What it's NOT
preoccupied does NOT translate to preocupado (angustiado).
To say "preocupado (angustiado)" in English, use worried.
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False cognate · False friend
preoccupied
Does NOT mean preocupado (angustiado)
It means distracted / lost in thought
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
preoccupied means distracted / lost in thought.
Why it's confused
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.
How it's pronounced
preoccupiedpri-Ó-kiu-paid
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Examples of correct use
English
He seemed preoccupied all day.
Spanish
Se veía distraído todo el día.
English
She was preoccupied with her thoughts.
Spanish
Estaba absorta en sus pensamientos.
A trick to remember it
Preoccupied = distracted/lost in thought. Anxious (Spanish "preocupado") = worried.
Mini quiz
"He looked preoccupied" means he looked...
Frequently asked questions
What does "preoccupied" mean in English?
"Preoccupied" means "distracted / lost in thought". It looks a lot like "preocupado", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "preocupado" in English?
To say "preocupado" in English, use "worried". If you use "preoccupied" instead, you would actually be saying "distracted / lost in thought".
Do "preoccupied" and "preocupado" mean the same thing?
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.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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