How to Say ‘Is this seat taken?’ in Mexican Spanish
¿Está ocupado este lugar?
ehs-TAH oh-koo-PAH-doh eh-steh loo-GAR
[ehs-TAH oh-koo-PAH-doh eh-steh loo-GAR]
💬 Usage Tip: lugar literally means "place", but it's the everyday word for a seat or spot here. ocupado matches it in form; for a chair you'd say ¿Está ocupada esta silla? "Is this chair taken?"
Phrase Breakdown
¿Está ocupado
ehs-TAH oh-koo-PAH-doh
Is it taken
'Está' (with accent) means 'is', describing a current state. Stress 'es-TÁ o-cu-PA-do'.
¿Está ocupado el baño?
Is the bathroom occupied?
Words in this phrase
Está
[ehs-TAH]
Is
A form of the verb 'estar' to describe location or temporary states.
La televisión está rota.
The TV is broken.
ocupado
[oh-koo-PAH-doh]
taken / occupied
Adjective meaning something is in use or someone is busy.
El baño está ocupado.
The bathroom is occupied.
este lugar?
eh-steh loo-GAR
this seat/place?
'Este' (no accent) means 'this'. 'Lugar' means place or seat. Raise your pitch at the end for the question.
Me gusta este lugar.
I like this place.
Words in this phrase
este
[eh-steh]
This
Used to refer to a specific thing or situation immediately present or about to be mentioned.
Este libro es interesante.
This book is interesting.
lugar
[loo-GAR]
place
A particular position or point in space.
Un lugar interesante para visitar.
An interesting place to visit.
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