Spanish word

cepillo

Pronunciation

IPA/θeˈpiʝo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbrush

Example

Pásame el cepillo, por favor.

Pass me the brush, please.

Illustration for cepillo (brush)

More examples

Después de comer, uso el cepillo de dientes.

After eating, I use the toothbrush.

Core concept

Short-handled bristled brush for cleaning or grooming.

Common phrases

  • cepillo de dientes

    toothbrush

  • cepillo de pelo

    hairbrush

  • cepillo para zapatos

    shoe brush

Similar words

cepillo de dientes: Small bristled tool for scrubbing teeth and removing plaque and food debris.
cepillo de pelo: Large bristled tool for detangling hair.
escoba: Long-handled bristled tool for sweeping dust and debris from floors.
escobilla: Short-handled stiff-bristled brush for scrubbing the inside of a toilet bowl.

Definition in Spanish

Objeto pequeño con mango y cerdas usado para frotar o desenredar, habitual en cepillo de dientes y cepillo para el pelo.

Word origin

Derived from Latin capillus meaning 'hair', the sense shifted from hair to the bristles of brushes used for cleaning and grooming.

Usage tips

  • In some Spanish-speaking regions 'pasar el cepillo' means to circulate a collection or donation, so the phrase refers to collecting money rather than a literal brush.

Related words

  • cepillarbrushverb
  • cepilladobrushingnoun
  • cepilladorbrushnoun

Word lists with this word