cuídate mucho
/kwidate mut͡ʃo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'take good care of yourself' is translated into Spanish as cuídate mucho.
This phrase is a warm parting expression used to tell someone to stay healthy and safe. It is commonly used when saying goodbye to friends, family or loved ones.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb cuida (take care), the reflexive pronoun te (yourself) and the adverb mucho (much or a lot).
Which one should you use?
While cuídate means 'take care', adding mucho to form cuídate mucho increases the warmth and emphasis, making it more equivalent to 'take good care of yourself'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the expression Cuídate un montón can be used to mean 'take really good care of yourself'. In Spain, it is common to add ¿eh? to the end of the phrase to say Cuídate mucho, ¿eh? (take good care of yourself, okay?).
How does it change in a sentence?
To tell a group of people to take care of themselves, use the plural form cuídense mucho.
Did you know?
- The word mucho in cuídate mucho shares a distant ancestor with the Latin word for 'crumbled', suggesting an ancient connection to things that are broken down into many pieces.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying cuídate can be a subtle way of acknowledging that the other person is going through a difficult time.
- The plural form cuídense is used across Latin America, but in parts of Spain, the plural cuidaos is more common for informal groups.
Examples in context
- Cuídate mucho.Take good care of yourself.This is a simple way to say the phrase.Tatoeba #461127 by Shishir, translation #2260 by CK
- Cuídate mucho por favor.Please take good care of yourself.This example shows how to add 'please' to the phrase.Tatoeba #712023 by darinmex, translation #38469 by CK
- Te vas de viaje, así que cuídate mucho.You are going on a trip, so take good care of yourself.
Example conversation
Lucía is saying goodbye to Mateo at the airport.
- Lucía¡Buen viaje, Mateo!Have a good trip, Mateo!
- MateoGracias, Lucía. Nos vemos pronto.Thanks, Lucía. See you soon.
- LucíaSí, cuídate mucho.Yes, take good care of yourself.
- MateoLo haré. ¡Adiós!I will. Goodbye!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mucho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
