cepillarse los dientes
/θepiʝaɾse los djentes/from spelling rules
To brush teeth in Spanish is cepillarse los dientes.
This phrase refers to the act of cleaning one's teeth using a toothbrush and toothpaste. You may also frequently hear the synonym lavarse los dientes, which literally means to wash one's teeth.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the reflexive verb cepillarse (to brush oneself) and the direct object los dientes (the teeth).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, when referring to body parts, you use the definite article los instead of the possessive adjective 'sus' or 'mis'. When conjugated in the first person, the reflexive pronoun me is used to indicate that the action is performed on oneself, resulting in me cepillo los dientes.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying cepillar mis dientes. English speakers often mistakenly use the possessive adjective mis (my) instead of the definite article los when talking about brushing teeth.
Did you know?
- The verb cepillar comes from a word that originally referred to a small broom or brush used for cleaning surfaces. Over time, it evolved from a general tool for sweeping to the specific action of scrubbing one's teeth.
- Depending on the region, a 'toothbrush' is called cepillo de dientes or cepillo dental, but in some Caribbean dialects, the word cepillo is used alone when the context of the bathroom is already established.
- The word dientes shares an ancient root with the English word 'dentist' and the Latin 'dens'. Even though the phrase uses a specific Spanish noun, the structural connection to English dental terminology is quite direct.
Examples in context
- Recuerde cepillar sus dientes después de cada comida.Remember to brush your teeth after every meal.
- Asegúrese de cepillar sus dientes siempre antes de acostarse.Make sure to brush your teeth before going to bed, always.
- No te olvides de cepillar tus dientes antes de salir de casa.Don't forget to brush your teeth before leaving the house.
- Es hora de lavarte los dientes. No te demores.It's time to brush your teeth. Don't take too long.
- Es importante cepillarse los dientes cada mañana.It is important to brush one's teeth every morning.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries los, CC BY-SA 4.0.
