A1 Collocation Neutral

Valyti dantis

To brush teeth

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential Lithuanian phrase for your morning and evening hygiene routine: cleaning your teeth.

  • Means: To brush or clean your teeth using a toothbrush.
  • Used in: Daily routines, dentist visits, and teaching children hygiene.
  • Don't confuse: Never use 'plauti' (to wash) for teeth; always use 'valyti'.
🪥 + 🦷 = Valyti dantis

Explanation at your level:

At this level, you just need to know that 'valyti' means 'to clean' and 'dantis' means 'teeth'. You use this to talk about your morning and evening. It is a simple action. You say 'Aš valau dantis' (I clean teeth). It is one of the first phrases you learn for daily life.
You should start using the reflexive form 'išsivalyti dantis' when talking about your own routine. You can also add frequency words like 'du kartus per dieną' (twice a day). You understand that 'valyti' is used for teeth, while 'plauti' is for hands. You can ask for a toothbrush (dantų šepetėlis).
At the intermediate level, you can discuss the importance of hygiene. You use the phrase in different tenses: 'Vakar pamiršau išsivalyti dantis' (Yesterday I forgot to brush my teeth). You can understand instructions from a dentist and discuss different types of toothpaste or dental floss (tarpdančių siūlas) in relation to 'valymas'.
You can use the phrase in more complex grammatical structures, such as participles: 'Valydamas dantis, aš klausausi radijo' (While cleaning teeth, I listen to the radio). You can participate in discussions about public health campaigns regarding 'dantų valymas' in schools and understand the nuances between 'valyti' and 'poliruoti' (to polish).
You understand the etymological roots of 'valyti' and how it relates to other Baltic verbs of purification. You can discuss the sociological aspects of dental hygiene in Lithuania, comparing urban and rural habits. You use the phrase effortlessly in hypothetical or conditional sentences regarding health outcomes and long-term hygiene maintenance.
You possess near-native mastery, recognizing the phrase's role in idiomatic expressions or literary descriptions of domestic life. You can analyze the phonetic flow of the phrase in poetry or prose, and you understand the subtle pragmatic differences between using the simple verb 'valyti' versus the prefixed 'išvalyti' or 'nuvalyti' in specific clinical or metaphorical contexts.

Bedeutung

Personal hygiene routine.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Lithuanians are very proud of their dental health and modern clinics. It is common to see 'Burnos higiena' (Oral hygiene) signs everywhere in cities. Traditional folk medicine suggested rinsing the mouth with oak bark decoction after 'valyti dantis' to strengthen the gums. Electric toothbrushes (elektriniai šepetėliai) have become a status symbol and a common gift among young professionals. There are often 'Dantukų dienos' (Tooth days) where dentists visit schools to teach children 'kaip taisyklingai valyti dantis'.

💡

Use the reflexive

To sound more like a native, say 'išsivaliau dantis' instead of 'valiau dantis' when you finish the task.

⚠️

Avoid 'Plauti'

Native speakers will understand you if you say 'plauti dantis', but it will sound very foreign and slightly funny.

Bedeutung

Personal hygiene routine.

💡

Use the reflexive

To sound more like a native, say 'išsivaliau dantis' instead of 'valiau dantis' when you finish the task.

⚠️

Avoid 'Plauti'

Native speakers will understand you if you say 'plauti dantis', but it will sound very foreign and slightly funny.

🎯

Genitive Case

Remember that after 'einu' (I go), the object 'dantis' often changes to genitive 'dantų': 'Einu valyti dantų'.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'valyti'.

Aš kiekvieną rytą _______ dantis.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: valau

The subject is 'Aš' (I), so the verb must be in the first person singular present tense: 'valau'.

Which verb is correct for teeth?

Ar tu jau _______ dantis?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: valei

In Lithuanian, you 'valyti' (clean) teeth. 'Plauti' is for washing with water, and 'šukuoti' is for hair.

Complete the dialogue.

Mama: Jonuk, eik ______ dantis! Jonukas: Gerai, mama, jau einu.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: valyti

After 'eik' (go), we use the infinitive 'valyti' to express the purpose or command.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Situation: You are at the dentist and he asks about your habits.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Aš valau dantis du kartus per dieną.

This is the most logical and grammatically correct response in a dental context.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Ryto rutina (Morning Routine)

🧼

Hygiene

  • • Valyti dantis
  • • Praustis veidą
  • • Šukuotis plaukus

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Only if you are cleaning one specific tooth, for example, if you have a piece of food stuck in it. Otherwise, always use plural 'dantis'.

'Valyti' is the process (cleaning), while 'išvalyti' implies the completed action (having cleaned thoroughly).

It is neutral. It's appropriate for all situations, from talking to your doctor to talking to your kids.

It is 'dantų šepetėlis'. Literally, 'a little brush for teeth'.

No, the verb 'šepetėliuoti' does not exist. We always use 'valyti'.

The '-si-' makes it reflexive, meaning 'to clean teeth for oneself'. It's very common in daily speech.

Compared to Western Europe or the US, it is affordable, but for locals, it is a significant expense. This makes 'valyti dantis' a very important preventative habit.

It is 'dantų pasta'.

Yes, 'valyti namus' is the standard phrase for cleaning the house.

We say 'valyti tarpdančius siūlu' (to clean between-teeth with a thread).

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

Dantų šepetėlis

specialized form

Toothbrush

🔗

Dantų pasta

builds on

Toothpaste

🔗

Skalauti burną

similar

To rinse the mouth

🔗

Tarpdančių siūlas

builds on

Dental floss

Wo du es verwendest

🌅

Morning Routine

Partner A: Ar jau valei dantis?

Partner B: Dar ne, einu dabar.

neutral
🦷

At the Dentist

Odontologas: Kaip dažnai valote dantis?

Pacientas: Valau dantis du kartus per dieną.

formal
🧒

Parenting

Mama: Jonuk, laikas valyti dantis!

Jonukas: Dar penkias minutes, prašau!

informal
🏠

Sleepover

Svečias: Pamiršau šepetėlį. Ar galiu čia kažkaip išsivalyti dantis?

Šeimininkas: Turiu naują atsarginį šepetėlį, imk.

informal
⛺

Camping

Draugas A: Kur visi valosi dantis?

Draugas B: Prie upelio, ten vanduo švarus.

informal
🌹

Before a Date

Vaikinas: Turiu greitai išsivalyti dantis ir bėgu.

Draugas: Nepamiršk kramtomos gumos!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Valyti' as 'Value-it'. You 'Value-it' (clean it) so you don't lose your 'Dantis' (Teeth).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant 'V' shaped toothbrush cleaning a row of teeth that look like small white 'D' letters (Dantis).

Rhyme

Valau dantis - sveikas esu aš pats!

Story

Every morning, Valas (a fisherman) goes to the sea to 'valyti' (clean) his nets. But before he goes, he must 'valyti' his 'dantis' so he can smile at the fish. If he forgets to 'valyti dantis', the fish won't come to his clean nets.

Word Web

Dantų šepetėlisDantų pastaBurnos skalavimo skystisTarpdančių siūlasOdontologasŠypsenaKariesasHigiena

Herausforderung

Next time you brush your teeth, say 'Aš valau dantis' out loud three times in the mirror.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Cepillarse los dientes

Spanish specifies the tool (brush), Lithuanian specifies the result (clean).

French moderate

Se brosser les dents

French uses 'brosser' (brush), Lithuanian uses 'valyti' (clean).

German high

Sich die Zähne putzen

German uses a dative reflexive 'sich', while Lithuanian uses a reflexive particle 'si' within the verb.

Japanese moderate

歯を磨く (Ha o migaku)

Japanese focuses on 'polishing', Lithuanian on 'cleaning'.

Arabic high

تنظيف الأسنان (Tanzif al-asnan)

Arabic often uses the noun form in instructions, while Lithuanian prefers the verb.

Chinese low

刷牙 (Shuāyá)

Chinese is isolating; Lithuanian is highly fusional/inflected.

Korean high

이를 닦다 (I-reul dakk-da)

Korean uses specific particles (reul) for the object, similar to Lithuanian cases.

Portuguese moderate

Escovar os dentes

Portuguese uses 'escovar' vs Lithuanian 'valyti'.

Easily Confused

Valyti dantis vs. Plauti dantis

Learners think 'wash' and 'clean' are interchangeable.

Use 'plauti' for things you can put under a tap (hands, fruit). Use 'valyti' for things you scrub (teeth, windows).

Valyti dantis vs. Valyti batus

The same verb is used for shoes.

Context is everything. You 'valyti' anything that needs dirt removed.

FAQ (10)

Only if you are cleaning one specific tooth, for example, if you have a piece of food stuck in it. Otherwise, always use plural 'dantis'.

'Valyti' is the process (cleaning), while 'išvalyti' implies the completed action (having cleaned thoroughly).

It is neutral. It's appropriate for all situations, from talking to your doctor to talking to your kids.

It is 'dantų šepetėlis'. Literally, 'a little brush for teeth'.

No, the verb 'šepetėliuoti' does not exist. We always use 'valyti'.

The '-si-' makes it reflexive, meaning 'to clean teeth for oneself'. It's very common in daily speech.

Compared to Western Europe or the US, it is affordable, but for locals, it is a significant expense. This makes 'valyti dantis' a very important preventative habit.

It is 'dantų pasta'.

Yes, 'valyti namus' is the standard phrase for cleaning the house.

We say 'valyti tarpdančius siūlu' (to clean between-teeth with a thread).

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