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Learn essential Arabic vocabulary for body parts, from head to toe. Includes Arabic script, transliterations, and practical phrases for everyday conversations and medical situations.
Whether you're visiting a doctor, describing how you feel, or simply expanding your Arabic vocabulary, knowing the names of body parts is an essential building block of the language. From the top of your head (رَأْس) to the tips of your toes (أَصَابِع القَدَم), this guide walks you through the most important body part vocabulary in Arabic — complete with Arabic script, transliterations, and example phrases.
Body part vocabulary appears constantly in everyday Arabic, making it one of the most practical word sets you can learn early. Let's get started!
The face is often the first thing we describe when talking about a person, so let's begin here.
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| رَأْس | Ra's | Head |
| وَجْه | Wajh | Face |
| شَعْر | Sha'r | Hair |
| عَيْن (ج: عُيُون) | 'Ayn (pl: 'Uyūn) | Eye (Eyes) |
| أُذُن (ج: آذَان) | Udun (pl: Ādhān) | Ear (Ears) |
| أَنْف | Anf | Nose |
| فَم | Fam | Mouth |
| شَفَة (ج: شِفَاه) | Shafa (pl: Shifāh) | Lip (Lips) |
| سِنّ (ج: أَسْنَان) | Sinn (pl: Asnān) | Tooth (Teeth) |
| لِسَان | Lisān | Tongue |
| خَدّ (ج: خُدُود) | Khadd (pl: Khudūd) | Cheek (Cheeks) |
| جَبْهَة | Jabha | Forehead |
| ذَقَن | Dhaqan | Chin |
| رَقَبَة | Raqaba | Neck |
Now let's move down from the neck to the torso and arms.
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| كَتِف (ج: أَكْتَاف) | Katif (pl: Aktāf) | Shoulder (Shoulders) |
| ذِرَاع (ج: أَذْرُع) | Dhirā' (pl: Adhrū') | Arm (Arms) |
| كُوع | Kū' | Elbow |
| مِعْصَم | Mi'ṣam | Wrist |
| يَد (ج: أَيْدِي) | Yad (pl: Aydī) | Hand (Hands) |
| إِصْبَع (ج: أَصَابِع) | Iṣba' (pl: Aṣābi') | Finger (Fingers) |
| صَدْر | Ṣadr | Chest |
| ظَهْر | Ẓahr | Back |
| بَطْن | Baṭn | Stomach / Abdomen |
| خَصْر | Khaṣr | Waist |
| قَلْب | Qalb | Heart |
| رِئَة (ج: رِئَتَان) | Ri'a (pl: Ri'atān) | Lung (Lungs) |
Moving further down to the legs and feet.
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| وَرِك (ج: أَوْرَاك) | Warik (pl: Awrāk) | Hip (Hips) |
| فَخِذ (ج: أَفْخَاذ) | Fakhidh (pl: Afkhādh) | Thigh (Thighs) |
| رُكْبَة (ج: رُكَب) | Rukba (pl: Rukab) | Knee (Knees) |
| سَاق (ج: سِيقَان) | Sāq (pl: Sīqān) | Leg / Shin (Legs) |
| كَاحِل | Kāḥil | Ankle |
| قَدَم (ج: أَقْدَام) | Qadam (pl: Aqdām) | Foot (Feet) |
| أَصَابِع القَدَم | Aṣābi' al-qadam | Toes |
Knowing internal organ vocabulary is especially useful in medical situations.
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| دِمَاغ | Dimāgh | Brain |
| قَلْب | Qalb | Heart |
| كَبِد | Kabid | Liver |
| كُلْيَة (ج: كُلَى) | Kulya (pl: Kulan) | Kidney (Kidneys) |
| مَعِدَة | Ma'ida | Stomach |
| عَظْم (ج: عِظَام) | 'Aẓm (pl: 'Iẓām) | Bone (Bones) |
| عَضَلَة (ج: عَضَلَات) | 'Aḍala (pl: 'Aḍalāt) | Muscle (Muscles) |
| جِلْد | Jild | Skin |
| دَم | Dam | Blood |
💡 Cultural Note: The word قَلْب (qalb — heart) appears constantly in Arabic poetry, music, and everyday speech as a symbol of emotion and love. You'll often hear phrases like يَا قَلْبِي (yā qalbī — "O my heart!") as a term of endearment.
One of the most practical uses of body part vocabulary is describing how you feel, especially in medical situations. Here are key phrases:
Body part vocabulary is also essential for describing people's appearance.
For more vocabulary on descriptions, check out our guide on Arabic Colors Vocabulary and explore further at our Arabic vocabulary categories.
Arabic body part words often use broken plurals — irregular plural forms that change the internal structure of the word. Here are some important ones to memorize:
| Singular | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| عَيْن ('ayn) | عُيُون ('uyūn) | Eye → Eyes |
| يَد (yad) | أَيْدِي (aydī) | Hand → Hands |
| إِصْبَع (iṣba') | أَصَابِع (aṣābi') | Finger → Fingers |
| رُكْبَة (rukba) | رُكَب (rukab) | Knee → Knees |
| سِنّ (sinn) | أَسْنَان (asnān) | Tooth → Teeth |
For a deeper dive into this fascinating aspect of Arabic grammar, visit our guide on Arabic Broken Plurals.
Put your new vocabulary to the test with these exercises:
Exercise 1 — Match the Arabic to English: Can you match these words without looking at the tables?
Exercise 2 — Fill in the Blank: Complete the sentence with the correct body part:
Exercise 3 — Describe a Person: Using vocabulary from this guide, write 3 sentences in Arabic describing a real or imaginary person's appearance. Try to include at least one plural form!
Exercise 4 — Flashcard Challenge: Write each body part word on a sticky note and place it on the corresponding part of your body or a diagram. Leave them up for a day — visual association is one of the fastest ways to memorize vocabulary!
✅ Use your own body as a memory aid — touch each body part as you say its name in Arabic.
✅ Learn plurals alongside singulars — Arabic plurals are often unpredictable, so it's best to memorize them together.
✅ Practice in context — instead of memorizing lists, use phrases like "My knee hurts" or "Her eyes are brown" to cement words in memory.
✅ Connect to culture — Arabic expressions often reference body parts metaphorically. For example, عَلَى رَأْسِي ('alā ra'sī — literally "on my head") means "with pleasure" or "absolutely!" — a common polite expression.
Mastering body part vocabulary in Arabic opens doors to countless conversations — from describing people, to expressing how you feel, to navigating medical situations with confidence. You've now covered over 40 essential words, from رَأْس (head) all the way to أَصَابِع القَدَم (toes).
Keep building your vocabulary by exploring our full Arabic words directory or browsing all our learning guides. The more connections you make between words and real-life situations, the faster your Arabic will grow!
تَعَلَّمْ وَاسْتَمِرَّ! — Ta'allam wa-stamirr! — "Learn and keep going!"