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"Lavarse los dientes" is a pronominal verb phrase which is often translated as "to brush one's teeth", and "cepillarse" is a reflexive verb which is often translated as "to brush". Learn more about the difference between "lavarse los dientes" and "cepillarse" below.
lavarse los dientes(
lah
-
bahr
-
seh
lohs
dyehn
-
tehs
)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 teeth
Raúl, ¿cuántas veces te he dicho que te laves los dientes antes de acostarte?How many times I've told you to brush your teeth before you go to bed, Raul?
b. to clean one's teeth
Los dentistas aconsejan lavarse los dientes al menos tres veces al día.Dentists advise you to clean your teeth at least three times a day.
lavar los dientes
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 someone's teeth
Teresa le lava los dientes a su bebé con un poquito de pasta de dientes.Teresa brushes her baby's teeth with a little bit of toothpaste.
b. to clean someone's teeth
Ramón le lava los dientes a su hermana pequeña porque ella no sabe hacerlo sola todavía.Ramon brushes his little sister's teeth because she can't do it by herself yet.
cepillarse(
seh
-
pee
-
yahr
-
seh
)A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
3. (colloquial) (to have sex with) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
4. (colloquial) (to kill) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to bump off (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Dicen que ese capo se cepilló a varios de sus camellos.Word is that drug lord bumped off several of his dealers.
5. (colloquial) (to not pass) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to fail
Siempre se cepillan a mitad de los estudiantes en ese curso.They always fail half the students on that course.
b. to flunk (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
La profe dijo que nos cepillaría a todos si seguíamos así.The teacher said she'd flunk us all if we carried on like this.
cepillar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
7. (to smooth)
a. to plane
Creo que necesitas cepillar la parte de arriba de la puerta un poco más para que no se trabe.I think you need to plane the top of the door a little more so it doesn't stick.
8. (colloquial) (to steal)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to swipe (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Dejé el celular en la barra y me lo cepillaron.I left my cell on the bar and someone swiped it.
b. to pinch (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mira que fácil sería cepillarle la cartera del bolsillo a ese chico.Look how easy it would be to pinch that guy's wallet from his pocket.
9. (colloquial) (to compliment) (Andes) (Central America) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. to flatter
Trata de cepillar al jefe un poco antes de pedirle un aumento.Try and flatter the boss a little before you ask him for a raise.
b. to butter up (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Déjalo pensar que me puede cepillar; ¡ya verá!Let him think he can butter me up. He'll see!
