Learn Spanish: Body Parts

Understanding the human body is a fundamental step for any Spanish learner. Whether you are describing someone’s appearance, explaining a physical sensation, or visiting a healthcare professional, knowing these terms is vital for clear communication. This lesson introduces thirty essential words ranging from external features like the cara (/kaˈɾa/) and pierna (/ˈpjeɾna/) to internal organs such as the hígado (/ˈiɣaðo/) and the corazón (/koɾaˈθon/). By mastering these nouns, you will be able to pinpoint specific areas of the body with confidence.

When studying this list, pay close attention to grammatical gender. Most Spanish nouns ending in -o are masculine, such as hombro (/ˈombɾo/) and cuello (/ˈkweʎo/), while those ending in -a are typically feminine, like oreja (/oˈɾexa/) and boca (/ˈboka/). However, keep an eye out for the common exception mano (/ˈmano/), which is feminine despite its ending. You will also notice that Spanish often uses descriptive phrases for specific parts. For instance, while a finger is a dedo (/ˈdeðo/), a toe is literally called a dedo del pie (/ˈdeðo ðel pje/), or a finger of the foot. This logical approach to naming can help you expand your vocabulary quickly as you connect different body parts together, from the head to the pie (/ˈpje/).