Spanish Body Parts: 25+ Essential Words with Pronunciation

Q: How do you say body parts in Spanish?

Body parts in Spanish each have a specific grammatical gender (masculine or feminine) that you need to learn with each word. The most common body parts include: la cabeza (head) los ojos (eyes) la nariz (nose) la boca (mouth) el brazo (arm) la mano (hand) la pierna (leg) el pie (foot) la espalda (back) el estomago (stomach) An important grammar note: Spanish uses definite articles (el, la, los, las) instead of possessive adjectives when talking about your own body. You say "me duele la cabeza" (the head hurts me) rather than "mi cabeza duele." This reflexive construction with "doler" is essential for expressing pain or discomfort. Learning body parts is especially important for medical situations, descriptions of people, exercise instructions, and the many Spanish idioms that reference body parts.

Q: Why is 'la mano' feminine if it ends in -o?

La mano is one of the most famous exceptions to Spanish gender rules. While most nouns ending in -o are masculine (el libro, el perro, el carro), mano is feminine: la mano, las manos. This exception comes from its Latin origin: the Latin word "manus" was feminine. When it evolved into Spanish, it kept its feminine gender even though its ending changed to -o. Very few nouns follow this pattern. Other examples include: la foto (short for fotografia) la moto (short for motocicleta) la radio (radio) However, mano is the only common, non-abbreviated word that breaks this pattern. All adjectives and articles must agree with its feminine gender: "la mano derecha" (the right hand), "las manos sucias" (the dirty hands), "una mano amiga" (a helping hand).

Q: How to memorize Spanish body parts?

The most effective approach combines active recall with spaced repetition. Start by creating flashcards covering key concepts, then review them daily using a spaced repetition system like FluentFlash's FSRS algorithm. This method is backed by extensive research and consistently outperforms passive review methods like re-reading or highlighting. Follow these steps: Create 15-25 flashcards with Spanish body parts Review them daily for the first week Let the FSRS algorithm expand intervals as cards become easier Practice consistently, even just 10-15 minutes daily Use multiple study modes to strengthen recall Most learners see substantial progress within a few weeks of consistent practice, especially when paired with active study techniques. FluentFlash provides AI card generation, eight study modes, and the FSRS algorithm without paywalls or credit card requirements.

SpanishBy FluentFlash Research Team·Updated 2026-04-30

Body parts vocabulary is surprisingly essential in everyday Spanish. You need these words at the doctor, in gym classes, during sports conversations, and in countless common idioms.

One critical grammar rule: Spanish uses definite articles instead of possessive adjectives when talking about your own body. You say "me duele la cabeza" (the head hurts me) rather than "mi cabeza duele" (my head hurts). This reflexive construction takes practice but sounds far more natural to native speakers.

Each body part also has a grammatical gender (masculine or feminine) that you must learn alongside the word itself. This guide covers over 25 essential body parts organized head to toe, with pronunciation, gender, and practical examples.

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Head and Face (La Cabeza y La Cara)

The head and face contain some of the most frequently used body part vocabulary. These words appear constantly in physical descriptions, at the doctor, and in common Spanish expressions.

Common Head and Face Words

la cabeza (head, feminine) - Pronounced "lah kah-BEH-sah". Example: "Me duele la cabeza" (My head hurts).

la cara (face, feminine) - Pronounced "lah KAH-rah". Example: "Tiene una cara bonita" (She has a pretty face).

el pelo / el cabello (hair, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl PEH-loh / ehl kah-BEH-yoh". Example: "Tiene el pelo largo" (She has long hair).

Eyes, Nose, and Mouth

los ojos (eyes, masculine) - Pronounced "lohs OH-hohs". Example: "Tiene los ojos azules" (He has blue eyes).

la nariz (nose, feminine) - Pronounced "lah nah-REES". Example: "Tengo la nariz tapada" (My nose is stuffed up).

la boca (mouth, feminine) - Pronounced "lah BOH-kah". Example: "Abre la boca, por favor" (Open your mouth, please).

Ears, Teeth, and Tongue

las orejas (ears, feminine) - Pronounced "lahs oh-REH-hahs". Example: "Me duelen las orejas por el frio" (My ears hurt from the cold).

los dientes (teeth, masculine) - Pronounced "lohs dee-EHN-tehs". Example: "Me lavo los dientes tres veces al dia" (I brush my teeth three times a day).

la lengua (tongue, feminine) - Pronounced "lah LEHN-gwah". Example: "Me mordi la lengua" (I bit my tongue).

el cuello (neck, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl KWEH-yoh". Example: "Me duele el cuello" (My neck hurts).

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
la cabeza	head (feminine)	lah kah-BEH-sah	Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts / I have a headache.)
la cara	face (feminine)	lah KAH-rah	Tiene una cara bonita. (She has a pretty face.)
el pelo / el cabello	hair (masculine)	ehl PEH-loh / ehl kah-BEH-yoh	Tiene el pelo largo. (She has long hair.)
los ojos	eyes (masculine)	lohs OH-hohs	Tiene los ojos azules. (He has blue eyes.)
la nariz	nose (feminine)	lah nah-REES	Tengo la nariz tapada. (My nose is stuffed up.)
la boca	mouth (feminine)	lah BOH-kah	Abre la boca, por favor. (Open your mouth, please.)
las orejas	ears, outer (feminine)	lahs oh-REH-hahs	Me duelen las orejas por el frio. (My ears hurt from the cold.)
los dientes	teeth (masculine)	lohs dee-EHN-tehs	Me lavo los dientes tres veces al dia. (I brush my teeth three times a day.)
la lengua	tongue (feminine)	lah LEHN-gwah	Me mordi la lengua. (I bit my tongue.)
el cuello	neck (masculine)	ehl KWEH-yoh	Me duele el cuello. (My neck hurts.)

Upper Body (El Torso y Los Brazos)

Upper body vocabulary is essential for describing physical activities, exercise, medical situations, and everyday actions. Many of these words also appear in common Spanish idioms and expressions.

Shoulders and Arms

el hombro (shoulder, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl OHM-broh". Example: "Me duele el hombro derecho" (My right shoulder hurts).

el brazo (arm, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl BRAH-soh". Example: "Levanta el brazo izquierdo" (Raise your left arm).

el codo (elbow, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl KOH-doh". Example: "Me golpee el codo con la mesa" (I hit my elbow on the table).

Hands and Fingers

la mano (hand, feminine, despite ending in -o) - Pronounced "lah MAH-noh". Example: "Dame la mano" (Give me your hand).

los dedos (fingers and toes, masculine) - Pronounced "lohs DEH-dohs". Example: "Tengo los dedos frios" (My fingers are cold).

Chest and Back

el pecho (chest, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl PEH-choh". Example: "Me duele el pecho cuando respiro" (My chest hurts when I breathe).

la espalda (back, feminine) - Pronounced "lah ehs-PAHL-dah". Example: "Tengo dolor de espalda" (I have back pain).

el estomago (stomach, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl ehs-TOH-mah-goh". Example: "Me duele el estomago" (My stomach hurts).

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
el hombro	shoulder (masculine)	ehl OHM-broh	Me duele el hombro derecho. (My right shoulder hurts.)
el brazo	arm (masculine)	ehl BRAH-soh	Levanta el brazo izquierdo. (Raise your left arm.)
el codo	elbow (masculine)	ehl KOH-doh	Me golpee el codo con la mesa. (I hit my elbow on the table.)
la mano	hand (feminine, despite ending in -o)	lah MAH-noh	Dame la mano. (Give me your hand.)
los dedos	fingers / toes (masculine)	lohs DEH-dohs	Tengo los dedos frios. (My fingers are cold.)
el pecho	chest (masculine)	ehl PEH-choh	Me duele el pecho cuando respiro. (My chest hurts when I breathe.)
la espalda	back (feminine)	lah ehs-PAHL-dah	Tengo dolor de espalda. (I have back pain.)
el estomago	stomach (masculine)	ehl ehs-TOH-mah-goh	Me duele el estomago. (My stomach hurts.)

Lower Body (Las Piernas y Los Pies)

Lower body vocabulary is important for describing injuries, exercise, and movement. These words come up frequently in sports, dance, and medical contexts.

Legs and Thighs

la pierna (leg, feminine) - Pronounced "lah pee-EHR-nah". Example: "Me rompi la pierna esquiando" (I broke my leg skiing).

el muslo (thigh, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl MOOS-loh". Example: "Tengo los muslos adoloridos" (My thighs are sore).

Knees and Ankles

la rodilla (knee, feminine) - Pronounced "lah roh-DEE-yah". Example: "Me duele la rodilla cuando camino" (My knee hurts when I walk).

el tobillo (ankle, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl toh-BEE-yoh". Example: "Me torci el tobillo" (I twisted my ankle).

Feet and Hips

el pie (foot, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl pee-EH". Example: "Me duele el pie derecho" (My right foot hurts).

los dedos del pie (toes, masculine) - Pronounced "lohs DEH-dohs dehl pee-EH". Example: "Tengo los dedos del pie congelados" (My toes are frozen).

la cadera (hip, feminine) - Pronounced "lah kah-DEH-rah". Example: "Mi abuela se rompio la cadera" (My grandmother broke her hip).

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
la pierna	leg (feminine)	lah pee-EHR-nah	Me rompi la pierna esquiando. (I broke my leg skiing.)
la rodilla	knee (feminine)	lah roh-DEE-yah	Me duele la rodilla cuando camino. (My knee hurts when I walk.)
el tobillo	ankle (masculine)	ehl toh-BEE-yoh	Me torci el tobillo. (I twisted my ankle.)
el pie	foot (masculine)	ehl pee-EH	Me duele el pie derecho. (My right foot hurts.)
los dedos del pie	toes (masculine)	lohs DEH-dohs dehl pee-EH	Tengo los dedos del pie congelados. (My toes are frozen.)
la cadera	hip (feminine)	lah kah-DEH-rah	Mi abuela se rompio la cadera. (My grandmother broke her hip.)
el muslo	thigh (masculine)	ehl MOOS-loh	Tengo los muslos adoloridos. (My thighs are sore.)

Internal Organs and Medical Vocabulary

While you may not use these words daily, they become critical during medical visits, emergencies, and health discussions. Knowing how to describe internal pain or symptoms can be vital when traveling in Spanish-speaking countries.

Major Organs

el corazon (heart, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl koh-rah-SOHN". Example: "El corazon late rapido" (The heart beats fast).

los pulmones (lungs, masculine) - Pronounced "lohs pool-MOH-nehs". Example: "Fumar dana los pulmones" (Smoking damages the lungs).

el cerebro (brain, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl seh-REH-broh". Example: "El cerebro necesita descanso" (The brain needs rest).

Tissues and Blood

el hueso (bone, masculine) - Pronounced "ehl WEH-soh". Example: "Se rompio un hueso" (He broke a bone).

la sangre (blood, feminine) - Pronounced "lah SAHN-greh". Example: "Necesita un analisis de sangre" (He needs a blood test).

la piel (skin, feminine) - Pronounced "lah pee-EHL". Example: "Tiene la piel muy suave" (She has very soft skin).

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
el corazon	heart (masculine)	ehl koh-rah-SOHN	El corazon late rapido. (The heart beats fast.)
los pulmones	lungs (masculine)	lohs pool-MOH-nehs	Fumar dana los pulmones. (Smoking damages the lungs.)
el cerebro	brain (masculine)	ehl seh-REH-broh	El cerebro necesita descanso. (The brain needs rest.)
el hueso	bone (masculine)	ehl WEH-soh	Se rompio un hueso. (He broke a bone.)
la sangre	blood (feminine)	lah SAHN-greh	Necesita un analisis de sangre. (He needs a blood test.)
la piel	skin (feminine)	lah pee-EHL	Tiene la piel muy suave. (She has very soft skin.)

How to Study Spanish Effectively

Mastering Spanish requires the right study approach, not just more hours. Research in cognitive science shows three techniques produce the best learning outcomes: active recall (testing yourself rather than re-reading), spaced repetition (reviewing at scientifically-optimized intervals), and interleaving (mixing related topics rather than studying one in isolation).

FluentFlash is built around all three. When you study Spanish body parts with our FSRS algorithm, every term is scheduled for review at exactly the moment you are about to forget it. This maximizes retention while minimizing study time.

Why Passive Review Fails

The most common mistake students make is relying on passive review methods. Re-reading your notes, highlighting textbook passages, or watching lecture videos feels productive. However, studies show these methods produce only 10-20% of the retention that active recall achieves. Flashcards force your brain to retrieve information, which strengthens memory pathways far more than recognition alone.

Pair active recall with spaced repetition scheduling, and you can learn in 20 minutes a day what would take hours of passive review.

Your Practical Study Plan

Start by creating 15-25 flashcards covering the highest-priority concepts. Review them daily for the first week using our FSRS scheduling. As cards become easier, intervals automatically expand from minutes to days to weeks. You are always working on material at the edge of your knowledge.

After 2-3 weeks of consistent practice, Spanish concepts become automatic rather than effortful to recall.

1
Generate flashcards using FluentFlash AI or create them manually from your notes
2
Study 15-20 new cards per day, plus scheduled reviews
3
Use multiple study modes (flip, multiple choice, written) to strengthen recall
4
Track your progress and identify weak topics for focused review
5
Review consistently, daily practice beats marathon sessions

Study These Words with Flashcards

Turn this vocabulary list into smart flashcards. AI-powered spaced repetition helps you remember every word.

Study with Free Flashcards

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say body parts in Spanish?

Body parts in Spanish each have a specific grammatical gender (masculine or feminine) that you need to learn with each word. The most common body parts include:

la cabeza (head)
los ojos (eyes)
la nariz (nose)
la boca (mouth)
el brazo (arm)
la mano (hand)
la pierna (leg)
el pie (foot)
la espalda (back)
el estomago (stomach)

An important grammar note: Spanish uses definite articles (el, la, los, las) instead of possessive adjectives when talking about your own body. You say "me duele la cabeza" (the head hurts me) rather than "mi cabeza duele." This reflexive construction with "doler" is essential for expressing pain or discomfort. Learning body parts is especially important for medical situations, descriptions of people, exercise instructions, and the many Spanish idioms that reference body parts.

Why is 'la mano' feminine if it ends in -o?

La mano is one of the most famous exceptions to Spanish gender rules. While most nouns ending in -o are masculine (el libro, el perro, el carro), mano is feminine: la mano, las manos. This exception comes from its Latin origin: the Latin word "manus" was feminine. When it evolved into Spanish, it kept its feminine gender even though its ending changed to -o.

Very few nouns follow this pattern. Other examples include:

la foto (short for fotografia)
la moto (short for motocicleta)
la radio (radio)

However, mano is the only common, non-abbreviated word that breaks this pattern. All adjectives and articles must agree with its feminine gender: "la mano derecha" (the right hand), "las manos sucias" (the dirty hands), "una mano amiga" (a helping hand).

How do you say 'my head hurts' in Spanish?

To say "my head hurts" in Spanish, you say "me duele la cabeza" (literally "to me hurts the head"). The verb doler (to hurt/ache) works like "gustar." The body part is the grammatical subject, and the person experiencing pain is the indirect object.

For singular body parts, use duele:

"me duele el estomago" (my stomach hurts)
"me duele la espalda" (my back hurts)

For plural body parts, use duelen:

"me duelen los ojos" (my eyes hurt)
"me duelen las piernas" (my legs hurt)

To talk about someone else's pain, change the indirect object pronoun:

"le duele la cabeza" (his/her head hurts)
"nos duelen los pies" (our feet hurt)

This construction takes practice for English speakers but is the natural way to express physical discomfort in Spanish.

What are all of the body parts in Spanish?

The most comprehensive way to learn all Spanish body parts is through spaced repetition, which schedules reviews at scientifically-proven intervals. This guide covers over 25 essential body parts, organized from head to toe.

Key categories include:

Head and face (cabeza, cara, ojos, nariz, boca)
Upper body (hombro, brazo, codo, mano, pecho, espalda)
Lower body (pierna, rodilla, tobillo, pie, cadera)
Internal organs (corazon, pulmones, cerebro, hueso, sangre, piel)

With FluentFlash's free flashcard maker, you can generate study materials on this topic in seconds and review them with the FSRS algorithm. Most learners see significant improvement within 2-3 weeks of consistent daily practice. The key is starting small and building a daily habit rather than trying to learn everything at once.

How to memorize Spanish body parts?

The most effective approach combines active recall with spaced repetition. Start by creating flashcards covering key concepts, then review them daily using a spaced repetition system like FluentFlash's FSRS algorithm. This method is backed by extensive research and consistently outperforms passive review methods like re-reading or highlighting.

Follow these steps:

Create 15-25 flashcards with Spanish body parts
Review them daily for the first week
Let the FSRS algorithm expand intervals as cards become easier
Practice consistently, even just 10-15 minutes daily
Use multiple study modes to strengthen recall

Most learners see substantial progress within a few weeks of consistent practice, especially when paired with active study techniques. FluentFlash provides AI card generation, eight study modes, and the FSRS algorithm without paywalls or credit card requirements.

What are slang words for body parts?

Spanish slang for body parts varies significantly by region and context. Some common informal terms include:

la chiva (slang for leg in some Latin American countries)
el coco (informal for head)
la mata (informal for hair)
los peluches (slang for muscles)
las patas (informal for legs, literally "paws")

Slang differs greatly between Spain and Latin American countries, and even between different regions within countries. Using formal vocabulary from this guide will always be understood and is appropriate in most situations. As you advance in Spanish, you will naturally encounter more regional slang through immersion and conversation with native speakers.

When learning Spanish, start with the standard vocabulary covered in this guide. This ensures you communicate clearly in any Spanish-speaking region.

What are 20 Spanish words?

Here are 20 essential Spanish body part words to start with:

la cabeza (head)
la cara (face)
los ojos (eyes)
la nariz (nose)
la boca (mouth)
las orejas (ears)
los dientes (teeth)
el cuello (neck)
el hombro (shoulder)
el brazo (arm)
el codo (elbow)
la mano (hand)
los dedos (fingers)
la espalda (back)
el pecho (chest)
la pierna (leg)
la rodilla (knee)
el tobillo (ankle)
el pie (foot)
el estomago (stomach)

The best way to learn these is through consistent daily practice with spaced repetition. Even 10-15 minutes per day is more effective than long, infrequent study sessions. FluentFlash automatically schedules your reviews at the optimal moment for retention.