15 Ways To Say "Be Careful In Spanish": The Ultimate Guide To Warnings, Slang, And Safety Phrases

Learning how to say "be careful" in Spanish is far more complex than a simple one-to-one translation, especially if you want to sound natural and appropriate in any situation. As of late 2025, mastering this phrase requires understanding the crucial difference between informal (tú), formal (usted), and plural (ustedes/vosotros) commands, as well as knowing when to use a quick, universal warning versus a more specific piece of advice.

The most common and quintessential way to tell a friend or child to "be careful" is ¡Ten cuidado!. However, traveling through Mexico, you might hear the cryptic warning ¡Aguas!, while a sign on a wet floor will simply read Precaución. This guide breaks down the 15 most important ways to express caution, ensuring you are prepared for every conversational and situational context across the Spanish-speaking world.

The Core Translations: Formal, Informal, and Universal Warnings

The phrase "be careful" is built around the Spanish verb tener (to have) and the noun cuidado (care or caution), literally translating to "have care." The variation depends entirely on who you are speaking to.

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1. ¡Ten Cuidado! (The Informal Standard)

   This is the most common and direct translation for addressing a single person you know well—a friend, family member, or child. The word Ten is the irregular affirmative imperative form of the verb tener for the tú (informal 'you') conjugation.

   • Example: "¡Ten cuidado con ese cuchillo!" (Be careful with that knife!)
2. ¡Tenga Cuidado! (The Formal Standard)

   Use this when addressing someone formally, such as an elder, a business associate, or anyone you would refer to as usted. The imperative Tenga is the command form for the formal singular "you".

   • Example: "Señora, ¡tenga cuidado al bajar las escaleras!" (Ma'am, be careful when going down the stairs!)
3. ¡Tengan Cuidado! (The Plural Command)

   This is the correct phrase for telling a group of two or more people to be careful, using the imperative form for ustedes (plural 'you'). This form is universal across all Spanish-speaking countries for both formal and informal groups.

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   • Example: "Chicos, ¡tengan cuidado en la ciudad de noche!" (Guys, be careful in the city at night!)
4. ¡Cuidado! (The Quick, Universal Warning)

   This single word is the fastest and most urgent way to issue a warning, much like yelling "Watch out!" or "Heads up!" in English. It is context-neutral and highly effective in situations of immediate danger.

   • Example: "¡Cuidado! ¡Un coche!" (Watch out! A car!)
5. ¡Aguas! (Mexican Slang for "Watch Out!")

   A vibrant and widely used piece of Mexican Spanish slang, ¡Aguas! literally means "waters" but functions as an urgent, informal warning akin to "Look out!" or "Be careful!" It's essential vocabulary for travel in Mexico.

   • Example: "¡Aguas! El piso está mojado." (Watch out! The floor is wet.)

Context-Specific Phrases for Caution and Safety

Beyond the core translations, Spanish offers specific phrases that are more natural when giving advice about a particular activity or object. These phrases add topical authority to your command of the language.

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6. Cuídate / Cuídese (Take Care / Look After Yourself)

   While not a direct translation of "be careful," this is the most common way to say "take care" or "be safe" as a farewell. Cuídate is informal (tú), and Cuídese is formal (usted).

   • Example: "Adiós, ¡cuídate mucho!" (Goodbye, take good care of yourself!)
7. Maneja con Cuidado / Conduce con Cuidado (Drive Carefully)

   When giving a warning specific to driving, you can use the verb manejar (to drive, common in Latin America) or conducir (to drive, common in Spain).

   • Example: "Maneja con cuidado, la carretera tiene hielo." (Drive carefully, the road has ice.)
8. Ten Cuidado con Eso (Be Careful with That)

   To specify what the person needs to be careful about, you simply add con (with) and the object. This structure is highly flexible.

   • Example: "Ten cuidado con el perro, muerde." (Be careful with the dog, it bites.)
9. Sé Cauteloso/a (Be Cautious)

   This phrase uses the verb ser (to be) and the adjective cauteloso/a (cautious). It is a more formal or literary way to suggest prudence and is often used when giving general life advice.

   • Example: "Siempre sé cauteloso con las inversiones grandes." (Always be cautious with big investments.)
10. Mantente Alerta (Stay Alert)

    This phrase is used to tell someone to be vigilant or aware of their surroundings, often in a safety context, such as hiking or walking in a busy area.

    • Example: "Mantente alerta, hay mucho tráfico." (Stay alert, there is a lot of traffic.)

Understanding the Nuances: Cuidado vs. Precaución vs. Peligro

To truly achieve topical authority, it is vital to understand the difference between the Spanish nouns for various types of warnings. These are not interchangeable and are used in distinct contexts, often appearing on signs or in official documentation.

11. Precaución (Caution)

    This word is almost exclusively used on signs or in official warnings, such as a "wet floor" sign (Piso mojado: Precaución) or a road sign. It implies a need for general prudence rather than immediate danger.

    • Context: Signs, formal documents, safety manuals (e.g., precauciones universales - universal precautions).
12. Peligro (Danger)

    This is a much stronger noun than cuidado or precaución and is used to indicate a serious, immediate, or life-threatening hazard.

    • Context: Warning of a cliff, high voltage, or a dangerous animal (e.g., "¡Peligro de muerte!" - Danger of death!).
13. Alerta (Alert)

    This term is used when referring to a state of readiness or vigilance, often in the context of weather, security, or a general emergency.

    • Context: Weather warnings (e.g., alerta de tormenta - storm alert) or security notices.

Advanced and Idiomatic Expressions for Caution

For the advanced learner, these idiomatic phrases will make your Spanish sound fluent and deeply ingrained in the culture.

14. No Escupas Para Arriba (Don't Spit Upwards)

    This colorful idiom is a warning to "be careful what you do" because your actions might come back to harm you, similar to the English phrase "what goes around comes around" or "don't shoot yourself in the foot".

    • Meaning: Be careful with the consequences of your actions.
15. No Puedes Ser Demasiado Cuidadoso (You Can't Be Too Careful)

    This is a direct, yet commonly used, translation of the English idiom. It’s used to justify an excessive level of caution or preparation.

    • Meaning: It is wise to take every possible precaution.

Entity List for Topical Authority

• Verb Tener: The core verb ("to have") used in the main phrase (Ten cuidado).
• Noun Cuidado: The literal "care" or "caution".
• Imperative Mood: The grammatical form used for commands (Ten, Tenga, Tengan).
• Tú vs. Usted: The distinction between informal and formal address.
• Mexican Spanish: The regional context for the slang term ¡Aguas!.
• Conducir / Manejar: The two main verbs for "to drive".
• La Seguridad: The Spanish word for "safety".
• Advertencias: The Spanish word for "warnings".
• Cautela: A synonym for caution, often more formal than cuidado.
• Piso Mojado: A common context for the warning Precaución ("Wet Floor").
• Mantente a Salvo: A phrase meaning "stay safe".
• ¡Que te robo!: An example of using que to introduce a threat or warning.
• Conduce Seguro: An alternative way to say "drive safe".
• Regional Variants: Including *te cuidas* (a regional variant of *cuídate*).
• Prevenir: The verb "to prevent."
• Riesgo: The noun for "risk."
• Vigilancia: The noun for "vigilance."
• Protección: The noun for "protection."
• Zona Peligrosa: "Dangerous zone."
• Accidente: The noun for "accident."
• Prudencia: The noun for "prudence" or "discretion."