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Using definite articles with body parts and clothing

In English, we use possessive adjectives like "my", "your", or "his" when talking about our bodies and clothes. We say "I wash my hands" or "he puts on his shoes". In Portuguese, doing this often sounds unnatural.

When it is already clear whose body or clothing is involved, Portuguese prefers the definite article. This means you will use words like o, a, os, and as instead of possessives. You literally say "I wash the hands" using verbs like lavar (to wash) or pentear (to comb).

Word list
abrirA1 to open abrir os olhos = to open one's eyes fecharA1 to close fechar os olhos = to close one's eyes lavarA1 to wash lavar a cara = to wash one's face colocarA2 to put on colocar o casaco = to put on one's coat cortarA2 to cut cortar o dedo = to cut one's finger escovar os dentesA2 to brush one's teeth escovar os dentes = to brush the teeth fazer a barbaA2 to shave fazer a barba = to do the beard ferirA2 to hurt ferir a mão = to hurt one's hand lavar as mãosA2 to wash one's hands lavar as mãos = to wash the hands lavar os dentesA2 to brush one's teeth lavar os dentes = to wash the teeth levantarA2 to raise levantar a mão = to raise one's hand machucarA2 to hurt machucar o joelho = to hurt one's knee magoarA2 to hurt magoar o pé = to hurt one's foot pôrA2 to put on pôr o casaco = to put on one's coat secarA2 to dry secar o cabelo = to dry one's hair vestirA2 to put on vestir a camisola = to put on one's sweater abanar a cabeçaB1 to shake one's head abanar a cabeça = to shake the head acenar com a cabeçaB1 to nod acenar com a cabeça = to nod with the head balançar a cabeçaB1 to shake one's head balançar a cabeça = to swing the head balançar a cabeça negativamenteB1 to shake one's head balançar a cabeça negativamente = to swing the head negatively calçarB1 to put on calçar os sapatos = to put on one's shoes desabotoarB1 to unbutton desabotoar a camisa = to unbutton one's shirt descalçarB1 to take off descalçar os sapatos = to take off one's shoes dizer que não com a cabeçaB1 to shake one's head dizer que não com a cabeça = to say no with the head dobrarB1 to bend dobrar o joelho = to bend one's knee erguerB1 to raise erguer a mão = to raise one's hand esfregarB1 to rub esfregar as mãos = to rub one's hands fazer que não com a cabeçaB1 to shake one's head fazer que não com a cabeça = to do no with the head flexionarB1 to bend flexionar o joelho = to bend one's knee franzir a testaB1 to frown franzir a testa = to furrow the brow friccionarB1 to rub friccionar as mãos = to rub one's hands negar com a cabeçaB1 to shake one's head negar com a cabeça = to deny with the head partirB1 to break partir o braço = to break one's arm pentearB1 to comb pentear o cabelo = to comb one's hair quebrarB1 to break quebrar o braço = to break one's arm tirarB1 to take off tirar as calças = to take off one's pants tirar a roupaB1 to undress tirar a roupa = to take off the clothes abotoarB2 to button up abotoar a camisa = to button up one's shirt afrouxarB2 to loosen afrouxar a gravata = to loosen one's tie apertarB2 to tighten apertar o cinto = to tighten one's belt arranharB2 to scratch arranhar o braço = to scratch one's arm assoar o narizB2 to blow one's nose assoar o nariz = to blow the nose coçarB2 to scratch coçar o nariz = to scratch one's nose franzir o sobrolhoB2 to frown franzir o sobrolho = to furrow one's brow limpar a gargantaB2 to clear one's throat limpar a garganta = to clean the throat pintarB2 to dye pintar o cabelo = to dye one's hair piscarB2 to wink piscar o olho = to wink rasparB2 to scrape raspar o joelho = to scrape one's knee revirar os olhosB2 to roll one's eyes revirar os olhos = to roll the eyes tingirB2 to dye tingir o cabelo = to dye one's hair abanarC1 to wag o cão abana a cauda = the dog wags its tail apertar as mãosC1 to shake hands apertar as mãos = to squeeze the hands balançarC1 to wag o cão balança o rabo = the dog wags its tail cruzarC1 to cross cruzar os braços = to cross one's arms encolher os ombrosC1 to shrug encolher os ombros = to shrink the shoulders hidratarC1 to moisturize hidratar a pele = to moisturize one's skin piscarC1 to blink piscar os olhos = to blink one's eyes virar as costasC1 to turn one's back virar as costas = to turn the back arregaçar as mangasC2 to roll up one's sleeves arregaçar as mangas = to roll up the sleeves estalarC2 to snap estalar os dedos = to snap one's fingers estalar os dedosC2 to snap estalar os dedos = to snap the fingers
Daily routines and grooming

When you do something to your own body, the person performing the action is clearly the owner. Because the context is obvious, you only need the definite article. This happens constantly with daily grooming habits.

Expressions like escovar os dentes (to brush one's teeth) or fazer a barba (to shave) are great examples. You are literally brushing "the" teeth and doing "the" beard.

Ela lavou as mãos antes do jantar.
(She washed her hands before dinner.)
Eu escovo os dentes de manhã e à noite.
(I brush my teeth in the morning and at night.)
O meu pai faz a barba todos os dias.
(My dad shaves every day.)
Ele penteia o cabelo no quarto.
(He combs his hair in the bedroom.)
Movements and gestures

Verbs used for moving your body parts follow the exact same pattern. Whether you are using fechar (to close), abrir (to open), or levantar (to raise), the definite article is the most natural choice.

This is also true for common expressions involving gestures, such as encolher os ombros (to shrug) or cruzar (to cross) your arms.

Por favor, feche os olhos.
(Please, close your eyes.)
Se sabes a resposta, levanta a mão.
(If you know the answer, raise your hand.)
O menino não respondeu, apenas encolheu os ombros.
(The boy didn't answer, he just shrugged his shoulders.)
Estás aborrecido? Não cruzes os braços.
(Are you upset? Don't cross your arms.)
Clothing and accidents

This rule extends beyond the body itself. It also applies to clothing you are currently wearing or putting on. When you use verbs like tirar a roupa (to undress), vestir (to put on), or calçar (to put on shoes), stick to the definite article.

You will also see this pattern when talking about injuries. With verbs like partir or quebrar (to break) and raspar (to scrape), the article is preferred. You might occasionally hear native speakers use possessives in these cases, especially in Brazil, but the definite article is always correct and highly natural.

Vou calçar as botas por causa da chuva.
(I am going to put on my boots because of the rain.)
Tira os sapatos antes de entrar em casa.
(Take off your shoes before coming into the house.)
Ela caiu e partiu a perna.
(She fell and broke her leg.)
Summary

Whenever you refer to body parts or clothing and the owner is clear from the context, drop English possessives like "my", "your", or "his". Instead, use the definite articles o, a, os, and as.