71 Body Parts in Spanish and How to Talk About Them

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

Internal Organs Vocab Words

Skeleton Vocab Words

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.

**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.

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