Spanish Phrase
¿Te cepillaste los dientes?
Meaning
A direct question asking whether the listener brushed their teeth. It assumes the action should have already happened (e.g., this morning or before bedtime).
When to use
Use it when you want to check someone's oral‑hygiene routine – after breakfast, before a dentist visit, or when reminding a child to brush before bed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Tecepillastelosdientes?
Reflexive pronoun *te*
Indicates that the subject performs the action on themselves; here it shows you brushed *your own* teeth.
Preterite *cepillaste*
Second‑person singular preterite of *cepillar* (to brush). It refers to a completed action in the past.
Definite article *los* + noun *dientes*
The plural definite article agrees with the masculine plural noun *dientes* (teeth).
🗨In Conversation
¿Te cepillaste los dientes?
Did you brush your teeth?
Sí, los acabo de cepillar.
Yes, I just brushed them.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Cepillaste los dientes?
Missing the reflexive pronoun *te*; the verb becomes non‑reflexive and changes the meaning to "Did you brush the teeth (someone else's)?"
¿Te cepillaste los diente?
The noun must be plural and agree with the article: *los dientes*.
¿Te cepillaste los dientes?
When speaking formally to *usted*, replace *te* with *se*: "¿Se cepilló los dientes?"
↔Alternatives
¿Te has cepillado los dientes?
Have you brushed your teeth?
¿Ya te cepillaste los dientes?
Did you already brush your teeth?
¿Te cepillaste los dientes esta mañana?
Did you brush your teeth this morning?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking families, parents regularly ask children "¿Te cepillaste los dientes?" as part of bedtime routines. Using the reflexive pronoun *te* signals personal responsibility for the action. In formal contexts (talking to an adult you don't know well), you could replace *te* with *se* – "¿Se cepilló los dientes?" – to show respect.