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71 Body Parts in Spanish and How to Talk About Them

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Are you studying Spanish and want to know the Spanish names of different parts of the body? In this guide we’ve created three charts of human body parts in Spanish and English. The charts cover external body parts, like hair and toes, internal organs, and the skeleton.

Together, these charts contain more than 70 parts of the body, so you’re sure to find the Spanish vocab words you’re looking for. We also include a chart of common phrases you can use to talk about body parts in Spanish so that you can put your new vocab skills to use.

 

71 Body Parts in English and Spanish

Below are three charts of common parts of the body in Spanish and English. The first chart is external body parts, the second is internal organs, and the third is vocabulary for the skeleton. Each of the charts is organized in alphabetical order in English.

 

Body Parts Vocab Words

English
Spanish
Ankle
el tobillo
Arm
el brazo
Back
la espalda
Beard
la barba
Breast
el seno
Buttocks
las nalgas
Calf
la pantorrilla
Cheek
la mejilla, el cachete
Chest
el pecho
Chin
la barbilla, el mentón
Ear
el oído, la oreja
Elbow
el codo
Eye
el ojo
Eyebrows
las cejas
Eyelashes
las pestañas
Face
la cara
Finger
el dedo
Foot
el pie
Forehead
la frente
Hair
el pelo
Hand
la mano
Head
la cabeza
Heel
el talón
Hip
la cadera
Human body
el cuerpo humano
Knee
la rodilla
Leg
la pierna
Lips
los labios
Mustache
el bigote, el mostacho
Mouth
la boca
Navel/belly button
el ombligo
Neck
el cuello
Nose
la nariz
Shoulder
el hombro
Skin
la piel
Stomach (abdomen)
el vientre
Thigh
el muslo
Throat
la garganta
Thumb
el pulgar
Toe
el dedo del pie
Tongue
la lengua
Tooth/Teeth
el diente, la muela/los dientes
Waist
la cintura
Wrist
la muñeca

 

body_heart

 

Internal Organs Vocab Words

English
Spanish
Brain
el cerebro, el seso
Lung/Lungs
el pulmón/los pulmones
Heart
el corazón
Internal organs
los órganos internos
Kidney/Kidneys
el riñón/los riñones
Large intestine
el intestino grueso
Liver
el hígado
Muscle
el músculo
Small intestine
el intestino delgado
Stomach
el estómago
Tonsils
las amígdalas

 

Skeleton Vocab Words

English
Spanish
Bone
el hueso
Clavicle
la clavícula
Femur
el fémur
Fibula
la fíbula
Humerus
el húmero
Jawbone
la mandíbula
Patella
la rótula
Radius
el radio
Ribs
las costillas
Scapula
el omóplato
Skeleton
el esqueleto
Skull
el cráneo
Spinal column
la columna vertebral, la espina dorsal
Sternum
el esternón
Tibia
la tibia
Vertebra
la vértebra

 

body_skeleton

 

2 Important Rules to Remember When Talking About Body Parts in Spanish

There are two major differences in speaking about body parts in Spanish compared to speaking about body parts in English. 

The first is that, in Spanish, you must include a definite article with each body part term. Each singular body part will be preceded by the definite article el or la. The plural versions are los and las, respectively. In English, you could say, “The wrist and elbow are swollen,” with just one definite article before “wrist.” For parts of the body in Spanish, however, you’d need to say “La muñeca y el codo están hinchados” which directly translates to “The wrist and the elbow are swollen.” Each body part needs its own definite article.

The second difference between discussing body parts in Spanish vs English is that, in English, it’s common to use possessive adjectives when referring to a specific person’s body part (ex. my hair, your hands, her feet…). In Spanish, you almost always use definite articles like “the” or “a” when discussing body parts in Spanish, no matter whose body part it is.

In Spanish, possessive adjectives are only used with body parts when it’d otherwise be unclear whose body part is being referenced. For example, “I like your hair” is “Me gusta tu pelo” in Spanish. In this case, you need the possessive adjective to know whose hair you like.

As another example, in English you could say “I broke my leg and ankle,” but in Spanish you’d say “Me rompí la pierna y el tobillo.” which directly translates to “I broke the leg and the ankle.” (Note again that each body part has its own definite article.) Similarly, in English you’d say “I brush my hair,” but in Spanish you’d say “Me cepillo el pelo.” (I brush the hair.)

 

Common Phrases to Discuss Parts of the Body in Spanish

Knowing all the body parts in Spanish is useful, but to really get the most out of these vocab words, you should know at least a few phrases to use them with. Below are some of the most common Spanish phrases used to discuss parts of the body.

English
Spanish
Brush your teeth.
Cepíllate los dientes.
I broke my [body part]. (Ex. I broke my arm.)
Me rompí [body part]. (Ex. Me rompí el brazo.)
I cut my finger.
Me corto el dedo.
I have a pain/ache of [body part]. (Ex. I have a headache.)**
Tengo dolor de [body part]. (Ex.Tengo dolor de cabeza.)
I have black/blond/brown/red/gray hair.
Tengo el pelo negro/rubio/castaño/rojo/gris.
I sprained my ankle.
Me torcí el tobillo.
I stubbed my toe.
Golpeé el dedo del pie.
My [singular body part] hurts. (Ex. My arm hurts.)**
Me duele [singular body part]. (Ex. Me duele el brazo.)
My [plural body part] hurt. (Ex. My feet hurt.)**
Me duelen [plural body part]. (Ex. Me duelen los pies.)
Open your eyes!
¡Abre los ojos!
Wash your hands.
Lávate las manos.

 

**The "me duele(n)" and "tengo dolor" phrases can both be used to describe pain in a body part, but the former is more common. For example, both "me duele la cabeza" and "tengo dolor de cabeza" mean "I have a headache," but most Spanish speakers will say "me duele la cabeza."

 

Summary: List of Body Parts in Spanish

You can use these charts to study the parts of the body in Spanish, make them into flashcards, and expand your Spanish vocabulary. When speaking or writing human body parts in Spanish, it’s important to remember two rules. First, each body part must have its own article preceding it, which you don’t need in English.

Second, when discussing a particular person’s body part in English, we typically use personal adjectives such as my, your, or his/her. When discussing body parts in Spanish, you typically use definite articles such as "a" or "the."

The learning doesn’t end with just a list of body parts in Spanish though; to be a high-level Spanish speaker, you need to use these body part terms in longer phrases and sentences.

 

What's Next?

Want help with some common Spanish phrases? Find out the nuances of how to ask where the bathroom is in Spanish with this article.

Need to brush up on your Spanish conjugations? Start with our article covering ser conjugations for every tense.

Not sure if Spanish is the right language for you to study? Learn which is the best foreign language to study in high school.

Interested in learning Japanese, too? Learn how to say "good morning" in Japanese, plus nine other key greetings.

 

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Christine Sarikas
About the Author

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.



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