brillante
Brillante means shiny or bright, especially for surfaces that reflect light. It can also describe an idea or performance as brilliant in context.
Common Phrases
- vidrio brillante — shiny glass
- quedar brillante — to end up shiny
Example
El espejo queda brillante en minutos.
The mirror ends up shiny in minutes.
Common Mistake
Spelling: write brillante, not brilliante.
el cepillo
El cepillo is a brush used to scrub, brush, or clean, often for hard-to-reach places like corners and grout.
Common Phrases
- cepillo de limpieza — cleaning brush
- pasar el cepillo — to brush or scrub (with a brush)
Example
El cepillo pequeño llega a las esquinas.
The small brush reaches the corners.
Common Mistake
Gender: say el cepillo, not la cepillo.
el trapo
El trapo is a rag or cleaning cloth used to wipe surfaces, usually reusable and not fancy.
Common Phrases
- pasar el trapo — to wipe with a rag
- trapo humedo — damp rag
Example
Paso el trapo por la mesa.
I wipe the table with the rag.
Common Mistake
For a towel, prefer la toalla instead of el trapo.
la basura
La basura means the trash or garbage, usually as a general, collective idea rather than individual items.
Common Phrases
- sacar la basura — to take out the trash
- bolsa de basura — trash bag
Example
Hoy saco la basura de la cocina.
Today I take out the trash from the kitchen.
Common Mistake
Mass noun: say la basura, not las basuras when you mean household trash in general.
la esponja
La esponja is a sponge used for scrubbing and washing, especially sinks, dishes, and bathroom surfaces.
Common Phrases
- esponja nueva — new sponge
- esponja para platos — dish sponge
Example
La esponja limpia el fregadero rapido.
The sponge cleans the sink quickly.
Common Mistake
Gender: say la esponja, not el esponja.
el balde
El balde is a bucket, typically used for carrying water or cleaning solutions around the house.
Common Phrases
- llenar el balde — to fill the bucket
- balde de agua — bucket of water
Example
Lleno el balde y lavo el piso.
I fill the bucket and wash the floor.
Common Mistake
Gender: say el balde, not la balde.
la lejia
La lejia refers to bleach, a strong cleaner used for disinfecting and whitening in the right situations.
Common Phrases
- lejia diluida — diluted bleach
- olor a lejia — smell of bleach
Example
Hay que usar la lejia con cuidado.
You have to use bleach carefully.
Common Mistake
Accent matters: write lejia as lejia consistently, not lejia with mixed spelling.
fresco
Fresco often means fresh (pleasant, clean-smelling) and can also mean cool (temperature), depending on context.
Common Phrases
- olor fresco — fresh smell
- aire fresco — fresh air
Example
El bano queda fresco despues de limpiar.
The bathroom feels fresh after cleaning.
Common Mistake
Meaning mix-up: for "new" use nuevo, not fresco.