Bedeutung
To clean one's teeth with a toothbrush.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Petite Souris' is the legendary mouse that replaces lost baby teeth with money, provided they were well-kept! Dental hygiene is a major topic in schools, often with visits from dental hygienists who teach 'la technique de brossage'. The French often brush their teeth after 'le petit-déjeuner' rather than before, to remove the taste of coffee and tartines. In some regions, the traditional 'souwek' (chewing stick) is used alongside or instead of a modern toothbrush.
The 'Me' Rule
Always include 'me', 'te', or 'se'. Without it, you are brushing someone else's teeth!
No 'Mes'
Avoid saying 'mes dents'. French grammar treats your body parts as part of you, not possessions you carry around.
Bedeutung
To clean one's teeth with a toothbrush.
The 'Me' Rule
Always include 'me', 'te', or 'se'. Without it, you are brushing someone else's teeth!
No 'Mes'
Avoid saying 'mes dents'. French grammar treats your body parts as part of you, not possessions you carry around.
Reflexive Agreement
In the past tense, don't add an 'e' to 'brossé' even if you are a woman. The direct object (dents) comes after the verb.
The Petite Souris
Mention the 'Little Mouse' when talking to French kids about their teeth—it's a great conversation starter.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing reflexive pronoun.
Le matin, je ___ brosse les dents.
The subject is 'je', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'me'.
Choose the correct article.
Tu te brosses ___ dents.
In French, we use the definite article 'les' with body parts in reflexive sentences.
Complete the dialogue.
Maman : N'oublie pas de ___ les dents ! Enfant : Oui, maman, je le fais tout de suite.
The mother is giving a command/reminder to the child (tu), so 'te brosser' is correct.
Match the sentence to the time of day.
Je me brosse les dents avant de dormir.
'Avant de dormir' (before sleeping) happens in the evening (le soir).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenLe matin, je ___ brosse les dents.
The subject is 'je', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'me'.
Tu te brosses ___ dents.
In French, we use the definite article 'les' with body parts in reflexive sentences.
Maman : N'oublie pas de ___ les dents ! Enfant : Oui, maman, je le fais tout de suite.
The mother is giving a command/reminder to the child (tu), so 'te brosser' is correct.
Je me brosse les dents avant de dormir.
'Avant de dormir' (before sleeping) happens in the evening (le soir).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTechnically, people will understand you, but it sounds very 'foreign'. Standard French requires 'Je me brosse les dents'.
'Se brosser' specifically implies using a brush. 'Se laver' is more general (to wash). Both are used, but 'se brosser' is more common.
Use the Passé Composé: 'Je me suis brossé les dents'.
It is feminine: {la|f} brosse à dents.
It's less common than in some other cultures, but some people do keep a kit in their office.
It is '{le|m} dentifrice'.
That is 'utiliser du fil dentaire' or 'passer le fil dentaire'.
Yes, 'les ratiches' or 'les chicots', but they are very informal.
'Se' is the default form for reflexive verbs in the dictionary. You change it to match the subject.
You would say 'Je brosse les dents de mon chien'. You don't use 'se' because the dog isn't doing it to itself.
Verwandte Redewendungen
se laver les dents
synonymTo wash one's teeth
une brosse à dents
builds onA toothbrush
du dentifrice
similarToothpaste
se rincer la bouche
builds onTo rinse one's mouth
avoir une dent contre quelqu'un
contrastTo have a grudge against someone
