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descuida

des-KWEE-dah/desˈkwiða/

don't worry, never mind

Also: rest assured
VerbA2regular ar
A friendly person with a warm smile placing a comforting hand on someone's shoulder in a sunny garden.
gerunddescuidando
past Participledescuidado
infinitivedescuidar

📝 In Action

—¿Te acuerdas de traer las llaves? —Sí, descuida.

A2

—Will you remember to bring the keys? —Yes, don't worry.

Descuida, yo me encargo de la cena esta noche.

A2

Don't worry, I'll take care of dinner tonight.

Si no puedes venir, descuida, lo haremos otro día.

B1

If you can't come, never mind, we'll do it another day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • no te preocupes (don't worry)
  • tranquilo (calm down / don't worry)

Antonyms

  • preocúpate (worry yourself)
  • atender (to pay attention)

Common Collocations

  • descuida por eso – don't worry about that

neglects, gets distracted

Also: is careless
VerbB1regular ar
A small potted plant that is wilted and dry sitting on a dusty windowsill.
gerunddescuidando
past Participledescuidado
infinitivedescuidar

📝 In Action

Ella descuida sus plantas y por eso se mueren.

B1

She neglects her plants and that's why they die.

Si uno descuida su salud, acaba enfermando.

B1

If one neglects their health, they end up getting sick.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • abandonar (to abandon/neglect)
  • olvidar (to forget)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • descuidar los estudios – to neglect one's studies

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescuidaran
yodescuidara
túdescuidaras
vosotrosdescuidarais
nosotrosdescuidáramos
él/ella/usteddescuidara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescuiden
yodescuide
túdescuides
vosotrosdescuidéis
nosotrosdescuidemos
él/ella/usteddescuide

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescuidaron
yodescuidé
túdescuidaste
vosotrosdescuidasteis
nosotrosdescuidamos
él/ella/usteddescuidó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescuidaban
yodescuidaba
túdescuidabas
vosotrosdescuidabais
nosotrosdescuidábamos
él/ella/usteddescuidaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescuidan
yodescuido
túdescuidas
vosotrosdescuidáis
nosotrosdescuidamos
él/ella/usteddescuida
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: descuida

Question 1 of 2

If a friend says '¡Descuida!' after you apologize for being late, what do they mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
descuidar(to neglect / to not worry) — Verb
descuido(oversight / carelessness) — Noun
descuidado(careless / messy) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed by adding the prefix 'des-' (which means 'undo' or 'not') to the verb 'cuidar' (to take care of), which comes from the Latin 'cogitāre' (to think or reflect).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: descuidar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'descuida' the same as 'no te preocupes'?

Yes, they are very similar! 'Descuida' is slightly more concise and specifically implies 'don't bother yourself with this detail, I have it handled.'

Can I use 'descuida' in a formal business email?

It is better to use 'no se preocupe' or 'descuide' (the formal version) if you are writing to a client or a boss you don't know well.