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dientes

dee-EN-tehs/ˈðjen.tes/

“dientes” means “teeth” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

teeth

Also: choppers
NounmA1
A visual representation of a wide smile featuring a full, healthy set of bright white teeth.

📝 In Action

Tienes que cepillarte los dientes dos veces al día.

A1

You have to brush your teeth twice a day.

El bebé ya tiene sus primeros dientes.

A2

The baby already has his first teeth.

Necesito ir al dentista para revisar mis dientes.

A1

I need to go to the dentist to check my teeth.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • cepillarse los dientes – to brush one's teeth
  • dolor de dientes – toothache
  • blanquear los dientes – to whiten one's teeth

aggressiveness

Also: cogs/teeth
NounmB2
A simple illustration of a cartoon fox snarling fiercely, baring its sharp teeth in a clear display of aggression.

📝 In Action

Si lo desafías, tienes que estar listo para mostrar los dientes.

B2

If you challenge him, you have to be ready to show some fight (or push back aggressively).

La sierra de mano tiene unos dientes muy afilados.

B1

The handsaw has very sharp teeth (i.e., its cutting parts).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • agresividad (aggressiveness)

Idioms & Expressions

  • mostrar los dientes – to show a fighting spirit, to threaten, or to become defensive
  • con los dientes apretados – reluctantly, holding back frustration, or with great effort
  • diente por diente – an eye for an eye, tit for tat

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "dientes" in Spanish:

aggressiveness→choppers→teeth→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: dientes

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly follows the Spanish rule for talking about taking care of your teeth?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *dentes*, which was the plural form of *dens*, meaning 'tooth.' This connection has remained strong across many languages descending from Latin.

First recorded: Before the 10th century (as 'diente' or similar form)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: dentesFrench: dentsItalian: denti

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'dientes' masculine or feminine?

'Dientes' is always masculine (los dientes), even though body parts in Spanish can be unpredictable. Remember 'el diente' for the singular form.

How do I say 'wisdom teeth'?

You say 'las muelas del juicio.' The word 'muelas' means molars (back teeth), and 'juicio' means judgment or wisdom.