Portuguese Phrase
Cuidado com o barulho.
Meaning
A polite but firm warning telling someone to be mindful of the noise they are making. It can be used in places where silence is expected, such as libraries, hospitals, or shared apartments.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to ask a person to lower their volume or stop making a disruptive sound. It works well in both formal and informal settings, but the tone can be softened with a smile or a “por favor”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cuidadocomobarulho
Cuidado (interjection)
Used as an interjection meaning “watch out” or “be careful”; it originates from the noun ‘cuidado’ (care) but functions like an imperative warning.
com (preposition)
Introduces the object of the warning; always followed by a definite article when the noun is specific.
o (definite article)
Specifies the noun ‘barulho’; in Portuguese the article is required after ‘com’ when referring to a particular noise.
barulho (noun)
Means “noise” or “racket”. It can be singular or plural (barulhos) depending on context.
🗨In Conversation
Cuidado com o barulho.
Watch out for the noise.
Desculpe, não percebi. Vou ficar mais quieto.
Sorry, I didn’t notice. I’ll be quieter.
✕Common Mistakes
Cuidado de o barulho.
The preposition after ‘cuidado’ is ‘com’, not ‘de’. ‘Cuidado de’ changes the meaning to ‘care of’ and is incorrect here.
Cuidado com barulho.
When referring to a specific noise, the article ‘o’ is required after ‘com’. Omitting it sounds unnatural.
Cuidado!
Using only ‘Cuidado!’ without the prepositional phrase can be vague; it’s better to specify what to be careful about.
↔Alternatives
Faça silêncio, por favor.
Please be quiet.
Não faça barulho.
Don’t make noise.
Tenha cuidado com o barulho.
Be careful with the noise.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, respecting quiet zones is taken seriously, especially in residential buildings and public transport. Using “Cuidado com o barulho” is considered courteous; adding “por favor” or a smile makes it sound even more polite. In some regions, people might say “Silêncio, por favor” in more formal contexts like museums.