cuida
“cuida” means “takes care of” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
takes care of, looks after
Also: minds, protects
📝 In Action
Mi hermana cuida a mi perro mientras estoy de viaje.
A1My sister takes care of my dog while I am traveling.
Usted cuida mucho su jardín, se ve hermoso.
A2You (formal) take great care of your garden; it looks beautiful.
El gobierno no cuida los recursos naturales.
B1The government does not protect natural resources.
take care of, look after
Also: be careful, watch out
📝 In Action
¡Cuida tu dinero, no lo pierdas!
A2Take care of your money, don't lose it!
Cuida ese vaso, es muy frágil.
A2Look after that glass; it's very fragile.
Cuida bien a tu hermanito mientras estoy fuera.
B1Take good care of your little brother while I'm out.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cuida
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cuida' as an informal command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'cuidar' comes from the Latin word *cogitare*, which meant 'to think' or 'to reflect.' Over time, in Spanish, the meaning shifted from 'thinking about' something to 'being concerned about' it, and finally, 'taking care of' it.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'cuida' used both as a statement and a command?
In Spanish, the informal command form for 'tú' (Take care!) is identical to the third-person singular present indicative form (He/She takes care). You can tell the difference based on context and usually the exclamation marks or tone of voice.
Is 'cuidar' a stem-changing verb?
'Cuidar' is a completely regular verb. It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, making it easy to conjugate.