ocupado
/o.kuˈpa.du/
The English word 'busy' is translated into Portuguese as ocupado.
Ocupado is used to describe someone who is engaged or preoccupied with tasks. It can also refer to a physical space that is currently in use, such as a seat or a bathroom stall. If you want to express that you are busy by saying you do not have enough time, you can use the phrase Não tenho tempo.
Meaning: engaged or preoccupied (adj)
Which one should you use?
While ocupado refers to a person being busy, the word cheio is used to describe a place that is busy or crowded, such as a restaurant.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use ocupada for a female, ocupados for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and ocupadas for a group of women. To express the action of keeping busy with something, use the related verb ocupar.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /o.kuˈpa.du/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The term ocupado can be used to describe a person's marital status, meaning they are 'taken' or in a relationship.
- If you are so busy that you are practically overwhelmed, you can say you are atropelado by tasks, which literally translates to being 'run over' by them.
- In legal Portuguese, the verb ocupar can refer to the illegal squatting of a building, moving the meaning of 'busy' into the realm of property law.
Examples in context
- Eu já estou ocupado.I'm already busy.This sentence is useful for saying that you are already busy.Tatoeba #7365061 by Ricardo14, translation #2648811 by CK
- Eu não estou ocupado.I'm not busy.This sentence is useful for saying that you are not busy.Tatoeba #411550 by brauliobezerra, translation #261730 by CK
- Meu pai está ocupado.My father is busy.This sentence is useful for describing someone else, like a father, as being busy.Tatoeba #1289437 by alexmarcelo, translation #251731 by CK
- Estou ocupado(a) com o trabalho.I'm busy with work.
- Estou muito atarefado(a) esta semana.I'm very busy this week.
- Desculpe, não tenho tempo para isso agora.Sorry, I don't have time for that right now.
- Estou cheio(a) de coisas para fazer hoje.I'm busy with a lot of things to do today.
- Desculpa, estou na correria e não posso te ajudar agora.Sorry, I'm busy and can't help you right now.
- Estou a mil ultimamente, sem tempo para nada.I'm extremely busy lately, with no time for anything.
- 679 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz calls Gabriel to see if he can talk.
- BeatrizOi Gabriel, você está ocupado?Hi Gabriel, are you busy?
- GabrielUm pouco, mas posso falar agora.A little, but I can talk now.
- BeatrizQue bom, eu precisava de um favor.That's good, I needed a favor.
- GabrielTudo bem, o que aconteceu?That's fine, what happened?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “busy” translations and entries ocupado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
