por favor tenga cuidado
/poɾ faboɾ tenɡa kwidado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "please be careful" is translated into Spanish as por favor tenga cuidado.
This phrase is used as a polite request for someone to avoid danger or mistakes.
What does it mean word for word?
The part tenga cuidado literally translates to "have care".
Which one should you use?
While por favor tenga cuidado is a polite request, if you need to warn someone of immediate, sudden danger, it is more natural to shout just ¡Cuidado! instead of the full polite phrase.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the phrase por favor, ten mucho cuidado.
Did you know?
- The word cuidado shares an ancient root with the Latin word 'cogitare', which means 'to think'. This implies that being careful is fundamentally an act of keeping your thoughts focused and mindful.
- While cuidado is used for danger, the verb cuidar is also the primary word used for 'baby-sitting' or 'looking after' a pet. To 'be careful' and to 'take care of' someone come from the same linguistic root.
- Because tenga is the formal imperative, using por favor tenga cuidado can actually create a social distance between you and the listener, making you sound like a stranger or a subordinate rather than a friend.
Examples in context
- Amiga, por favor, ten cuidado en el camino de regreso.Friend, please be careful on your way back home.
- Por favor, ten cuidado, el suelo está resbaladizo.Please be careful, the floor is slippery.
- ¡Por favor, ten cuidado al cruzar la calle! Hay mucho tráfico.Please be careful when crossing the street! There's a lot of traffic.
- El suelo está mojado, por favor tenga cuidado.The floor is wet, please be careful.
- Por favor tenga cuidado con las escaleras.Please be careful with the stairs.
- Es un perro grande, por favor tenga cuidado.It is a large dog, please be careful.
Example conversation
Sofía is giving Javier a fragile vase to carry.
- SofíaTome el florero, por favor tenga cuidado.Take the vase, please be careful.
- JavierNo te preocupes, lo llevaré con cuidado.Don't worry, I will carry it carefully.
- SofíaEs muy antiguo y se rompe fácilmente.It is very old and breaks easily.
- JavierEntendido, lo pondré en la mesa ahora.Understood, I will put it on the table now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuidado, favor, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
