Signification
To clean one's teeth with a brush and toothpaste.
Contexte culturel
The 'Zahnputzbecher' (toothbrush tumbler) is a standard item in every German bathroom, often color-coded for each family member. The 'Schulzahnarzt' (school dentist) visits primary schools annually to check children's teeth and demonstrate proper brushing techniques. The story of 'Karius und Baktus' is used to explain that if you don't 'putzen', little trolls will build houses in your teeth.
Master the Dative
Remember: Body parts in German usually take the Dative reflexive. If you learn 'mir die Zähne putzen', you also know 'mir die Haare kämmen' and 'mir die Hände waschen'.
No 'meine'!
Using 'meine Zähne' is the #1 sign of an English speaker. Stick to 'die Zähne' to sound like a native.
Signification
To clean one's teeth with a brush and toothpaste.
Master the Dative
Remember: Body parts in German usually take the Dative reflexive. If you learn 'mir die Zähne putzen', you also know 'mir die Haare kämmen' and 'mir die Hände waschen'.
No 'meine'!
Using 'meine Zähne' is the #1 sign of an English speaker. Stick to 'die Zähne' to sound like a native.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun (Dative).
Ich putze ___ die Zähne.
The subject is 'Ich', so the dative reflexive pronoun is 'mir'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct in German?
How do you say 'He brushes his teeth'?
German uses the reflexive 'sich' for the third person.
Complete the dialogue.
Mama: 'Hast du dir die Zähne geputzt?' Kind: 'Nein, ich ___ ___ jetzt die Zähne.'
The present tense of 'putzen' for 'ich' is 'putze', combined with 'mir'.
Match the pronoun to the correct reflexive form.
Match: Ich, Du, Wir, Ihr
These are the dative reflexive pronouns used with body parts.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIch putze ___ die Zähne.
The subject is 'Ich', so the dative reflexive pronoun is 'mir'.
How do you say 'He brushes his teeth'?
German uses the reflexive 'sich' for the third person.
Mama: 'Hast du dir die Zähne geputzt?' Kind: 'Nein, ich ___ ___ jetzt die Zähne.'
The present tense of 'putzen' for 'ich' is 'putze', combined with 'mir'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the dative reflexive pronouns used with body parts.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsBecause 'die Zähne' is the direct object (Accusative). In German, you can't have two Accusative objects in this structure, so the person becomes the Dative object.
Only if you are a dentist cleaning someone else's teeth or talking about the general concept. For yourself, always use the reflexive.
Yes! You 'putzen' windows (Fenster putzen), shoes (Schuhe putzen), and even the whole house (das Haus putzen).
Expressions liées
sich das Gesicht waschen
similarto wash one's face
sich die Haare bürsten
similarto brush one's hair
Zahnpasta benutzen
builds onto use toothpaste
