Portuguese Phrase
Cuidado por onde você pisa.
Meaning
A warning telling someone to watch the ground they are stepping on, usually because the surface may be slippery, uneven, or otherwise hazardous.
When to use
Use this phrase when you see a friend or a stranger about to step on ice, a construction area, a wet floor, or any place where a misstep could cause a fall or injury.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cuidadoporondevocêpisa.
Cuidado (imperative)
Used as an interjection meaning “watch out” or “be careful”. It comes from the verb cuidar but functions like a standalone warning.
por onde (preposition + relative pronoun)
‘por’ introduces the cause or location, and ‘onde’ means ‘where’. Together they ask about the place of an action.
você + pisa (verb agreement)
With the pronoun ‘você’, the verb is conjugated in the 3rd‑person singular present: pisa (from pisar).
Sentence punctuation
The period at the end signals a firm, final warning; an exclamation mark can be used for a stronger tone.
🗨In Conversation
Cuidado por onde você pisa!
Watch out where you step!
Obrigado, vou prestar mais atenção.
Thanks, I’ll pay more attention.
✕Common Mistakes
Cuidado onde você pisa.
Missing the preposition ‘por’; the correct idiom is ‘por onde’ to indicate location.
Cuidar por onde você pisa.
‘Cuidar’ is the infinitive verb; you need the noun form ‘cuidado’ for the warning.
Cuidado por onde tu pisa.
When using ‘tu’, the verb must agree: ‘pisas’. With ‘você’, it stays ‘pisa’.
↔Alternatives
Preste atenção ao caminhar.
Pay attention while walking.
Tenha cuidado ao andar.
Be careful when you walk.
Olhe onde pisa.
Look where you step.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘cuidado’ is often used in informal, friendly contexts. The tone of voice and facial expression convey how urgent the warning is. Adding an exclamation mark (Cuidado por onde você pisa!) makes it sound more urgent, while a simple period feels more matter‑of‑fact.