cuido

Cuido is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb cuidar, meaning to take care of or to look after. It expresses that the speaker currently performs the act of caring for someone or something.

Grammatical notes: Cuido is the yo form in present tense. The verb cuidar is regular in standard Spanish, with other present forms such as cuidas, cuida, cuidamos, cuidáis, cuidan. Its other tenses follow regular conjugation patterns (e.g., cuidé in pasado, cuidaba in imperfect, cuidaré in futuro, cuide in the present subjunctive). The meaning centers on attending to the needs or well-being of a person, animal, or object.

Usage and examples: Common sentences include “Yo cuido a mis plantas todos los días” (I take care of my plants every day) and “Ella cuida de sus hermanos” (She looks after her brothers). Cuido can also appear in contexts that emphasize responsibility or vigilance, as in “cuido tus pertenencias” (I take care of your belongings).

Relation to related terms: The noun form most often used is cuidado, which means care or caution. In standard Spanish, cuidado is the appropriate noun for the concept, while cuido remains primarily a verb form. The expression con mucho cuidado is the typical way to say “with great care” rather than using cuido as a noun.

See also: cuidar, cuidado.