spanish words that change for 'boy' or 'girl' groups, this word stays exactly the same whether you are talking about a group of men, a group of women, or a mix of both.
Forgeting the 's'
Mistake: “Los libros están disponible.”
Correction: Los libros están disponibles. Because 'libros' is more than one, 'disponible' must also become more than one by adding an 's'.
vacío
Examples
El vaso estaba vacío después de que bebí todo.
The glass was empty after I drank everything.
Libre vs. Disponible
Related Translations
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