cuidado
“cuidado” means “care” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
care
Also: caution, attention
📝 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.
Watch out!
Also: Be careful!, Look out!
📝 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!
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cuidado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'Be careful, the coffee is hot!'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'cōgitātus', which meant 'thought' or 'consideration'. Over time, the idea of 'thinking about something' evolved into 'paying attention to it' or 'taking care of it'.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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).