How to Say Be Careful in Spanish
Learn how to say be careful in Spanish. The standard phrase is 'Ten cuidado' (ten kwee-DAH-do); formally '¡Tenga cuidado!' and the quick warning '¡Cuidado!'
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Quick answer
To say be careful in Spanish, say 'Ten cuidado' (ten kwee-DAH-do) to someone you address informally, or '¡Tenga cuidado!' (TEN-gah kwee-DAH-do) formally. As a quick warning, just shout '¡Cuidado!' (kwee-DAH-do — careful! / watch out!).
Ten cuidado
/ten kwee-DAH-do/ — Spanish
How to Say Be Careful in Spanish
When you want to warn someone in Spanish, the standard phrase is Ten cuidado (ten kwee-DAH-do), literally “have care.” Spanish builds this from a command verb plus the noun cuidado (care), so the form changes depending on whether you are speaking formally, informally, or to a group.
The Standard Phrase: Ten cuidado
Ten cuidado — pronounced ten kwee-DAH-do
This is the everyday way to tell a friend, child, or family member to be careful. Ten is the informal tú command of tener (to have), and cuidado means “care” or “caution.” Literally you are saying “have care.”
For a quick, urgent warning — a falling object, oncoming traffic — Spanish speakers simply shout ¡Cuidado! (“Careful!” / “Watch out!”).
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish for be careful is Ten cuidado (ten kwee-DAH-do).
All the Ways to Say Be Careful in Spanish
| Spanish | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ten cuidado | ten kwee-DAH-do | Informal (tú) — friends, family |
| Tenga cuidado | TEN-gah kwee-DAH-do | Formal (usted) — strangers, elders |
| Tengan cuidado | TEN-gan kwee-DAH-do | Plural (ustedes) — a group |
| Tened cuidado | te-NED kwee-DAH-do | Plural informal (Spain, vosotros) |
| ¡Cuidado! | kwee-DAH-do | Quick warning — watch out! |
| ¡Aguas! | AH-gwas | Watch out! (Mexico, slang) |
| Cuídate | KWEE-dah-teh | Take care (of yourself) — informal |
| Ve con cuidado | beh kon kwee-DAH-do | Go carefully / drive safe |
Formal vs. Informal
Spanish commands change with the level of formality:
- Informal (tú): Ten cuidado — for people you address casually.
- Formal (usted): Tenga cuidado — for strangers, older people, clients, or professional settings.
- Plural (ustedes): Tengan cuidado — for a group, formal or informal in Latin America.
- Plural informal (vosotros, Spain): Tened cuidado.
When in doubt with someone you don’t know well, use the formal Tenga cuidado.
Adding Detail to the Warning
You can extend the phrase naturally:
- Ten mucho cuidado — Be very careful.
- Ten cuidado con el escalón — Be careful of the step.
- Ten cuidado al cruzar — Be careful crossing.
- Ten cuidado con eso — Be careful with that.
- Maneja con cuidado (Lat. Am.) / Conduce con cuidado (Spain) — Drive carefully.
Pronunciation Tips
- cui glides into a single “kwee” sound.
- The d between vowels is very soft, close to the “th” in “this”: cui-DAH-do.
- Spanish vowels are pure and short: a = “ah,” e = “eh,” i = “ee,” o = “oh,” u = “oo.”
- Stress: cui-DAH-do and TEN-ga.
Cultural Notes
Cuídate (informal) and cuídese (formal) double as a warm goodbye meaning “take care of yourself,” similar to English “take care!” In Mexico, you’ll hear the slang ¡Aguas! as a lively “heads up!” — historically tied to people throwing water into the street. For travelers, Ten cuidado and ¡Cuidado! are essential safety words worth memorizing first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say be careful in Spanish?
Say 'Ten cuidado' (ten kwee-DAH-do) to a friend or family member, or '¡Tenga cuidado!' formally to a stranger or someone you respect. For a fast, urgent warning, just say '¡Cuidado!' (careful! / watch out!). To several people, use 'Tengan cuidado.'
How do you pronounce Ten cuidado?
'Ten cuidado' is pronounced ten kwee-DAH-do. The 'cui' in 'cuidado' blends into 'kwee,' and the stress falls on 'DAH.' The 'd' is soft, almost like the 'th' in 'this.' 'Ten' is a single short syllable, rhyming with the English 'ten.'
Is Ten cuidado formal or informal?
'Ten cuidado' is the informal (tú) command, for friends, family, kids, and peers. The formal (usted) version is '¡Tenga cuidado!' for strangers, elders, or professional contexts. For a group, say 'Tengan cuidado' (ustedes) or, in Spain, 'Tened cuidado' (vosotros).
What is the literal meaning of Ten cuidado?
'Ten cuidado' literally means 'have care' — 'ten' is the informal command form of 'tener' (to have) and 'cuidado' means 'care' or 'caution.' So Spanish tells someone to 'have caution' rather than to 'be' careful. '¡Cuidado!' alone literally means 'care!' used as 'watch out!'
How do you say watch out or be safe in Spanish?
'Watch out!' is '¡Cuidado!' or '¡Aguas!' (Mexican slang). 'Be safe' is 'Cuídate' (informal — take care of yourself) or 'Cuídese' (formal). 'Pay attention' is 'Presta atención' or '¡Fíjate!' (informal). 'Take care!' as a goodbye is '¡Cuídate!' or '¡Que te vaya bien!'