Body Parts in Spanish: Complete Vocabulary Guide with Examples [2026]
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Key Takeaways
- Most body part nouns in Spanish follow standard gender rules, but some are exceptions: la mano (hand) is feminine despite ending in -o.
- Use “Me duele” (singular) or “Me duelen” (plural) to say a body part hurts.
- Reflexive verbs are essential for body routines: lavarme las manos (to wash my hands), cepillarme los dientes (to brush my teeth).
- In Spanish, you use the definite article (el/la) with body parts instead of possessive pronouns – not “mi nariz” but “la nariz.”
- Spanish has a single word for many body parts English separates: el dedo covers both finger and toe (specified as del pie for toe).
Body parts vocabulary is one of the most practical categories in any language. Whether you are describing symptoms to a doctor in Buenos Aires, following a yoga class in Barcelona, or simply learning to describe physical appearance, knowing Spanish body part vocabulary is non-negotiable.
This guide covers over 80 body parts in Spanish, organized by region for easy learning, with special attention to tricky gender rules, reflexive verb patterns, and the medical phrases you will genuinely need in Spanish-speaking countries.
Body part vocabulary pairs naturally with our Spanish adjectives guide – you will need adjectives like roto, inflamado, doloroso to properly describe symptoms.
Head and Face Vocabulary
The head (la cabeza) contains some of the most frequently used body part vocabulary. These words come up in everyday conversations about health, appearance, and daily routines.
| Spanish | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| la cabeza | head | feminine |
| el pelo / el cabello | hair | masculine |
| la cara | face | feminine |
| el ojo | eye | masculine |
| la nariz | nose | feminine |
| la boca | mouth | feminine |
| el diente | tooth | masculine |
| la lengua | tongue | feminine |
| la oreja | ear (outer) | feminine |
| la mejilla | cheek | feminine |
| la frente | forehead | feminine |
| el menton / la barbilla | chin | masc / fem |
| el cuello | neck | masculine |
Ear: Oreja vs. Oido
Spanish has two words for “ear”: la oreja (the outer ear you can see and touch) and el oido (the inner ear for hearing). Doctors ask about pain in “el oido”; you wear earrings on “las orejas”.
Torso and Core Body
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| el hombro | shoulder | common injury site |
| el pecho | chest | also means breast in medical contexts |
| la espalda | back | very common in back pain discussions |
| el abdomen / el vientre | abdomen / belly | abdomen = clinical; vientre = colloquial |
| el ombligo | navel / belly button | |
| la cintura | waist | |
| la cadera | hip | common in dance vocabulary |
Arms and Hands
| Spanish | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| el brazo | arm | masculine |
| el codo | elbow | masculine |
| la muneca | wrist | feminine (also means “doll”) |
| la mano | hand | FEMININE (exception! ends in -o) |
| el dedo | finger | masculine |
| el pulgar | thumb | masculine |
| la una | fingernail | feminine |
Legs and Feet
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| la pierna | leg | the whole leg |
| el muslo | thigh | |
| la rodilla | knee | common sports injury term |
| la pantorrilla | calf | |
| el tobillo | ankle | common sprain site |
| el pie | foot | |
| el dedo del pie | toe | “finger of the foot” |
Internal Organs
Knowing internal organ vocabulary is essential for medical situations. These terms appear in doctor consultations, health news, and medical emergencies.
Want to go deeper? Audaz Revista Issue 1 covers topics like this with original cultural features and language insights you will not find in a textbook. Explore Issue 1
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| el corazon | heart | el pulmon | lung |
| el higado | liver | el rinon | kidney |
| el estomago | stomach | el intestino | intestine |
| el cerebro | brain | la sangre | blood |
Gender Notes and Important Exceptions
Critical: La mano
The most notorious gender exception in Spanish: la mano (hand) ends in -o but is FEMININE. You say la mano derecha (the right hand), not el mano derecho. Memorize this – it trips up even advanced learners.
Other exceptions to know:
- el dia – masculine despite ending in -a (but body part contexts: no body part named “dia”)
- la nariz – feminine despite ending in -z (consonant, not typical -a ending)
- la nuca – the nape of the neck (feminine)
Reflexive Verbs with Body Parts
Spanish uses reflexive verbs to describe actions done to your own body. Importantly, you use the definite article (el/la/los/las), NOT a possessive pronoun, with body parts when using reflexive verbs:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me lavo las manos | I wash my hands (NOT “mis manos”) |
| Me cepillo los dientes | I brush my teeth |
| Me duele la cabeza | My head hurts (lit: the head hurts me) |
| Se rompio el brazo | He/she broke his/her arm |
| Me corte el dedo | I cut my finger |
Medical Phrases: Saying What Hurts
The verb doler (to hurt) works like gustar – it is used with indirect object pronouns and agrees with the body part, not the person:
Singular (one body part)
Me duele + el/la + body part
- Me duele la garganta. (My throat hurts.)
- Le duele el estomago. (His/her stomach hurts.)
- Me duele la espalda. (My back hurts.)
Plural (multiple body parts)
Me duelen + los/las + body parts
- Me duelen los pies. (My feet hurt.)
- Me duelen los oidos. (My ears hurt.)
- Me duelen los musculos. (My muscles hurt.)
At the Doctor: Essential Phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Necesito ver a un medico. | I need to see a doctor. |
| Tengo fiebre / tos / nauseas. | I have a fever / cough / nausea. |
| Me duele aqui. (pointing) | It hurts here. |
| El dolor es agudo / sordo / constante. | The pain is sharp / dull / constant. |
| Soy alergico/a a… | I am allergic to… |
| Llame a una ambulancia. | Call an ambulance. |
For emergencies, knowing these phrases could genuinely save your life or help someone in need. Practice them even if you never expect to use them. See also our complete beginners guide for more situational vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Master Body Part Vocabulary: Next Steps
- Learn by region – study head, then torso, then limbs as separate sessions
- Practice “me duele” daily – it is the most useful medical construction
- Learn the reflexive routine verbs – lavarme, cepillarme, cortarme
- Remember la mano – the single most important gender exception
Expand your vocabulary with our Spanish vocabulary building guide.
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Written by Elena Garcia
Elena is a Spanish linguist and language educator with expertise in medical Spanish and cross-cultural communication. She has taught Spanish at language schools across Spain and trained healthcare professionals in Spanish-speaking countries for over 8 years.
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