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preoccupied and Spanish preocupado
In English
preoccupied
distracted / lost in thought
In Spanish
preocupado
angustiado
Spanish "preocupado" means: worried
Why they get mixed up Spanish "preocupado" describes someone under the weight of anxiety or worry. English "preoccupied" means distracted or lost in one's own thoughts, not necessarily anxious.
If you want to say...
- preoccupiedabsorto o distraído
- worriedpreocupado
- concernedinquieto
Examples
He seemed preoccupied all day.
Se veía distraído todo el día.
She was preoccupied with her thoughts.
Estaba absorta en sus pensamientos.
He was too preoccupied with work to notice her.
Estaba demasiado absorto en el trabajo para notarla.
She seemed preoccupied during the meeting.
Parecía distraída durante la reunión.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Estaba preocupado en su teléfono y no me escuchó.
Correct: Estaba absorto en su teléfono y no me escuchó.
Preocupado means worried. For preoccupied with something, use absorto or distraído.
Incorrect: Ella siempre está preocupada de su celular.
Correct: Ella siempre está absorta en su celular.
Use absorta or ensimismada for preoccupied.
Phrases you will hear
- preoccupied with workabsorto en el trabajo
- seem preoccupiedparecer distraído
- a preoccupied lookuna mirada distraída
- a preoccupationuna obsesión
- worriedpreocupado
- concernedinquieto
In a conversation
- A:
Why are you so preoccupied?
¿Por qué estás tan absorto?
- B:
I'm thinking about work.
Estoy pensando en el trabajo.
- A:
Are you worried?
¿Estás preocupado?
- B:
A little, but mostly I'm just absorbed.
Un poco, pero sobre todo estoy absorto.
Test yourself
"He looked preoccupied" means he looked...
To remember it
Preoccupied = distracted/lost in thought. Anxious (Spanish "preocupado") = worried.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "preocupado" mean?
Spanish "preocupado" means "worried". It looks like the English "preoccupied", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "preoccupied" means "distracted / lost in thought".
Does English "preoccupied" mean the same as Spanish "preocupado"?
Spanish "preocupado" describes someone under the weight of anxiety or worry. English "preoccupied" means distracted or lost in one's own thoughts, not necessarily anxious.