Reflexives and Possesion

Question

"Me cepillo los dientes" means I brush my teeth. Why can't you just not use a reflexive and say "Cepillo mis dientes"?

Me cepillo los dientes directly translates to I brush myself the teeth.

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Dec 9, 2016

Answer 1

Read Daniela's response to my similar question here for an explanation on how the indirect object pronoun functions in these circumstances.

Txustaboy's answer to that question also tells us that your alternative would generally only be heard in literature (thanks Bosque).

The other answers there are also worth reading to gain more knowledge on this type of construction.

Also read the answer by txustaboy at the end, where he says you can say it that way. If you want to sound like you learned your Spanish from novels. It's just not how Spanish speakers speak. - bosquederoble, Dec 8, 2016

Sorry Bosque. That was a very exclusive statement on my part. There is a lot of good advice in those answers yours included :) - jellonz, Dec 8, 2016

I was not trying to criticize your answer, just add a little to it. Not enough to warrant an answer of my own though, so I just thought I would tack it on. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 8, 2016

Appreciated Bosque :) - jellonz, Dec 8, 2016

I mean really the bottom line answer is: that is the way Spanish speakers choose to speak, and if you want to speak their language properly you will follow suit. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 8, 2016

Answer 2

In "Panorama, introducción a la lengua española" the authors spend almost a whole lesson on these reflexive constructions. Not only does Spanish does this but the French also.

I tell my students you have to think like this"

I brush myself the teeth. (Me cepillo los dientes.) "I brush my teeth."

I wash myself the face. (Me lavo la cara. ) "I wash my face"

I put on myself the shirt. (Me pongo la camisa.") "I put on my shirt."

I put on/take off (myself) the shoes. (Me pongo/quito los zapatos.) I put on/take off my shoes.

And many others. I demonstrate these using a "Hollywood" Spanish accent, and everybody laughs at me and has a good time. The most important thing is, they never forget it.