Which one should you use?
While me cepillo el pelo is standard, you may also see me cepillo el cabello. The word cabello is a synonym for pelo that is often used to refer specifically to the hair on one's head and can sound slightly more formal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase Me peino el pelo is more commonly used than me cepillo el cabello in informal settings. In Latin America, the word pelo is more prevalent than cabello when speaking informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, you do not use a possessive adjective like "my" (mi) to indicate ownership of hair. Instead, you use a reflexive pronoun (me) and the definite article (el) to show the hair belongs to the person performing the action. The infinitive form of this action is cepillarse el pelo.
How do you pronounce it?
/me θepiʝo el pelo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying me cepillo mi pelo. English speakers often try to translate "my" literally, but using both the reflexive pronoun me and the possessive mi is redundant in Spanish.
Did you know?
- The word cepillo is built from cepo, meaning 'branch', and the diminutive suffix -illo. Literally, a hairbrush was once viewed as a 'little branch'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the term peinar is used even when a brush is not involved, such as when using fingers or a comb to tidy hair.
- Using the reflexive me instead of mi is a common pattern for body parts in Spanish. This logic applies to many grooming actions, where you perform the action 'to yourself' rather than 'to your property'.
Examples in context
- Me cepillo el pelo frente al espejo.I brush my hair in front of the mirror.
- Cada mañana me cepillo el pelo con calma.Every morning I brush my hair calmly.
- Me cepillo el pelo antes de salir.I brush my hair before going out.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are getting ready in the morning.
- Daniel¿Qué haces, Elena?What are you doing, Elena?
- ElenaMe cepillo el pelo para que se vea bien.I'm brushing my hair so it looks good.
- DanielYo también me cepillo el pelo ahora.I am also brushing my hair now.
- ElenaPerfecto, así terminamos rápido.Perfect, that way we finish quickly.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cepillo, el, me, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
