How to say 90+ body part names in English (+ related fun idioms)

Author

Karolina Assi

Editor

Berlitz China

Have you ever picked someone's brain, lent someone a hand, or kept your chin up?

Body parts vocabulary is needed not just to describe the human body in English, but also used in plenty of idiomatic and slang expressions.

And even if you don't use idioms or slang, you still need to know how to name different parts of your body in your day-to-day life.

So, heads up, legs down! It's time to learn how to name body parts in English. This guide will show you how to name all the parts of the human body in depth, from top to bottom as well as your inside body parts. So keep reading!

Why learn about body parts in English?

Man expresses himself with hand gestures to explain the importance of learning the body parts in English.

Learning the names of various parts of the body in English can be helpful for a variety of situations. Let's take a look at a few of them.

  1. Describing yourself or other people
    To describe someone's appearance, you'll need vocabulary words like face, hair, eyes, and so on.
  2. Understanding idiomatic expressions and common sayings
    The English language uses body parts in many idioms and common expressions! Phrases such as a sweet tooth, cold shoulder, or itchy feet are used almost daily in English. Knowing the anatomy will make it easier to understand these expressions.
  3. Visiting a doctor
    If you’re experiencing some health issues, injuries, or pain, you’ll likely need to visit a doctor. Knowing the different body parts in English will help you communicate your symptoms to your doctor and avoid major miscommunication.

How to say “body” in English

So, let's start with the most basic word: body (baa-dee).

Body (noun): The whole physical structure that forms a person or animal, including the bones, flesh, and organs.

We usually use the word "body" with adjectives that describe it. For example:

  • She has a fantastic body thanks to her workout routine.
  • His muscular body felt weak because of the virus.
  • The hard part is to keep your body fit after you have stopped playing sports.

Head in English

Head is another essential word in English. The head is the uppermost part of the body. The word “head” means the whole human or animal head, but it can also mean the top or front of an object. The head forms other important words such as headache (when your head hurts) or idioms.

Your head has many parts. Let's explore some vocabulary related to the head.

Face parts in English

Here are some of the most important words describing different face parts. Let’s dive into it!

EnglishPronunciationSynonyms and Slang
HeadhedNoggin (Irish), nut, dome, noodle
FacefeɪsMug
Earsɪəz-
EyesaɪzPeepers
NosenəʊzSchnozz, honker, beak (all referring to a big nose)
Chintʃɪn-
Cheekstʃiks-
Foreheadfɒrɪd-
Jawdʒɔ-
Eyebrowsaɪbraʊz-
Eyelashesaɪlæʃɪz-
Templetempl̩-
Nostrilnɒstrəl-
Lipslɪps-
MouthmaʊθTrap, pie hole (both very rude)
Teeth/Toothtiθ / tuθChoppers
Tonguetʌŋ-
Hairheə-
Necknek-

Other parts

Now that you’re familiar with different face parts in English, it’s time to wrap your head around external body parts (pun intended).

EnglishPronunciation
Shouldersʃəʊldəz
Right Shoulderraɪt ʃəʊldə
Left Shoulderleft ʃəʊldə
Elbowelbəʊ
Forearmfɔrɑm
Left Armleft ɑm
Right Armraɪt ɑm
Wristrɪst
Handhænd
Right Handraɪt hænd
Left Handleft hænd
Fingersfɪŋɡəz
Thumbθʌm
Index Finger/Pointer Fingerɪndeks fɪŋgə / pɔɪntə fɪŋɡə
Middle Fingermɪdl fɪŋɡə
Ring Fingerrɪŋ fɪŋgə
Pinky Fingerpɪŋki fɪŋɡə
Knucklesnʌkl̩z
Nailsneɪlz
Chesttʃest
Breastbrest
Waistweɪst
Hipshɪps
Left Legleft leɡ
Right Legraɪt leɡ
Kneeni
Thighθaɪ
Calfkɑf
Ankleæŋkl̩
Foot/Feetfʊt fit
Right Footraɪt fʊt
Left Footleft fʊt
Toestəʊz
Big Toebɪg təʊ

Other inside body parts

Have you ever had butterflies in your stomach? How about a broken heart? Knowing your internal organs is a must, not only to express your feelings but also to express discomfort or pain.

EnglishPronunciation
Brainbreɪn
Lungslʌŋz
Hearthɑt
Kidneykɪdni
Liverlɪvə
Stomachstʌmək
Pancreaspæŋkrɪəs
Large Intestinelɑdʒ ɪntestɪn
Small Intestinesmɔl ɪntestɪn
Diaphragmdaɪəfræm
Oesophagusisɒfəɡəs
Spleensplin
Veinsveɪnz
Rectumrektəm
Gallbladderɡɒlblædə
Bladderblædə
Appendixəpendɪks

Idioms about body parts

Many phrases and expressions use parts of the body in English. Some of them are pretty obvious, but it's easy to forget the less literal ones. Here are some useful body part idioms in English you can add to your anatomy vocabulary list:

Body Part IdiomMeaning
Keep your chin upStay cheerful and optimistic even when something bad has happened, or there are problems
Let your hair downRelax
By the skin of your teethBy a very narrow margin
Break a legUsed to wish someone good luck on an exam, test, or interview
Keep someone at arm’s lengthKeep someone at a distance
Pick someone’s brainAsk someone a lot of questions about something they are good at
Have butterflies in your stomachFeel excited or nervous about something, especially an important event or a date
Have a broken heartSuffer because of a love disappointment
Have something on the tip of your tongueAlmost remember something you want to say
Stick your neck outAccept a risk, usually to defend someone or something
Get something off your chestOpen up about something
Give someone a handHelp someone
Cost an arm and a legBe very expensive
Bite your tongueStop yourself from saying something
Be on your toesBe alert
A slap on the wristMinor punishment
Tear your hair outBe very frustrated or worried about something
Be all eyes and earsBe very attentive
Turn a blind eyeChoose not to pay attention to something
Lend an earBe ready to listen to someone
Keep your head aboveHave enough money to live on but not much more than that; manage to survive financially
Get a head startHave an advantage at the beginning of something (a race)
Use your headThink before you speak or act

Fun tips to help you learn body part names faster

Not really into learning body parts vocabulary by heart or by singing songs? No worries! There are other ways to learn about the human anatomy.

Here are some tips to help you learn them faster:

Grandmother makes learning the body parts in English fun for her granddaughter.

1. Make it a game

Playing games is a dynamic and fun way to learn new vocabulary and memorize it more quickly! There are many games that you can play to learn body parts in English. Our favorite ones are:

Simon says: This is probably the most common game to learn about limbs. This game helps you remember the names of some of the most important body parts by touching the body part that “Simon” names. This game is best played in a group.

Alphabet game: This game consists of writing down as many words starting with each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z, as you can come up with. In this case, it would be all the limbs and appendages that you can think of! For example, A for Abdomen, B for Back, C for Chest, etc.

Quiz or trivia game: If you’re not into children’s games, you can play something more ambitious and informative, such as a quiz or trivia game related to body parts. Kahoot and Quizizz are two websites full of fun quizzes to learn new vocabulary in English (and other languages).

2. Use images and flashcards

Using images and flashcards is one of the best ways to learn English vocabulary, especially if you have a visual memory. You can create your own or find ready-made ones on the internet.

Once you find the flashcards or images you like, print them out or save them on your phone. Look at them during your free time, while waiting in line, or while eating.

3. Practice with conversation cards

This is a great way to use human body part vocabulary in a real conversation. You can print out conversation cards and practice with a friend or family member. Write down questions related to body parts, cut them up, and place them in a bag or box. Take turns asking each other questions from the box.

Ready to sink your teeth in?

Learning parts of the body in English can seem challenging at first because there’s a lot of new vocabulary you’ll need to master! However, learning body parts in English is pretty easy – and fun – with flashcards, games, and songs.

Let your hair down, enjoy the journey and have fun, instead of rushing into learning everything at once.

We hope that this article encourages you to learn about human anatomy and parts. Want to learn even more useful vocabulary in English? Discover 100+ interesting ways to say hi or 100+ animal names in English.

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