A escova de dentes está no banheiro, perto do espelho.

The toothbrush is in the bathroom, near the mirror.

Breakdown of A escova de dentes está no banheiro, perto do espelho.

• estar: to be
• perto de: near
• no: in the
• o banheiro: the bathroom

Questions & Answers about A escova de dentes está no banheiro, perto do espelho.

Why is it a escova and not o escova?

Because escova is a feminine noun in Portuguese.

• a escova = the brush
• uma escova = a brush

The article has to match the noun’s gender, so you say a escova.

Also, the gender of the whole phrase is determined by escova, not by dentes. So even though dentes is masculine plural, the full noun phrase is still a escova de dentes.

Why does Portuguese say escova de dentes with dentes in the plural?

Because that is the normal expression for toothbrush in Portuguese.

Literally, it is something like brush for teeth or brush of teeth, and the plural dentes is natural because a toothbrush is used for your teeth in general, not just one tooth.

So:

• escova de dentes = toothbrush
• not usually escova de dente

This is just the standard way to say it.

Could I say escova dental instead of escova de dentes?

You might be understood, but escova de dentes is the everyday, normal expression in Brazilian Portuguese.

Escova dental sounds more technical, commercial, or label-like. In normal conversation, Brazilians usually say escova de dentes.

So for a learner, escova de dentes is the best choice.