Cuidate vs te cuidas

Question

Same thing? I think it's the same thing. Gracias.

Answer 1

Cuídate = take care, look after yourself

It is like an order but as you can imagine it is a piece of advice too. I mean, in Spanish, it is an imperative.

No te cuidas. Deberías cuidarte más. = You don't look after yourself. You should look after yourself more.

"Cuídate" is not the same as "te cuidas". It has a different meaning because the former is an order.

Anyway, you can say: te cuidas, ¿eh?. The sense is the same as "cuidate". But take into account that the form is different.

Siéntate = Sit down.

"Ahora te sientas" (now you sit down). It is true that can be used for an order too, but it is not imperative.

So when he left and said "te cuidas/es" what did he mean? You should take better care of yourself? I have been dieting, maybe I look too thin? That sort of thing? Gracias. - jeezzle, Apr 25, 2010

thanks Nila - patch, Apr 25, 2010

Answer 2

Already answered.

Now that's sensible thinking. Espero que te cuides would certainly = te cuides and be the thoughtful thing to say. Nice answer as usual. Gracias. - jeezzle, Apr 25, 2010

Actually, no, Q. Your answer had another angle to it. I believe Jeezle's friend is saying "Te cuidEs" as a short cut to "Espero que te cuides." - webdunce, Apr 25, 2010

You should roll back your answer, Q. - webdunce, Apr 25, 2010

Agreed, your answer was the correct answer. - jeezzle, Apr 25, 2010

Hmm. You guys must read quickly. My answer wasn't there that long. - 0074b507, Apr 25, 2010

Answer 3

I understand cuídate to be a command (Take it easy / Take care), and te cuidas to be a statement (You do take care of yourself).

The first is often used as a farewell, I think (I have often seen it used like that in movies, anyways).

Both are in the tú form, by the way.

My friend at work that speaks only mostly Spanish said "Te cuidas: when he left and meant "hey take it easy bro". so I want to compare the two, and changed my thoughts on it. - jeezzle, Apr 25, 2010

Interesting. - webdunce, Apr 25, 2010

I will watch the thread to see if a native responds. - webdunce, Apr 25, 2010

Answer 4

Yo me cuido = I look after myself

Tú me cuidas = You look after me

Tú te cuidas = You look after yourself

El se cuida = He looks after himself

El la cuida = He looks after her

(All of them are in the indicative form)

Cuida a tu hermano = look after your brother

Cuidala = look after her

Cuídate = look after yourself

(All of them are in the imperative form).

Answer 5

Well, I suppose it is like in English.

You are talking to someone and when you say goodbye, you say: cuídate (take care).

But when you are talking to someone about him or her (her/his health, his/her habits and so on) you can say: cuídate más or deberías cuidarte más. (It is the same as you should look after yourself).

Answer 6

So when he left and said "te cuidas/es" what did he mean? You should take better care of yourself? I have been dieting, maybe I look too thin? That sort of thing?

It depends, it can have several meanings. It can be a farewell like in English. Or perhaps it is a piece of advice.

Wait, but if it's a farewell then isn't it just like cuidate? What the......? Gracias. - jeezzle, Apr 25, 2010