I'm busy
Use when you want to say 'I have a lot to do.' It's a very common and clear way to express being busy.
A direct way to say 'I don't have time.' It's less polite but very clear.
An informal and slightly exaggerated way to say you're extremely busy, literally 'I'm at a thousand.' Common in casual conversation.
A softer way to say you're busy, meaning 'I'm a bit tied up' or 'things are complicated right now.'
I'm sorry, I can't go. I'm very busy this week.
Can you talk? - Not right now, I have a lot to do.
My mom is busy, she can't answer the phone.
I'd like to help you, but I don't have time.
'Estoy ocupado/a' is the standard and universally understood phrase.
'Estoy ocupado/a' is also the most common phrase. A colloquial alternative is 'Estoy liado/a' (I'm tied up).
Informally, it's very common to hear 'Tengo mucha chamba,' which means 'I have a lot of work.'
A very popular expression is 'Estoy a mil' (I'm at a thousand), meaning you're rushing and have no time.
A colloquial way to say you're swamped is 'Estoy embalado/a,' which literally means you're 'packaged up' or 'wrapped up' in work.
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar' (e.g., 'Soy ocupado'). — Being busy is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic. Always use 'estar' for states and conditions. Correct: 'Estoy ocupado/a'.
Using the wrong gender (e.g., a woman saying 'Estoy ocupado'). — The adjective 'ocupado' must match the gender of the person speaking. A man says 'ocupado,' and a woman says 'ocupada'.
Literally translating 'I am busy with...' using 'con' (e.g., 'Estoy ocupado con mi tarea'). — While not strictly wrong, it's much more natural for Spanish speakers to say 'Estoy ocupado haciendo mi tarea' (I'm busy doing my homework). Use the structure 'estar ocupado + [verb in -ando/-iendo form]'.
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