Tomar Cuidado: How to Say ‘Be Careful’ in Portuguese
Tomar cuidado means to be careful or take care. Learn how to mention a risk, an action, or a situation that needs attention.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Tomar cuidado means to be careful or take care. It can be a warning, a piece of advice, or a description of how someone acts. In conversation, cuidado! by itself is a quick warning.
Use tomar cuidado to advise caution
Use com before a thing or risk: tomar cuidado com o degrau (be careful with the step). Use para não + infinitive to name what you want to avoid: tomar cuidado para não esquecer (be careful not to forget).
Tome cuidado com o chão molhado.
Be careful with the wet floor.
Toma cuidado para não perder o horário.
Be careful not to miss the time.
Vou tomar cuidado ao atravessar a rua.
I’ll be careful when crossing the street.
Choose an imperative that fits your relationship
Tome cuidado is a polite or formal singular command; toma cuidado is a common informal form in Brazilian speech. Cuidem-se can address a group informally in some varieties, while tenham cuidado is a clear option for several people.
The command can sound caring or serious depending on context. Add a brief reason when the risk is not obvious, and use cuidado! for a fast warning.
Cuidado! Tem um degrau aqui.
Careful! There’s a step here.
Tenham cuidado na volta para casa.
Be careful on the way home.
Por favor, tome cuidado com os cabos.
Please be careful with the cables.
Put it into practice
Use tomar cuidado com + noun or para não + infinitive; choose a command form that fits your relationship with the listener.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I’ll be careful when crossing the street”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.