ocupado
/okuˈpado/
The Spanish word for occupied is ocupado.
Ocupado is used to describe something that is reserved, such as a seat or a room. It is also the standard way to communicate that a person is busy. In specific contexts, it can be used to indicate that a toilet is unavailable.
Meaning: reserved (adj)
Which one should you use?
While ocupado can be used to mean 'reserved' for objects or places, it is also the standard way to say a person is 'busy'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, ocupado must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use ocupada for feminine singular nouns, ocupados for masculine plural nouns and ocupadas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/okuˈpado/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American regions, ocupado can be used colloquially to describe someone who is 'taken' or in a romantic relationship.
- In certain Latin American contexts, if a person is extremely busy, they might say estoy hasta arriba, which translates literally to 'I am up to here'.
- The word ocupado shares the same root as the English word 'occupy', both tracing back to the Latin occupare, which originally meant 'to seize' or 'to take possession of'.
Examples in context
- El probador está ocupado.The fitting room is occupied.This sentence is useful for stating that a fitting room is occupied using ocupado.Tatoeba #668584 by Shishir, translation #2714666 by catcher
- Todos los asientos están ocupados.All the seats are occupied.This sentence is useful for stating that all the seats are occupied using ocupado.Tatoeba #1308673 by marcelostockle, translation #272101 by CK
- Ojalá que este asiento no esté ocupado.I hope this seat is not occupied.This sentence is useful for expressing a hope that a seat is not occupied using ocupado.Tatoeba #1308672 by marcelostockle, translation #58211 by CK
- Lo siento, pero estoy ocupado/a en este momento.I'm sorry, but I'm busy at the moment.
- Me encantaría, pero tengo compromisos en ese momento.I'd love to, but I have commitments at that time.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are looking for a table at a restaurant.
- JavierMira esa mesa, ¿está libre?Look at that table, is it free?
- ElenaNo, creo que ya está ocupado.No, I think it is already occupied.
- JavierTienes razón, hay un bolso allí.You are right, there is a bag there.
- ElenaBusquemos otro lugar entonces.Let's look for another place then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ocupado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
