A person wearing thick protective oven mitts while carefully holding a hot baking tray.

precaución

pre-kow-SYOHN

nounfA2

caution?care taken to avoid danger

Also:care?being mindful of actions,precaution?a measure taken in advance

📝 In Action

Por favor, maneja con mucha precaución porque está lloviendo.

Please, drive with a lot of caution because it is raining.

Tomamos todas las precauciones necesarias antes del viaje.

We took all the necessary precautions before the trip.

¡Precaución! Suelo mojado.

Caution! Wet floor.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cuidado (care/carefulness)
cautela (caution/prudence)

Antonyms

imprudencia (recklessness)
descuido (carelessness)

Common Collocations

con precaución – with caution / carefully
tomar precauciones – to take precautions
medida de precaución – precautionary measure

Idioms & Expressions

más vale prevenir que lamentar – it is better to be safe than sorry

💡 Grammar Points

The '-ción' Rule

Most words ending in '-ción' are feminine. This means you should use 'la' or 'una' with them (la precaución).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'caution' as a verb

Mistake: "Yo precaución el perro."

Correction: Yo tengo precaución con el perro.

⭐ Usage Tips

Yellow Signs

When you see a yellow sign in a Spanish-speaking country, it will almost always start with 'Precaución' followed by the danger (like 'curva peligrosa' for a dangerous curve).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: precaución

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase is the most natural way to say 'Drive carefully'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

precavido(cautious/safe) - adjective

precaver(to prevent/guard against) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

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

'Cuidado' is more common in everyday speech (like yelling 'Watch out!'). 'Precaución' is slightly more formal and is often used for general safety or advance planning.

Can I use 'precaución' to mean a warning?

Yes, especially on signs or in official instructions, it acts as a header to warn people of a hazard.