Inklingo
Dictionary

cuídate

kwee-DAH-teh (Stress on the 'kwee' syllable)ˈkwi.ðate

“cuídate” means “Take care (of yourself)” in Spanish (Used as a friendly farewell).

Take care (of yourself)Also: Be careful, Stay safe

A1regular (reflexive) ar
A storybook illustration showing two friendly cartoon characters, a rabbit and a bear, standing outside a colorful house. The rabbit is walking away but turns back to wave goodbye to the bear, who is waving back from the doorway, illustrating a warm farewell.
infinitivecuidarse
gerundcuidándose
past Participlecuidado

📝 In Action

Me tengo que ir. ¡Cuídate mucho!

A1

I have to go. Take care of yourself a lot!

Voy a viajar en moto. Mi madre me dijo, 'Cuídate'.

A2

I'm going to travel by motorcycle. My mother told me, 'Be careful.'

Nos vemos la semana que viene. ¡Cuídate!

A1

See you next week. Take care!

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • que te vaya bien (Have a good one)
  • adiós (Goodbye)

Common Collocations

  • Cuídate mucho – Take really good care of yourself
  • Cuídate de los resfriados – Protect yourself from colds

Indicative

Present

yome cuido
túte cuidas
él/ella/ustedse cuida
nosotrosnos cuidamos
vosotrosos cuidáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse cuidan

Imperfect

yome cuidaba
túte cuidabas
él/ella/ustedse cuidaba
nosotrosnos cuidábamos
vosotrosos cuidabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesse cuidaban

Preterite

yome cuidé
túte cuidaste
él/ella/ustedse cuidó
nosotrosnos cuidamos
vosotrosos cuidasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse cuidaron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yome cuide
túte cuides
él/ella/ustedse cuide
nosotrosnos cuidemos
vosotrosos cuidéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse cuiden

Imperfect Subjunctive

yome cuidara/cuidase
túte cuidaras/cuidases
él/ella/ustedse cuidara/cuidase
nosotrosnos cuidáramos/cuidásemos
vosotrosos cuidarais/cuidaseis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse cuidaran/cuidasen
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cuídate" in Spanish:

be carefulstay safe

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cuídate

Question 1 of 2

If you are talking to your boss, whom you address as 'usted', how would you say 'Take care'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
cuidar(to take care of (transitive)) — Verb
cuidarse(to take care of oneself (reflexive)) — Verb
el cuidado(care, attention) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes
mándatequémate
📚 Etymology

The root verb 'cuidar' comes from the Latin word *cogitare*, meaning 'to think' or 'to consider'. Over time, its meaning shifted in Spanish to mean 'to think about someone's well-being' or 'to look after'. 'Cuídate' literally means 'Think about/look after yourself'.

First recorded: The verb 'cuidar' is attested in Spanish since the 13th century.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: cuidarCatalan: cuidar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'cuídate' at the start of a conversation?

No, 'cuídate' is strictly a farewell phrase used when someone is leaving. It is a way of saying goodbye and wishing them well until the next time you meet.

Is 'cuídate' the same as 'ten cuidado'?

They are similar but used differently. 'Cuídate' is a general, warm farewell ('Take care'). 'Ten cuidado' is a direct warning or instruction meaning 'Be careful' (e.g., 'Be careful crossing the street').