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"Cepillarse el pelo" is a pronominal verb phrase which is often translated as "to brush one's hair", and "despertarse" is a reflexive verb which is often translated as "to wake up". Learn more about the difference between "cepillarse el pelo" and "despertarse" below.
cepillarse el pelo(
seh
-
pee
-
yahr
-
seh
ehl
peh
-
loh
)A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
a. to brush one's hair
Carmina se cepilló el pelo después de secárselo.Carmina brushed her hair after drying it.
cepillar el pelo
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. to brush ... hair
A Maribel le encantaba cepillar el pelo a su hija.Maribel loved to brush her daughter's hair.
despertarse(
dehs
-
pehr
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tahr
-
seh
)A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
despertar, el despertar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to wake up
La policía vino y despertó a todo el edificio.The police came and woke up the whole building.
4. (to conjure)
a. to awaken
Los olores despertaron viejos recuerdos de la infancia.The smells awakened old childhood memories.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
