French Phrase
Tu t'es brossé les dents ?
Meaning
Literally, “Did you brush your teeth?” It’s a quick check‑in about oral hygiene, usually asked in the morning, before a meal, or before bedtime.
When to use
Use this informal question with people you know well—family members, friends, or classmates—when you want to confirm they’ve taken care of their teeth or to remind them gently.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tut'esbrossélesdents?
Tu (subject pronoun)
Informal singular 'you' used with friends, family, or peers.
t'es (reflexive + être)
Contraction of the reflexive pronoun 'te' and the auxiliary verb 'es' (être) for the passé composé.
brossé (past participle)
Past participle of 'brosser'. With reflexive verbs, it agrees with the direct object only if that object precedes the verb; here the object follows, so no agreement.
les dents (direct object)
The thing being brushed; placed after the verb, so the past participle stays in its masculine singular form.
🗨In Conversation
Tu t'es brossé les dents ?
Did you brush your teeth?
Oui, je l'ai fait il y a cinq minutes.
Yes, I did it five minutes ago.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu as brossé les dents ?
Missing the reflexive pronoun; the verb should be reflexive because you brush your own teeth.
Tu t'es brossée les dents ?
Incorrect agreement; the past participle stays "brossé" because the direct object follows the verb.
Tu t'es brossé tes dents ?
Mixing possessive adjectives; after a reflexive verb the object is usually expressed with the definite article "les".
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que tu t'es brossé les dents ?
Did you brush your teeth?
Tu as brossé tes dents ?
Did you brush your teeth?
As‑tu déjà brossé tes dents ce matin ?
Have you already brushed your teeth this morning?
Cultural Tip
In France, oral hygiene is taken seriously; most people brush at least twice a day. Asking "Tu t'es brossé les dents ?" can be a friendly reminder before a meal or a way to show care for someone's health. In formal settings you’d use "Vous" instead of "Tu".