Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Careful in Spanish: Cuidadoso or Ten Cuidado
Cuidadoso · adjective · kwee-dah-DOH-soh
Careful in Spanish is cuidadoso (adjective for a careful person) or ten cuidado (imperative warning meaning be careful).
Cuidadoso is kwee-dah-DOH-soh, with stress on the third syllable.
Ten cuidado con el escalón, está resbaladizo.
Be careful with the step, it's slippery.
Careful in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for careful, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cuidadoso | careful | kwee-dah-DOH-soh | Default, widely understood |
| ten cuidado | careful | imperative: be careful | |
| precavido | careful | cautious |
How Native Speakers Use Cuidadoso
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Warning someone
¡Cuidado con el perro!
Careful with the dog!
Cuidado alone works as a quick warning.
Describing a person
Es una persona muy cuidadosa con los detalles.
She's a very careful person with details.
Adjective describing personality.
Giving advice
Tienes que ser más cuidadoso al manejar.
You need to be more careful when driving.
Advising caution.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cuidadoso
Using careful as a Spanish word
Incorrect: Sé careful con eso.
Correct: Ten cuidado con eso.
There is no Spanish word careful; use ten cuidado for the imperative be careful.
Gender agreement
Incorrect: Ella es cuidadoso.
Correct: Ella es cuidadosa.
Cuidadoso changes to cuidadosa for feminine subjects.
Lock in Careful Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Cuidadoso used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Careful in Spanish
- How do you say careful in Spanish?
- For a warning, say cuidado or ten cuidado; to describe someone as careful, use the adjective cuidadoso/cuidadosa.
- What is the difference between cuidadoso and precavido?
- Cuidadoso means careful in the sense of meticulous or attentive, while precavido means cautious or preventative, focusing on avoiding risks.
- How do you say be careful formally?
- The formal usted command is tenga cuidado, while the informal tú command is ten cuidado.