tenga en cuenta
/tenɡa en kwenta/from spelling rules
In Spanish, please note is translated as tenga en cuenta.
The phrase is used to politely draw a person's attention to a specific piece of important information. In Spanish, it is more commonly used in professional or instructional contexts than the English equivalent.
Which one should you use?
The various forms of this expression depend on your relationship with the listener and how many people you are addressing. While tenga en cuenta is a polite way to say please note, Favor de tener en cuenta can be used to mean please have in mind. If you want to tell someone to pay close attention in a casual setting, you would use Fíjate bien.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form you choose depends on whom you are addressing. Tenga en cuenta is the formal singular form. For a group of people, use the plural form tengan en cuenta. If you are speaking informally to one person using tú, use the imperative form ten en cuenta.
Did you know?
- While tenga en cuenta is used for noting information, the word cuenta is also used in Spanish to ask for the bill at a restaurant.
- If you are writing a very formal letter, you might use Téngase en cuenta instead of addressing a specific person. This impersonal form is common in legal or official documents to state that a fact must be considered by anyone reading it.
- The word cuenta in this phrase does not actually mean 'note' or 'observation', but comes from the verb 'contar', meaning 'to count' or 'to tell'. To say 'please note' is literally asking someone to 'have the account' of something in their mind.
Examples in context
- Tenga en cuenta que la reunión se pospuso para la próxima semanaPlease note that the meeting has been rescheduled for next week
- Favor de tener en cuenta que la fecha límite ha cambiadoPlease note that the deadline has changed
- Ojo que el tren tiene demoraPlease note that the train is delayed
- Tenga en cuenta que el museo cierra los lunes.Please note that the museum closes on Mondays.
- Tenga en cuenta que la tienda cierra temprano.Please note that the shop closes early.
- Tenga en cuenta los cambios en el horario.Please note the changes in the schedule.
- Tenga en cuenta que el examen es mañana.Please note that the exam is tomorrow.
Example conversation
Alejandro is leaving a message for Elena about a meeting.
- AlejandroElena, tenga en cuenta la nueva dirección.Elena, please note the new address.
- ElenaGracias, Alejandro. ¿Es cerca de la estación?Thanks, Alejandro. Is it near the station?
- AlejandroSí, está a solo dos calles.Yes, it is only two streets away.
- ElenaPerfecto, allí estaré a tiempo.Perfect, I will be there on time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuenta, en, CC BY-SA 4.0.
