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How to Say ‘Is this seat taken?’ in Mexican Spanish

¿Está ocupada esta silla?

eh-stah oh-koo-PAH-dah EHS-tah SEE-yah

[eh-stah oh-koo-PAH-dah EHS-tah SEE-yah]

💬 Usage Tip: Ocupada ends in -a because silla is a feminine word. Ask about a table instead and it becomes ¿Está ocupado este lugar? "Is this spot taken?"

Phrase Breakdown

¿Está ocupada

eh-stah oh-koo-PAH-dah

Is it taken / occupied

'Está' (stress on the last syllable: es-TÁ) plus 'ocupada' (o-ku-PA-da). It is feminine because it refers to 'silla'.

Example

¿Está ocupada la mesa?

Is the table taken?

Words in this phrase

Está

[eh-stah]

To be in a particular state.

Example

Ella está feliz.

She is happy.

ocupada

[oh-koo-PAH-dah]

taken / occupied

Feminine form of 'ocupado'; describes something in use or a person who is busy.

Example

La mesa está ocupada.

The table is taken.

esta silla?

EHS-tah SEE-yah

this chair

'Esta' (no accent, stress on the first syllable: ES-ta) means 'this'. 'Silla' sounds like SEE-ya in Mexico.

Example

Esta silla es cómoda.

This chair is comfortable.

Words in this phrase

esta

[EHS-tah]

this

A demonstrative adjective used with feminine singular nouns.

Example

Esta semana te mando un correo para dar seguimiento.

This week I’ll send you an email to follow up.

silla

[SEE-yah]

chair

A seat with a back.

Example

Necesitamos otra silla.

We need another chair.

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