When 'cuidar' involves a specific person or pet as the one receiving the care, you MUST put the small word 'a' before them: 'Cuidamos a María' (We take care of Maria).

The Personal 'A'

When caring for a thing (not a person or pet), skip the 'a': 'Cuida su salud' (He looks after his health) or 'Cuida la casa' (He looks after the house).

Caring for Objects

Use 'cuidar' any time you mean 'to take responsibility for' or 'to watch over,' not just for active nursing.

Use for Responsibility

Extremely common. This is the standard way to talk about looking after something or someone.

Forgetting the 'Se'

When you use 'cuidarse,' the action returns to the person doing it (me, te, se, nos). You are caring for *yourself*.

The Reflexive Form

'¡Cuídate!' (Take care!) is one of the most natural and friendly ways to say goodbye to friends or family in Spanish.

A Common Goodbye

Very common, especially as a farewell and when discussing health and well-being.

Learn the Spanish verb 'cuidar' (to take care of) and its reflexive form 'cuidarse' (to take care of oneself). Includes full conjugations and grammar tips on using the personal 'a'.

cuidar

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

future

imperfect

conditional

preterite

imperative

negative

affirmative

subjunctive

present

imperfect

Practice Conjugations