cuidado
/kwee-DAH-doh/
care
As a noun, cuidado means 'care' or 'diligence,' often referring to the attention given to something fragile or important.
cuidado(Noun)
care
?attention, diligence
caution
?being careful to avoid danger
,attention
?close observation or thought
📝 In Action
Conduce con cuidado, está lloviendo.
A2Drive with care, it's raining.
Necesitas poner más cuidado en tu trabajo.
B1You need to put more care into your work.
El paciente requiere cuidados especiales.
B2The patient requires special care.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Tener Cuidado'
To say 'to be careful' in Spanish, you almost always use the phrase 'tener cuidado'. Think of it like 'to have care'. For example, 'Ten cuidado' means 'Be careful'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not 'Ser Cuidado'
Mistake: "Soy cuidado cuando cruzo la calle."
Correction: Tengo cuidado cuando cruzo la calle. The phrase always uses the verb 'tener' (to have), not 'ser' or 'estar' (to be).
⭐ Usage Tips
Careful vs. Carefully
You can say 'carefully' in two ways: 'con cuidado' (with care) or 'cuidadosamente'. Both are correct, but 'con cuidado' is often more common in everyday conversation.
Used as an interjection, ¡Cuidado! is a strong, immediate warning meaning 'Watch out!' or 'Be careful!'
cuidado(Interjection)
Watch out!
?warning of immediate danger
Be careful!
?general caution
,Look out!
?warning
📝 In Action
¡Cuidado! El suelo está mojado.
A1Watch out! The floor is wet.
¡Cuidado con el perro!
A2Be careful of the dog!
¡Cuidado, que te caes!
B1Be careful, you're going to fall!
💡 Grammar Points
Warning About Something Specific
To warn someone about a particular thing, use the structure '¡Cuidado con + [the thing]!'. For example, '¡Cuidado con el coche!' (Watch out for the car!).
⭐ Usage Tips
Tone of Voice is Key
Like in English, your tone of voice changes the meaning. A sharp, loud '¡Cuidado!' means immediate danger. A softer 'Cuidado' is more of a gentle reminder to be careful.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuidado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'Be careful, the coffee is hot!'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between '¡Cuidado!' and '¡Ojo!'?
They both mean 'Watch out!' and are often interchangeable. '¡Cuidado!' is a bit more standard, while '¡Ojo!' (which literally means 'Eye!') is a very common, slightly more informal way to quickly get someone's attention. Think of it like saying 'Heads up!'.
How do I say 'take care of someone'?
For that, you use the verb 'cuidar'. For example, 'Yo cuido a mi hermano menor' means 'I take care of my younger brother'. 'Cuidado' is the noun (care), while 'cuidar' is the action (to care for).