cuidarse
verbCEFR B2
What does “cuidarse” mean in English?
to look after one's own health, wellbeing or appearance
Example sentences
Desde que le diagnosticaron diabetes, se cuida mucho más con la alimentación.
Since being diagnosed with diabetes, he takes much better care of himself with his diet.
Al despedirse le dijo 'cuídate mucho' y le dio un fuerte abrazo.
As she said goodbye, she told him 'take good care of yourself' and gave him a big hug.
How to use it
Cuidarse (reflexive verb, from cuidar, to take care of someone/something) means 'to take care of oneself'. Very common as a farewell: ¡Cuídate! Core collocations: cuidarse la salud, cuidarse mucho, cuidarse de + infinitive (to be careful to do something).
Common mistake
Cuidarse (to look after oneself) is different from cuidar a alguien (to take care of someone else, transitive: cuida a su abuela) — the reflexive form always turns the care back onto the subject.
Topics
Related B2 words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Nociones específicas: salud y bienest.