Today we are going to talk about another useful vocabulary group: Parts of the Body.
Iโm sure you are asking yourself: โwhen the heck am I going to use this kind of words in real life?โ
Trust me, there are plenty of situations when knowing body parts in Spanish come in handy.
When you comment on someoneโs appearance, for instance,
or when you feel pain or ache,
when you have a doctorโs checkup,
or when your gym coach gives you instructions for new exercises.
13 Most Important Body Parts in Spanish:
- ๐ช๐ธ la cabeza – ๐ฌ๐ง head
- ๐ช๐ธ los brazos – ๐ฌ๐ง arms
- ๐ช๐ธ las piernas – ๐ฌ๐ง legs
- ๐ช๐ธ las manos – ๐ฌ๐ง hands
- ๐ช๐ธ los pies -๐ฌ๐ง feet
- ๐ช๐ธ la espalda – ๐ฌ๐ง back
- ๐ช๐ธ el estรณmago – ๐ฌ๐ง stomach
- ๐ช๐ธ el pecho – ๐ฌ๐ง chest
- ๐ช๐ธ los ojos – ๐ฌ๐ง eyes
- ๐ช๐ธ las orejas – ๐ฌ๐ง ears
- ๐ช๐ธ la boca – ๐ฌ๐ง mouth
- ๐ช๐ธ la nariz – ๐ฌ๐ง nose
- ๐ช๐ธ los dedos – ๐ฌ๐ง fingers or toes
Parts of Your Head, Trunk, and Extremities in Spanish
Ok, so the list above is your absolute must-know. It will help you to survive when a conversation takes the body-part track.
For those of you who would like to learn more specific vocabulary, take a look at the table below:
HEAD | TRUNK and EXTREMITIES |
๐ช๐ธ la cara – ๐ฌ๐ง face ๐ช๐ธ el pelo – ๐ฌ๐ง hair ๐ช๐ธ el cuello– ๐ฌ๐ง neck ๐ช๐ธ la boca – ๐ฌ๐ง mouth ๐ช๐ธ los labios– ๐ฌ๐ง lips ๐ช๐ธ los dientes – ๐ฌ๐ง teeth ๐ช๐ธ las muelas – ๐ฌ๐ง molar teeth ๐ช๐ธ la lengua – ๐ฌ๐ง tongue ๐ช๐ธ la frente– ๐ฌ๐ง forehead ๐ช๐ธ las mejillas – ๐ฌ๐ง cheeks ๐ช๐ธ la barbilla – ๐ฌ๐ง chin ๐ช๐ธ las cejas – ๐ฌ๐ง eyebrows ๐ช๐ธ las pestaรฑas – ๐ฌ๐ง eyelashes ๐ช๐ธ los pรกrpados – ๐ฌ๐ง eyelids ๐ช๐ธ la piel – ๐ฌ๐ง skin | ๐ช๐ธ os hombros – ๐ฌ๐ง shoulders ๐ช๐ธ las costillas – ๐ฌ๐ง ribs ๐ช๐ธ el ombligo – ๐ฌ๐ง navel / belly button ๐ช๐ธ el codo – ๐ฌ๐ง elbow ๐ช๐ธ la rodilla – ๐ฌ๐ง knee ๐ช๐ธ la muรฑeca – ๐ฌ๐ง wrist ๐ช๐ธ el tobillo – ๐ฌ๐ง ankle ๐ช๐ธ la palma – ๐ฌ๐ง palm ๐ช๐ธ el puรฑo – ๐ฌ๐ง fist ๐ช๐ธ uรฑas – ๐ฌ๐ง nails ๐ช๐ธ el muslo – ๐ฌ๐ง thigh ๐ช๐ธ la pantorrilla – ๐ฌ๐ง shin ๐ช๐ธ las caderas – ๐ฌ๐ง hips ๐ช๐ธ l poto, el culo – ๐ฌ๐ง bum, buttocks ๐ช๐ธ la cintura – ๐ฌ๐ง waist |
Remember that the Spanish language distinguishes between genders. Pay close attention to the articles that accompany the nouns: la and las indicate that the word is feminine and el and los – masculine. Gender confusion is one of the most common mistakes that English speakers make when they speak Spanish.
Depending on the noun gender and form (singular and plural), youโll have to adjust the adjective when necessary. For instance:
๐ช๐ธ el pelo largo
๐ฌ๐ง long hair – masculine, singular
๐ช๐ธ la boca rosada
๐ฌ๐ง pink hair – feminine, singular
๐ช๐ธ los hombros anchos
๐ฌ๐ง broad shoulders – masculine, plural
๐ช๐ธ las manos pequeรฑas
๐ฌ๐ง small hands – feminine, plural
Using Body Parts in Spanish to Describe Peopleโs Appearance
Have you noticed that John had a haircut?
And Lucyโs legs look really short in these pants!
Have you had a nose-job? It looks quite different today!
We gossip, complain, and comment on peopleโs appearance all the time, and there is no reason you shouldnโt be able to do the same in Spanish.
Check out the sample sentences below to practice Spanish body parts in this context:
๐ช๐ธ ยกTienes unos ojos muy lindos!
๐ฌ๐ง You have such beautiful eyes!
๐ช๐ธ ยกMe encanta tu pelo! Es tan suave y sedoso.
๐ฌ๐ง I love your hair! Itโs so soft and silky.
๐ช๐ธ ยกOdio mi nariz! Es demasiado grande para mi cara.
๐ฌ๐ง I hate my nose. Itโs too big for my face.
๐ช๐ธ ยกQuisiera tener unas piernas como las tuyas: largas y delgadas.
๐ฌ๐ง I wish I had legs like yours: long and slim.
๐ช๐ธ Mรณnica deberรญa hacer mรกs ejercicio. Sus caderas son demasiado anchas.
๐ฌ๐ง Monica should work out more. Her hips are too wide.
๐ช๐ธ Test Your Spanish Knowledge ๐ช๐ธ
๐ช๐ธ ยกMira las rodillas de este niรฑo! ยกEstรกn muy sucias!
๐ฌ๐ง Look at this boyโs knees! They are filthy!
๐ช๐ธ Francisca dice que quiere operarse los pรกrpados. Los tiene muy caรญdos.
๐ฌ๐ง Francisca says she wants to have eyelid surgery. They are very droopy.
๐ช๐ธ Me quiero hacer un piercing en el ombligo.
๐ฌ๐ง I want to get a navel piercing.
Body Parts in Spanish and How to Use Them to Talk About Pains and Aches
A headache, a toothache, a shooting pain in your leg, a sore throat.
We get to talk about pains and aches on a daily basis, donโt we?
If you learn how to name them in Spanish, you will at least be able to ask for aspirin or cough syrup.
And if necessary, describe your symptoms to a doctor.
The Spanish keyword here is dolor, which can translate either as pain or ache.
You use it with the verb tener (to have), sentir (to feel), or sufrir (to suffer).
๐ช๐ธ Tengo un dolor de muela.
๐ฌ๐ง I have a (molar) toothache.
๐ช๐ธ Siento mucho dolor en la espalda.
๐ฌ๐ง I feel a lot of pain in my back.
๐ช๐ธ Toda la vida he sufrido dolores de cabeza.
๐ฌ๐ง Iโve suffered from headaches all my life.
๐ช๐ธ ยฟDesde cuรกndo has tenido este dolor en la muรฑeca?
๐ฌ๐ง How long have you had this pain in your wrist?
Now, your pains can evolve, right? They can go away, increase, or get better.
Here are some useful Spanish verbs to describe what is happening with your pains.
- ๐ช๐ธ pasarse – ๐ฌ๐ง to go away, to stop
- ๐ช๐ธ aumentar – ๐ฌ๐ง to increase
- ๐ช๐ธ empeorar– ๐ฌ๐ง to get worse
- ๐ช๐ธ disminuir – ๐ฌ๐ง to decrease
- ๐ช๐ธ mejorar – ๐ฌ๐ง to get better
- ๐ช๐ธ calmarse – ๐ฌ๐ง to calm down
- ๐ช๐ธ aliviar – ๐ฌ๐ง to relieve
๐ช๐ธ Llevo una semana con este dolor de muela. No se me pasa con nada.
๐ฌ๐ง Iโve had this toothache for a week. It doesnโt go away with anything.
๐ช๐ธ El dolor que siento en el hombro empeora en la noche.
๐ฌ๐ง The pain I feel in my shoulder gets worse at night.
๐ช๐ธ Cuando tomo un analgรฉsico fuerte el dolor de la cadera se calma por un par de horas.
๐ฌ๐ง When I take a strong painkiller, my hip pain calms down for a couple of hours.
๐ช๐ธ El dolor que siento en el hombro empeora en la noche.
๐ฌ๐ง The pain I feel in my shoulder gets worse at night.
๐ช๐ธ Las compresas calientes me alivian un poco el dolor del cuello.
๐ฌ๐ง Hot pads relieve my neck pain a little.
Another way of talking about pain is by using the verb doler – to hurt.
๐ช๐ธ Me duele el estรณmago.
๐ฌ๐ง I have a stomach ache.
๐ช๐ธ ยฟTe duele cuando mueves el brazo?
๐ฌ๐ง Does it hurt when you move your arm?
๐ช๐ธ Me ha dolido mucho la espalda รบltimamente.
๐ฌ๐ง My back has hurt a lot lately.
๐ช๐ธ Despuรฉs de la cirugรญa la cadera te dolerรก por un par de semanas.
๐ฌ๐ง Your hip will hurt for a couple of weeks after the surgery.
Body Parts in Spanish – Accidents, Injuries, Bumps, and Bruises
Have you ever broken your leg,
or sprained your ankle?
Do you have any scars from childhood accidents?
Our everyday conversations are filled with topics like these.
Take a look at the mini dialogues below to see how to talk about accidents in Spanish:
๐ช๐ธ
A: Tengo malas noticias. Juan tuvo un accidente de moto y se fracturรณ ambas piernas.
B: ยกQuรฉ terrible! ยฟEn quรฉ hospital estรก?
๐ฌ๐ง
A: I have bad news. Juanโs had a motorcycle accident, and heโs broken both legs.
B: How terrible! What hospital is he in?
๐ช๐ธ
A: ยฟPor quรฉ tienes este moretรณn en la frente y rasguรฑos en tu cara?
B: Me peleรฉ con un muchacho en el colegio.
๐ฌ๐ง
A: Why do you have this bruise on your forehead and these scratches on your face?
B: I had a fight with a guy at school.
๐ช๐ธ
A: Ten cuidado con estos tacones altos. Te puedes esguinzar el tobillo.
B: Tranquila, estoy acostumbrada a andar con este tipo de zapatos.
๐ฌ๐ง
A: Be careful with these high heels. You can sprain your ankle.
B: Donโt worry, Iโm used to walking in this kind of shoes.
๐ช๐ธ
A: ยฟVes esta cicatriz que tengo en la cabeza? Fue cuando me golpearon con un bate.
B: Es bastante grande. ยฟCuรกntos puntos te pusieron?
๐ฌ๐ง
A: Can you see this scar I have on my head? Itโs from when I got hit with a baseball bat.
B: Itโs pretty big. How many stitches did they put?
๐ช๐ธ
A: Me he cortado un dedo. ยฟMe ayudas a vendar la herida, por favor?
B: Claro, ยฟdรณnde estรก el botiquรญn?
๐ฌ๐ง
A: Iโve cut my finger. Can you help me bandage it, please?
B: Sure, where is your first aid kit?
๐ช๐ธ
A: ยฟDe dรณnde le saliรณ este chichรณn en la frente a Pedrito?
B: Se ha caรญdo de su cama.
๐ฌ๐ง
A: Where did Pedrito (little Pedro) get this bump on his forehead?
B: Heโs fallen off his bed.
Simon Says: Scratch Your Nose!
Iโm sure you know the game, donโt you?
Simon can make you do so many different things: bend your knees, shake your head, stomp your feet, stick out your nose.
Spanish also has an impressive selection of verbs that you can combine with body parts and use, whether in a game or in your everyday life.
Check for yourself:
๐ช๐ธ Pablo se estรก sobando las manos por el negocio que acaba de cerrar.
Pablo is rubbing his hands for the deal heโs just closed.
๐ช๐ธ Me lavรฉ la cara, me cepillรฉ los dientes y me peinรฉ el pelo.
๐ฌ๐ง I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and combed my hair.
๐ช๐ธ Me pica mucho la espalda. ยฟMe la puedes rascar?
๐ฌ๐ง My back is very itchy. Can you scratch it, please?
๐ช๐ธ Saca tu lengua y di โaaaaaโ.
๐ฌ๐ง Stick out your nose and say โaaaaaโ.
๐ช๐ธ No arrugues tanto la frente.
๐ฌ๐ง Donโt wrinkle your forehead so much.
๐ช๐ธ Para evitar la celulitis, masajea tus muslos con esta crema.
๐ฌ๐ง To avoid cellulitis, massage your thighs with this cream.
๐ช๐ธ No me gusta cuando la tรญa Margarita me pincha las mejillas con sus dedos huesudos.
๐ฌ๐ง I donโt like it when aunt Margarita pinches my cheeks with her boney fingers.
๐ช๐ธ La danza del vientre requiere que aprendas cรณmo sacudir tus caderas.
๐ฌ๐ง Belly dance requires you to learn how to shake your hips.
Have you noticed how many synonyms the word stomach has in English? Belly, tummy, breadbasketโฆ
In Spanish, given that there are so many countries that speak this language, many colloquial substitutes for the official โestรณmagoโ and โ vientreโ have developed as well.
In some countries, it is called barriga, in others guata, panza, or tripa.
For some reason, in an informal context, Spanish speakers sometimes replace the proper name of a body part with its โanimal equivalentโ.
โLa caraโ – face – becomes โ el hocicoโ – a snout
โPiernasโ – legs – are replaced with โpatasโ – paws.
We no longer have โun potoโ – buttocks, but โuna colaโ – a tail.
Using Body Parts in Spanish During a Workout
Do you remember your PE classes back at school? The teacher giving you all sorts of instructions on how to move your body.
If you are enrolled at a gym, do pilates or yoga, itโs basically the same thing: stretch your arms, bend your knees, lift your legsโฆ
Ugh, Iโm getting tired already.
Hereโs a selection of common verbs that appear in workout instructions in Spanish:
- ๐ช๐ธ doblar – ๐ฌ๐ง to bend
- ๐ช๐ธ estirar- ๐ฌ๐ง to stretch
- ๐ช๐ธ levantar- ๐ฌ๐ง to lift
- ๐ช๐ธ apretar- ๐ฌ๐ง to squeeze
- ๐ช๐ธ flexionar – ๐ฌ๐ง to flex
- ๐ช๐ธ girar- ๐ฌ๐ง to twist, to turn
๐ช๐ธ Dobla las rodillas y salta.
๐ฌ๐ง Bend your knees and jump.
๐ช๐ธ Estira las piernas y toca tus pies con las manos.
๐ฌ๐ง Stretch your legs and touch your feet with your hands.
๐ช๐ธ Recuรฉstate de espalda y levanta ambas piernas.
๐ฌ๐ง Lay on your back and lift both legs.
๐ช๐ธ Gira tu tronco hacia la derecha.
๐ฌ๐ง Twist your torso to the right.
๐ช๐ธ Mantรฉn la espalda recta.
๐ฌ๐ง Keep your back straight.
๐ช๐ธ Siempre aprieta el abdomen cuando haces este ejercicio.
๐ฌ๐ง Always squeeze your abdomen when you do this exercise.
In the last sentence, you can spot two cognates, i.e., words that look similar in English and Spanish.
The Spanish language has many similarities with English, which makes it an excellent second-language choice.
When Body Parts in Spanish Become Adjectives
In Spanish, just like in English, you can turn body parts into adjectives.
How would you call a boy with big ears? โA big-eared boy,โ right?
In Spanish it would be โun niรฑo orejรณnโ.
Whatever part of your body is of exaggerated size, you can use it as an adjective by adding the โ-รณnโ (masculine) or โ-onaโ (feminine) ending to it.
๐ช๐ธ No me gustan las mujeres pechugonas.
๐ฌ๐ง I donโt like big-breasted women.
๐ช๐ธ Patricia es una bocona.
๐ฌ๐ง Patricia is such a big mouth.
๐ช๐ธ Eres demasiado caderona para este tipo de falda.
๐ฌ๐ง Youโre too hippy / full-hipped for this kind of skirt.
๐ช๐ธ Desde que se casรณ, Pancho se ha puesto muy barrigรณn.
๐ฌ๐ง Since he got married, Pancho has gotten pot-bellied.
๐ช๐ธ Lucรญa se cree muy narigona y quiere operarse apenas cumpla los 18 aรฑos.
๐ฌ๐ง Lucรญa finds herself very big-nosed and wants to get a (plastic) surgery as soon as she turns 18.