Body Parts Vocabulary in English
15 body parts with meanings, example sentences, and free interactive games including a Labelled Diagram — ideal for A1–A2 learners.
Body parts vocabulary is one of the most fundamental areas of English. You need these words to describe physical appearance, talk about health and illness, follow exercise instructions, understand medical advice, and communicate in many everyday situations.
This page covers 15 essential body parts in English, from well-known basics like head and hand to slightly more advanced terms like shoulder, knee, and elbow. Each word includes its meaning and a clear example sentence. The Labelled Diagram exercise below is particularly useful for this topic — it visually connects each word to the correct part of the body.
Body parts vocabulary is closely connected to health and medical English. Knowing the correct names for body parts helps you describe symptoms clearly: "I have a pain in my lower back", "My left knee is swollen". This is essential vocabulary for anyone living in or visiting an English-speaking country.
After studying these words, explore Sports vocabulary (body parts are central to sports description and injury language) and Family vocabulary (for describing physical resemblance between family members).
Word List
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| head | the part of the body above the neck | She shook her head to say no. |
| face | the front part of the head, including eyes, nose, and mouth | He has a kind, friendly face. |
| eye | the organ used for seeing | She has beautiful green eyes. |
| ear | the organ used for hearing | He cupped his ear to hear better. |
| nose | the organ used for smelling and breathing | She blew her nose into a tissue. |
| mouth | the opening in the face used for eating and speaking | He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped. |
| hand | the part at the end of the arm with five fingers | She raised her hand to ask a question. |
| arm | the limb that connects the shoulder to the hand | He broke his arm playing football. |
| shoulder | the joint connecting the arm to the body | She shrugged her shoulders to show she didn't know. |
| leg | the limb used for walking and running | His leg muscles ached after the marathon. |
| knee | the joint in the middle of the leg | She injured her knee during the ski trip. |
| foot | the part at the end of the leg used for standing and walking | My feet hurt after walking all day. |
| back | the rear part of the body from the neck to the waist | He has been suffering from back pain for months. |
| chest | the front part of the body between the neck and the stomach | He felt a tightness in his chest. |
| elbow | the joint in the middle of the arm | She accidentally hit her elbow on the door frame. |
Practice with These Exercises
Labelled Diagram
Drag labels onto the correct body parts
Flash Cards
Review body part words with spaced repetition
Wordsearch
Find body part words hidden in the grid
Hangman
Guess the body part word letter by letter
Practice What You've Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →Related Vocabulary Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What body parts vocabulary should English beginners learn first?
Beginners should start with the most visible and frequently mentioned body parts: head, eye, ear, nose, mouth, hand, arm, leg, and foot. These words appear in classroom instructions, physical description, health conversations, and simple idioms. At A2, add shoulder, knee, elbow, back, chest, and neck to describe injuries and physical sensations.
What is the difference between 'foot' and 'feet' in English?
'Foot' is the singular form; 'feet' is the plural. One foot, two feet. This is an irregular plural — it does not follow the standard -s rule. Similarly: one tooth, two teeth; one tooth; one goose, two geese. In everyday speech, 'feet' appears in phrases like 'on your feet', 'cold feet' (nervousness), and 'put your foot in it' (say something embarrassing).
How do you describe pain and injury using body parts vocabulary?
Use the structure 'I have a pain in my [body part]' or 'My [body part] hurts'. More specific descriptions: 'I have a sharp/dull/throbbing pain in my back.' Adjectives for injuries: swollen (bigger than normal), bruised (discoloured from impact), sprained (soft tissue injury), fractured/broken (bone injury), stiff (hard to move), numb (no feeling). These are essential for medical appointments in English-speaking countries.
What are common English idioms that use body parts?
Body part idioms are extremely common in English: 'turn a blind eye' (ignore deliberately), 'keep an eye on' (watch carefully), 'lend an ear' (listen), 'put your foot in your mouth' (say something embarrassing), 'cost an arm and a leg' (very expensive), 'shoulder the responsibility' (take on a burden), 'keep your chin up' (stay positive), 'face the music' (accept the consequences).
How do you describe physical appearance using body parts?
Useful vocabulary: hair (long/short/curly/straight), eyes (brown/blue/green), nose (straight/turned-up), mouth (wide/narrow), shoulders (broad/narrow), build (slim/stocky/athletic). Common phrases: 'She has shoulder-length brown hair.', 'He has broad shoulders.', 'She has high cheekbones.' In IELTS Speaking Part 2 (describe a person), using varied body part vocabulary demonstrates a wider range.
What is the Labelled Diagram exercise and how does it help?
The Labelled Diagram exercise presents a diagram (in this case, a human figure) with empty labels pointing to different body parts. You drag and drop the correct word onto each arrow. This is one of the most effective exercises for body parts vocabulary because it creates a direct visual association between the word and the location on the body. This visual-spatial memory is stronger than learning from a list alone.
What are the singular and plural forms of body part nouns?
Regular plurals (add -s/es): arm/arms, leg/legs, shoulder/shoulders, knee/knees, elbow/elbows, foot — wait, feet (irregular). Irregular plurals: foot/feet, tooth/teeth. Some body parts are naturally paired (you have two): eyes, ears, hands, arms, legs, feet, shoulders, knees, elbows. Others are singular by nature: head, back, chest, nose, mouth. The plural is still used when referring to them on multiple people: 'the children's eyes'.
How do health and body parts vocabulary connect?
Health vocabulary pairs directly with body parts: headache (head), earache (ear), toothache (tooth/mouth), backache (back), stomachache (stomach), sore throat (throat), sprained ankle (ankle), broken wrist (wrist). In medical contexts: symptoms are described using body parts + condition: 'I have a swollen knee', 'My chest feels tight', 'I have a rash on my arm.'
What are reflexive pronouns used with body parts?
Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself) are often used with body parts in the pattern 'hurt + reflexive': 'She hurt herself.', 'He cut himself shaving.' This is more natural than 'She hurt her hand' in some contexts, although both are correct. Also common: 'Look at yourself', 'Dress yourself', 'Wash your hands'. These patterns appear in A2–B1 grammar exercises.
Do body part words differ between British and American English?
Most body part words are the same in British and American English. However, there are some informal differences: British English uses 'bottom' where American English uses 'butt' or 'rear'. Some medical terms differ: British 'tummy' vs American 'stomach' (though both are informal). In formal medical contexts, the same Latin-based anatomical terms are used internationally. For English exams, standard vocabulary is always accepted.