How to Say "to clean" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to clean” is “lavar” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Necesito lavar el coche antes del viaje.
I need to wash the car before the trip.
Ella lava la ropa todos los sábados por la mañana.
She washes the clothes every Saturday morning.
Estamos lavando las verduras para la cena.
We are washing the vegetables for dinner.
Using 'Se' for Body Parts
When you wash yourself or a body part, you must add 'se' (or 'me,' 'te,' etc.) before the verb. This makes it a reflexive verb: 'Me lavo la cara' (I wash my face).
The Difference from 'Limpiar'
'Lavar' almost always involves water and soap (like washing a shirt). 'Limpiar' is a general term for cleaning, which might mean dusting, sweeping, or washing.
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: “Yo lavo la cara. (I wash the face [maybe someone else's?])”
Correction: Yo me lavo la cara. (I wash my face.) Remember to use 'me' when the action comes back to you.
Related Translations
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