cepillo de pelo
/θepiʝo de pelo/from spelling rules
The English phrase hair brush is translated into Spanish as cepillo de pelo.
A cepillo de pelo refers to a tool with bristles used for smoothing or untangling the hair.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cepillo (brush), de (of) and pelo (hair).
Which one should you use?
Use cepillo de pelo for a brush with bristles, whereas peine refers to a comb with teeth.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, cepillo de cabello is a common term for hair brush.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, change cepillo to cepillos to get cepillos de pelo.
How do you pronounce it?
/θepiʝo de pelo/
Did you know?
- The word cepillo is actually a diminutive form. It stems from the word cepo, which historically referred to a wooden branch or a stock.
- In many Spanish-speaking contexts, using cabello instead of pelo makes your description of your hair sound more elegant or refined.
- The diminutive suffix -illo in cepillo is so common that it often creates entirely new nouns rather than just meaning 'small'.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría prestarme un cepillo para el cabello, por favor?Could you lend me a hair brush, please?
- ¿Me prestas un cepillo para el pelo?Can you lend me a hair brush?
- ¿Sabes dónde puedo encontrar un cepillo para el cabello?Do you know where I can find a hair brush?
- Necesito un cepillo de pelo nuevo.I need a new hair brush.
- ¿Dónde dejaste el cepillo de pelo?Where did you leave the hair brush?
- Este cepillo de pelo es muy suave.This hair brush is very soft.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are getting ready in a bathroom.
- Sofía¿Has visto mi cepillo de pelo?Have you seen my hair brush?
- AlejandroEstá sobre el lavabo, Sofía.It is on the sink, Sofía.
- SofíaGracias, Alejandro.Thanks, Alejandro.
- AlejandroDe nada.You're welcome.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cepillo, de, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
