From The Lavatory to The Artwork Studio: How To Say ‘Brush’ in Spanish


To say “brush” in Spanish, it is advisable know the distinction between un cepillo (a bristled brush for hair, enamel, or cleansing) and un pincel (a brush for portray or adorning). These aren’t the one phrases for “brush” in Spanish, both. Languages not often translate word-to-word. Many Spanish nouns for easy on a regular basis objects will fluctuate in translation between concepts and generally even between areas of the Spanish-speaking world. 

Think about asking for a pincel and getting a paintbrush, when what you meant was a cepillo de dientes (a toothbrush). Because of this your language-learning technique is essential. Confirmed strategies like Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion introduce you to phrases in context, so as a substitute of translating from a single English phrase, you’re studying the proper Spanish phrase for the thing or thought. 

Private care brushes

The final phrase for a bristled brush used for cleansing or for hair is un cepillo. You’ll be able to specify which sort you want if the context isn’t already clear, whether or not you want a selected fashion of hairbrush in Spanish otherwise you’re on the lookout for the finest sort of toothbrush

  • ¿Has visto mi cepillo? = Have you ever seen my brush? 
  • ¿Es mi cepillo de dientes a mi, o es el tuyo? = Is that this my toothbrush or is it yours? 
  • Uso un cepillo desenredante después de lavarme el cabello. = I take advantage of a detangling brush after washing my hair. 

You’ll discover the vast majority of these brushes within the toilet in Spanish

SpanishEnglish
unas cerdas (duras/suaves/blandas)(stiff/delicate) bristles
un cepillo de dientes/un cepillo dentaltoothbrush
un cepillo de dientes eléctricoelectrical toothbrush
un cepillo de dientes handbookhandbook toothbrush
un cepillo para cabello/para pelohairbrush
un cepillo desenredantedetangling hairbrush
un cepillo raquetapaddle brush (bigger and flat) 
un cepillo redondospherical brush
un cepillo térmicothermal brush (for styling with a hairdryer)

Brushes for cleansing or creativity

In case you’re an artist, musician, otherwise you’re redecorating your home, it is advisable select the proper instrument. You’ll be able to seek for a cepillo de limpieza (a house-cleaning brush) for the particular process you wish to accomplish. You would possibly wish to clear up some arbustos (low shrubs/brush) in your landscaping, for instance. 

When it’s time to get artistic and paint the partitions, specific your self on a canvas, or drum alongside to your favourite Spanish music with brushes as a substitute of sticks, you will want the right time period. 

SpanishEnglish
una brochabrush for portray partitions
una brocha angularangled brush
una brocha de espumafoam/sponge brush 
unas escobillas (para batería)drum brushes for enjoying percussion
un pincel (de artista)artist’s paintbrush
un pincel delineadorliner (fine-tipped paintbrush)
un pincel redondoround-tipped paintbrush

How do you say ‘to brush’ in Spanish?

It is determined by who or what you’re brushing. This query is an ideal option to grasp the distinction between the verb cepillar (to brush) and cepillarse (to brush, reflexive). Some verbs are used reflexively in Spanish when the topic (who’s brushing) and the thing (who or what’s being brushed) are the identical. 

Cepillar (non-reflexive)

Use cepillar, a daily -AR verb, with out reflexive pronouns, when somebody is brushing a separate being like their canine, their little one, or an object like scrubbing the ground with a brush. In these instances, merely comply with the common conjugation of cepillar

  • La mujer cepilla el pelo de su perro. = The lady brushes her canine’s fur. 
  • La niña cepilla los dientes de su muñeca. = The woman brushes her doll’s enamel.
  • Cepillo las botas sucias antes de ir al trabajo. = I brush off the soiled boots earlier than going to work. 

cepillar (to brush)

yo cepilloI brushnosotros cepillamoswe brush
tú cepillasyou sweep (casual) vosotros cepilláisyou sweep (casual, plural – Spain solely) 
él/ella cepillahe/she brushesellos/ellas cepillanthey brush
usted cepillayou sweep (formal) ustedes cepillanyou sweep (plural) 

Cepillarse (reflexive)

Use cepillarse, a reflexive verb, with the reflexive pronouns, when somebody is brushing their very own hair or enamel. Contrasting these examples with those above, you’ll be able to see the variations in verbs used reflexively or not. 

  • La mujer se cepilla el pelo. = The lady brushes her hair.
  • La niña se cepilla los dientes. = The woman brushes her enamel.
  • Me cepillo antes de ir al trabajo. = I brush my hair earlier than going to work. 

The direct translation isn’t “brush your enamel” in Spanish, it’s “brush the enamel.” In Spanish it’s not needed so as to add any possessives to the sentence, because it’s implied already that it’s your individual hair that you simply’re brushing. 

cepillarse (to brush)

yo me cepilloI brushnosotros nos cepillamoswe brush
tú te cepillasyou sweep (casual) vosotros os cepilláisyou sweep (casual, plural – Spain solely) 
él/ella se cepillahe/she brushesellos/ellas se cepillanthey brush
usted se cepillayou sweep (formal) ustedes se cepillanyou sweep (plural) 

Different translations of ‘brush’ in Spanish

Spanish and English are each crammed with a fantastic number of vocabulary and wealthy methods to specific oneself. You’ll be able to clearly see this with the distinction between somebody “bumping” in opposition to one thing and “brushing” in opposition to it. Listed here are a couple of extra choices, in an effort to specific “brush” in Spanish in any state of affairs. 

SpanishEnglish
aplicar to use (to brush one thing on one thing else) 
el matorrallow dense shrubs or vegetation (the comb)
no hacer casoto not take note of (to brush off)
quitarto take away (to brush off, as in mud/snow)
repasarto overview (to brush up on)
un roce dean in depth encounter (a brush with) 
rozar(a delicate passing contact) to brush in opposition to

Key takeaways about ‘brush’ in Spanish

The widespread methods to speak about brushes will be damaged down into a couple of classes, however aren’t interchangeable. 

  • Use un cepillo for brushes for cleansing or private care.
  • Use un pincel for an artist’s paintbrush in Spanish.
  • The verb cepillarse is used reflexively for somebody brushing their very own hair or enamel.
  • Be taught idioms and phrases that use the phrase “brush” as you discover the wealthy number of expressions within the Spanish language.

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