cuidarse

Cuidarse is a reflexive Spanish verb that denotes taking care of oneself, with emphasis on personal health, well-being, and daily self-maintenance. It encompasses activities such as eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and paying attention to mental health. The expression can also convey precautionary behavior, as in estar atento a riesgos: cuidarse de algo or cuidarse de alguien, meaning to protect oneself from danger or negative influences.

Grammatical notes: cuidarse is used with reflexive pronouns and is conjugated like a regular -ar verb in its reflexive forms (me cuido, te cuidas, se cuida, nos cuidamos, se cuidan). The imperative forms include cuídate (tú) and cuídese (usted). In health and policy contexts, the noun autocuidado is commonly used to refer to self-care as a practice or field.

Usage and nuances: cuidarse focuses on the subject’s agency in maintaining health and balance, rather than merely receiving care from others. It can pair with de to indicate protection from specific risks, as in cuidarse de exposiciones al sol, o cuidarse de hábitos perjudiciales. It is often used in everyday speech to advise personal health habits, or in clinical and wellness discourse to emphasize preventive care.

Examples: “Me cuido comiendo sano y haciendo ejercicio.” “Debes cuidarte de los resfriados con higiene y vacunas.” “¡Cuídate!” (imperative) In written Spanish, autocuidado is a common noun for self-care, and cuidarse remains the most frequent verb form in personal contexts.