How to Say "be careful" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “be careful” is “cuídate” — use this when directly telling one person to take care of themselves as a farewell or general warning.
cuídate
kwee-DAH-teh (Stress on the 'kwee' syllable)ˈkwi.ðate
Examples
Me tengo que ir. ¡Cuídate mucho!
I have to go. Take care of yourself a lot!
Voy a viajar en moto. Mi madre me dijo, 'Cuídate'.
I'm going to travel by motorcycle. My mother told me, 'Be careful.'
Nos vemos la semana que viene. ¡Cuídate!
See you next week. Take care!
A Command and a Pronoun
This word is a combination of two things: the informal command 'cuida' (care for) and the pronoun 'te' (yourself). The attached 'te' is what makes the action bounce back to the person you are talking to.
Why the Accent Mark?
When you attach a pronoun like 'te' to a command, the original stress of the verb needs to be marked with an accent to keep the pronunciation the same. The stress stays on the 'uí' part: cuí-da-te.
Using it Formally
Mistake: “Using 'cuídate' when talking to an elder or someone you call 'usted'.”
Correction: If you are being formal, you must use 'cuídese'. Remember the 'se' pronoun goes with 'usted'.
cuida
kwee-dahˈkwi.ða
Examples
¡Cuida tu dinero, no lo pierdas!
Take care of your money, don't lose it!
Cuida ese vaso, es muy frágil.
Look after that glass; it's very fragile.
Cuida bien a tu hermanito mientras estoy fuera.
Take good care of your little brother while I'm out.
The 'Tú' Command Form
The informal command for 'you' (tú) usually looks exactly the same as the 'he/she/it' form in the present tense, which is why 'cuida' serves two roles.
Using the wrong pronoun
Mistake: “Saying 'Tú cuida' (redundant).”
Correction: Just say '¡Cuida!' The command form already implies 'tú,' so you don't need to include the pronoun unless you want strong emphasis.
cuide
KWEE-dehˈkwiðe
Examples
Espero que yo cuide bien mi jardín este verano.
I hope that I take good care of my garden this summer.
Le pedí a María que cuide a mi gato mientras viajo.
I asked Maria to look after my cat while I travel. (Uses 'ella' present subjunctive)
Cuide su dinero, señora, es peligroso aquí.
Take care of your money, ma'am, it's dangerous here. (Uses 'Usted' affirmative command)
Using 'Cuide' for Wishes and Doubt
When you want to express a desire, a request, or uncertainty about taking care of something, you must use the special verb form 'cuide'. This is called the 'subjunctive' mood. Example: 'Dudo que él cuide bien el coche.' (I doubt that he takes good care of the car.)
Formal Commands (Usted)
'Cuide' is the standard way to give a polite, formal command (using Usted) to a single person. This is the same form used in the subjunctive. Example: 'Cuide la puerta.' (Guard the door, please.)
Mixing Indicative and Subjunctive
Mistake: “Using the normal present tense form: 'Espero que usted cuida mi perro.'”
Correction: You must use the subjunctive form 'cuide' after verbs of emotion or desire: 'Espero que usted cuide mi perro.' (I hope you take care of my dog.)
Informal 'You' vs. Directing Care
Related Translations
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