cepillarse el pelo
/θepiʝaɾse el pelo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "brush hair" is translated into Spanish as cepillarse el pelo.
The phrase cepillarse el pelo means to tidy or detangle the hair on one's head using a brush. If you want to refer to the tool itself, a "hairbrush" is called cepillo de pelo. If you are performing the action with a gentle touch, you can use the expression cepillar suavemente.
What does it mean word for word?
The term cepillarse is a combination of cepillar (to brush) and the reflexive pronoun se (oneself), meaning "to brush oneself".
Which one should you use?
Use cepillarse el pelo specifically when you are using a brush. For a more general term that means "to comb" or "to style" one's hair, use peinarse.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, when referring to body parts like hair, it is more common to use the definite article el rather than a possessive adjective like "mi" (my). The reflexive pronoun se is attached to the infinitive cepillar to indicate the action is performed on oneself. When you conjugate this in the first person to say "I brush my hair," the reflexive pronoun changes to me and the verb becomes me cepillo el pelo.
How do you pronounce it?
/θepiʝaɾse el pelo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word for hair, pelo, shares an ancient root with the English word 'pile', which refers to short, fine hair on animals.
- While English speakers might say 'my hair is messy', a Spanish speaker will often use the verb despeinarse to describe the specific state of having one's hair disheveled or 'out of place'.
- The word cepillo is used not only for hair but also for a 'toothbrush' (cepillo de dientes), using the same root verb.
Examples in context
- Es importante peinarse todos los días para mantener el cabello saludable.It's important to brush your hair every day to keep it healthy.
- Mi abuela se cepilla el pelo cada noche antes de dormir.My grandmother brushes her hair every night before going to bed.
- Mi hermana me peina todos los días antes de ir a la escuela.My sister brushes my hair every day before going to school.
- Ayuda a tu hermanito a darle un cepillado al cabello.Help your little brother brush his hair.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
