A small child kneeling next to a bright green seedling in a red pot, gently pouring water from a miniature blue watering can onto the soil, illustrating the action of nurturing.

cuidando

kwee-DAHN-doh

Gerund (Verb Form)A1regular ar

taking care of?as an ongoing action,looking after?caring for a person, animal, or object

Also:caring for?general protective action,watching over?supervising

Quick Reference

infinitivecuidar

gerundcuidando

past Participlecuidado

📝 In Action

Mi hermana está cuidando a mis perros este fin de semana.

My sister is taking care of my dogs this weekend.

Están cuidando mucho la salud de su abuelo.

They are paying a lot of attention to their grandfather's health (They are taking good care of his health).

El jardinero lleva meses cuidando esas rosas tan delicadas.

The gardener has been looking after those delicate roses for months.

Word Connections

Synonyms

protegiendo (protecting)
atendiendo (attending to)

Antonyms

descuidando (neglecting)

Common Collocations

estar cuidando – to be taking care of (right now)
seguir cuidando – to continue taking care of

💡 Grammar Points

The Continuous Action Form

Cuidando is the Spanish equivalent of the '-ing' form in English. It describes an action that is currently in progress, just like 'taking care' or 'looking after'.

Using 'Estar'

To show that the action is happening right now, you must use a form of the verb 'estar' (to be) followed by 'cuidando' (e.g., 'estoy cuidando').

Invariable Ending

Unlike adjectives, 'cuidando' never changes its ending. It is always 'cuidando,' regardless of who is doing the caring (yo, ellos, nosotros, etc.).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Ser' Instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: "Soy cuidando a mi gato."

Correction: Estoy cuidando a mi gato. Remember to use 'estar' when talking about temporary or ongoing actions.

Attaching Pronouns Incorrectly

Mistake: "Lo estoy cuidando."

Correction: Estoy cuidándolo (or Lo estoy cuidando). Pronouns like 'lo' (it) can go before 'estar' OR attached to the end of 'cuidando'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Quick Construction

Think of the pattern: Who (Yo, Tú, etc.) + Estar (conjugated) + Cuidando + What (the thing/person being cared for).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cuidando

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'cuidando' to describe an action happening right now?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cuidar(to take care of) - verb

cuidado(care, caution) - noun

cuidadoso(careful) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'cuidando' without 'estar'?

Yes, but it's less common. You can use it as an adverb to describe how someone performs an action, such as: 'Ella camina cuidando cada paso' (She walks being careful with every step). However, the primary use is with 'estar' to form continuous tenses.

What is the difference between 'cuidando' and 'cuidado'?

'Cuidando' means 'taking care of' (the action in progress). 'Cuidado' can be the noun meaning 'care' (Tener cuidado = To be careful) or the past participle used in perfect tenses (Ha cuidado = He has taken care of).