Portuguese Phrase
Os vestiários estão ocupados.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the changing rooms are currently in use, so they cannot be entered. It uses estar to convey a temporary condition rather than a permanent characteristic.
When to use
Use this phrase when you arrive at a gym, pool, sports complex, or any place with changing rooms and need to let someone know they are taken. It can also be used to answer a question like “Can I use the changing room now?”
✦Grammar Breakdown
Osvestiáriosestãoocupados
Os (definite article)
Plural masculine definite article used before masculine plural nouns.
vestiários (noun)
Masculine plural noun meaning ‘changing rooms’ (e.g., at a gym, pool, sports venue).
estão (verb estar)
3rd‑person plural present of estar, used for temporary states or locations.
ocupados (past participle)
Past participle of ocupar, used as an adjective; it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Você pode usar o vestiário agora?
Can you use the changing room now?
Não, os vestiários estão ocupados.
No, the changing rooms are occupied.
✕Common Mistakes
Os vestiários são ocupados.
Use estar for temporary conditions; ser would imply a permanent characteristic.
Os vestiários está ocupado.
The verb must agree with the plural subject.
Os vestiários está ocupada.
The adjective must agree in number (and gender) with the noun.
↔Alternatives
Os vestiários estão cheios.
The changing rooms are full.
Os vestiários encontram‑se ocupados no momento.
The changing rooms are currently occupied.
Os vestiários estão em uso.
The changing rooms are in use.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, ‘vestiário’ is the standard word for a place where you change clothes before sports or swimming. Signs often read ‘Ocupado’ for restrooms, but for vestiários you’ll more commonly hear ‘está em uso’ or see a simple ‘ocupado’. Remember that many facilities have separate male and female vestiários, so the plural can refer to both together.