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"Ustedes" is a pronoun which is often translated as "you", and "cepillarse" is a reflexive verb which is often translated as "to brush". Learn more about the difference between "ustedes" and "cepillarse" below.
ustedes(
oos
-
teh
-
dehs
)A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
1. (second person plural) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
2. (formal) (second person plural) (Spain)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. you
Ustedes pueden dejar sus chaquetas en el vestuario y seguirme al comedor.You may leave your jackets in the coatroom and follow me to the dining room.
usted
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
3. (formal) (second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
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!
