Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| cuidado | /kwiˈdado/ |
| ojo | /ˈoxo/ |
| tate | /tate/ (from spelling rules) |
| avisón | /abison/ (from spelling rules) |
The various forms are used to tell someone to proceed with caution. To warn someone about a specific object or person, you can use the preposition con after cuidado (for example, cuidado con el escalón). Other ways to express the idea of using caution include the verb phrases tener cuidado, estar al loro and estar atento.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ojo literally means eye, but it is used idiomatically to mean watch out or pay attention.
Which one should you use?
Cuidado is a noun meaning care or caution, while ojo is a noun meaning eye. However, both function as interjections to warn someone. Ojo is a more colloquial and punchy way to say watch out compared to the standard cuidado.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ojo is an informal and colloquial way to say watch out. When using the verb phrase tener cuidado to tell someone to be careful, you should use tenga cuidado for formal situations and ten cuidado for informal situations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, cuidado translates to careful and cuidado con… translates to watch out for…. In Spain, the phrase estate al loro means be on the lookout.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While cuidado can be used alone as an interjection, ten cuidado is the imperative form of the verb phrase tener cuidado used to tell someone to be careful.
How do you pronounce it?
/kwiˈdado/
Did you know?
- While ojo is used as a warning in Spain and Latin America, in the Philippines the word cuidado has a unique meaning influenced by the Tagalog phrase 'bahala ka'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a quick gesture toward the eye often accompanies the word ojo to emphasize the warning.
Examples in context
- Cuidado con el gato.Watch out for the cat.This sentence is useful for practicing how to warn about an animal using cuidado.Tatoeba #10275016 by Seael, translation #10205667 by shekitten
- Cuidado con los charcos.Watch out for puddles.This sentence shows how to use cuidado to warn about obstacles like puddles.Tatoeba #7420165 by arh, translation #10253818 by LimeGreenTeknii
- ¡Cuidado! ¡Es una trampa!Watch out! It's a trap!This sentence demonstrates using cuidado as an exclamation to warn of a trap.Tatoeba #2917096 by hayastan, translation #4068905 by mervert1
- Tenga cuidado al caminar por esa calle, hay muchos baches.Be careful when walking on that street, there are many potholes.
- Ten cuidado con ese perro, puede morder.Watch out for that dog, it might bite.
- Cuidado con el tráfico en esta zonaWatch out for traffic in this area
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are walking down a street with a wet floor.
- Alejandro¡Cuidado, Elena! El piso está mojado.Watch out, Elena! The floor is wet.
- ElenaGracias por avisarme, Alejandro.Thanks for letting me know, Alejandro.
- AlejandroCamina despacio para no resbalar.Walk slowly so you don't slip.
- ElenaLo haré, tendré mucho cuidado.I will, I'll be very careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “watch out” translations and entries cuidado, ojo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuidado, ojo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
