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essere attento
/ˈɛs.se.re atˈtɛn.to/
to be careful / to pay attention
Devi essere attento quando attraversi la strada.
You must be careful when crossing the street.
neutral
To pay close attention to something to avoid mistakes or danger; to be cautious.
È importante essere attenti durante l'esame.
It's important to pay attention during the exam.
Sii attento a non scivolare sul ghiaccio!
Be careful not to slip on the ice!
Used in both literal and figurative contexts, often with prepositions like 'a' (to) or 'con' (with).
Collocations
essere attento ato pay attention to / to be careful withessere molto attentoto be very careful / to be very attentivenon essere attentoto be inattentive / to not pay attention
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: 'Essere attento' vs. 'Fare attenzione'
'Essere attento' describes a state of being (e.g., 'He is attentive'), while 'fare attenzione' refers to the action of paying attention (e.g., 'Pay attention!'). They are often interchangeable but have subtle differences in emphasis.
Gold Rule
When to Use 'Essere Attento'
Use 'essere attento' to describe someone's general attentiveness or to give advice to be careful. Example: 'Devi essere attento con quel coltello!' (You must be careful with that knife!).
Word Origin
From Latin 'attentus' (attentive), past participle of 'attendere' (to attend to). The phrase 'essere attento' combines the verb 'essere' (to be) with the adjective 'attento' (attentive), forming a common Italian expression.
Usage Notes
Common in both spoken and written Italian. Often used in instructions, warnings, or advice. The adjective 'attento' can also stand alone (e.g., 'Lui è attento' = 'He is attentive').
Word Breakdown
essere
to be
verbattento
attentive / careful
adjectiveDizionario Italiano-Inglese