Inklingo

How to Say "attention" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “attention” is “atención” — use 'atención' when referring to the general mental focus or concentration required for a task or when being addressed.

atenciónA1

Use 'atención' when referring to the general mental focus or concentration required for a task or when being addressed.

Learn more →
cuidado🔊A2

Use 'cuidado' when 'attention' implies caution, care, or carefulness, especially in physical actions like driving or handling something delicate.

Learn more →
caso🔊B1

Use 'caso' specifically within the idiomatic phrase 'hacer caso,' which means to pay attention by obeying or listening to someone.

Learn more →
ojos🔊B1

Use 'ojos' in expressions like 'tener los ojos puestos en alguien/algo,' meaning to keep a close watch or monitor someone/something closely.

Learn more →
oídosB1

Use 'oídos' when 'attention' refers to actively listening or giving an audience, often in the context of ignoring advice (hacer oídos sordos).

Learn more →
English → Spanish

atención

nounA1general
Use 'atención' when referring to the general mental focus or concentration required for a task or when being addressed.

Examples

Por favor, presta atención.

Please, pay attention.

cuidado

kwee-DAH-dohkwiˈða.ðo

nounA2general
Use 'cuidado' when 'attention' implies caution, care, or carefulness, especially in physical actions like driving or handling something delicate.
A close-up image of a person's hands gently cupping and protecting a fragile, vibrant green seedling emerging from the soil, symbolizing care and diligence.

Examples

Conduce con cuidado, está lloviendo.

Drive with care, it's raining.

Necesitas poner más cuidado en tu trabajo.

You need to put more care into your work.

El paciente requiere cuidados especiales.

The patient requires special care.

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'.

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).

caso

KA-soˈkaso

nounB1general
Use 'caso' specifically within the idiomatic phrase 'hacer caso,' which means to pay attention by obeying or listening to someone.
A person's ear clearly receiving sound waves, symbolizing focused attention or heeding.

Examples

Por favor, hazme caso cuando te hablo.

Please, pay attention to me when I talk to you.

El niño nunca hace caso a su madre.

The child never listens to (pays attention to) his mother.

No hagas caso del ruido, es solo el viento.

Don't pay any mind to the noise, it's just the wind.

A Word That Needs a Partner

To mean 'attention' or 'notice', 'caso' almost always appears with the verb 'hacer'. Think of 'hacer caso' as a single idea meaning 'to pay attention' or 'to listen to'.

Forgetting the 'a'

Mistake: “No me hizo caso mi consejo.”

Correction: No me hizo caso a mi consejo. When you pay attention *to* something or someone, you need the little word 'a' after 'hacer caso'.

ojos

OH-hohsˈo.xos

nounB1general
Use 'ojos' in expressions like 'tener los ojos puestos en alguien/algo,' meaning to keep a close watch or monitor someone/something closely.
A pair of large, attentive brown eyes intently watching a small, shiny gold coin sitting on a table, symbolizing focus.

Examples

Tengo mis ojos puestos en ti, no intentes nada.

I've got my eyes on you, don't try anything.

A los ojos de la ley, todos somos iguales.

In the eyes of the law, we are all equal.

El profesor tiene mil ojos, lo ve todo.

The teacher has a thousand eyes, he sees everything.

oídos

nounB1general
Use 'oídos' when 'attention' refers to actively listening or giving an audience, often in the context of ignoring advice (hacer oídos sordos).

Examples

Hizo oídos sordos a mis advertencias y tuvo un accidente.

He turned a deaf ear to my warnings and had an accident.

General Focus vs. Specific Actions

Learners often confuse 'atención' with 'cuidado'. Remember that 'atención' is for mental focus, while 'cuidado' implies caution and carefulness in physical actions. Don't use 'cuidado' when you simply need someone to concentrate on a lesson.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.