Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"Be careful!" in Italian: stai attento/a!
stai attento/a!
Be careful in Italian is stai attento! (to a man) or stai attenta! (to a woman). Use it for stairs, traffic, and hot pans.
Wet floor
Stai attento—il pavimento scivola.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce stai attento/a!
Say it
STY at-TEN-toh
/stai atˈtɛn.to/
Stai attento: STY at-TEN-toh. Attenta ends -tah. Stress TEN.
"Be careful!" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| stai attento! | be careful! (m.) To a man / boy. | To a man / boy. |
| stai attenta! | be careful! (f.) To a woman / girl. | To a woman / girl. |
| stai attento alla macchina | watch out for the car Specific hazard. | Specific hazard. |
| fate attenzione | be careful (plural) Group warning. | Group warning. |
How to use stai attento/a! in real life
- 1Wet floor
Stai attento—il pavimento scivola.
Be careful—the floor is slippery.
Masculine.
- 2Bike lane
Stai attenta quando giri a sinistra.
Be careful when you turn left.
Feminine.
- 3Kitchen
Stai attento: l'olio bolle.
Be careful: the oil is boiling.
Heat hazard.
Mistakes English speakers make with stai attento/a!
Incorrect: Stai attento. (to a woman)
Correct: Stai attenta!
Match gender: attenta for a woman.
Incorrect: Sii careful!
Correct: Stai attento!
Use the Italian set phrase.
Good to know
Parents and friends say stai attento/a constantly on Italian sidewalks and scooters. It is care, not scolding, when the tone stays light. Point at the hazard while you say it.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Crossing a busy intersection
ChatPal
Il semaforo è giallo.
The light is yellow.
You
Stai attento—arriva uno scooter.
Be careful—a scooter is coming.
ChatPal
Grazie. Stai attenta anche tu al tram.
Thanks. You be careful of the tram too.
You
Ok, aspettiamo il verde.
Ok, we'll wait for green.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Be careful!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Be careful!" in Italian
To a man?
Stai attento!
To a woman?
Stai attenta!
Plural?
Fate attenzione.
Specific hazard?
Stai attento alla macchina.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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