Body & Health
Words for body parts, feelings, and basic health
Overview
25 essential words for talking about the body and health. After this lesson, you’ll be able to describe how you feel and talk about basic health situations.
Words
body /ˈbɒdi/
noun — A1
Meaning: the whole physical structure of a person or animal
Examples:
- Exercise is good for the body and mind.
- The human body is amazing.
Collocations: body language, body weight, whole body, upper/lower body
head /hed/
noun — A1
Meaning: the top part of the body above the neck
Examples:
- She nodded her head in agreement.
- I hit my head on the door frame.
Collocations: shake your head, nod your head, head to toe, in your head
face /feɪs/
noun/verb — A1
Meaning: (n.) the front part of the head; (v.) to turn towards; to deal with
Examples:
- She has a kind face.
- We need to face this problem together.
Collocations: face to face, make a face, face the truth, face a problem
Word Family: face (n./v.) → facial (adj.) → face-to-face (adj.)
eye /aɪ/
noun — A1
Meaning: one of the two organs used for seeing
Examples:
- She has beautiful blue eyes.
- Close your eyes and make a wish.
Collocations: keep an eye on, eye contact, catch someone’s eye, in my eyes
ear /ɪər/
noun — A1
Meaning: one of the two organs used for hearing
Examples:
- He whispered something in her ear.
- These headphones hurt my ears.
Collocations: by ear, ear to ear, lend an ear
mouth /maʊθ/
noun — A1
Meaning: the opening in the face used for eating and speaking
Examples:
- Open your mouth wide, please.
- Don’t talk with your mouth full.
Collocations: open/close your mouth, mouth-watering, by word of mouth
nose /nəʊz/
noun — A1
Meaning: the part of the face used for breathing and smelling
Examples:
- She blew her nose into a tissue.
- My nose is blocked — I have a cold.
Collocations: blow your nose, under your nose, nose to nose
hand /hænd/
noun/verb — A1
Meaning: (n.) the end part of the arm with fingers; (v.) to give something to someone
Examples:
- She held the child’s hand while crossing the road.
- Could you hand me that book?
Collocations: hand in hand, on the other hand, shake hands, by hand, right/left hand
arm /ɑːm/
noun — A1
Meaning: the long part of the body between the shoulder and the hand
Examples:
- He broke his arm playing football.
- She carried the baby in her arms.
Collocations: arm in arm, broken arm, open arms
leg /leɡ/
noun — A1
Meaning: one of the two long parts of the body used for walking
Examples:
- I hurt my leg while running.
- She crossed her legs and sat down.
Collocations: break a leg, leg room, cross your legs
foot /fʊt/
noun — A1
Meaning: the lowest part of the leg below the ankle (plural: feet)
Examples:
- My feet are tired from walking all day.
- She’s about five feet tall.
Collocations: on foot, on your feet, foot of the stairs
back /bæk/
noun/adverb — A1
Meaning: (n.) the part of the body behind the chest; (adv.) to where you were before
Examples:
- My back hurts from sitting too long.
- When will you be back?
Collocations: come back, go back, back pain, at the back, behind your back
hair /heər/
noun — A1
Meaning: the mass of thin threads growing on a person’s head
Examples:
- She has long dark hair.
- I need to wash my hair.
Collocations: long/short hair, dark/fair hair, hair style, hair cut
Word Family: hair (n.) → hairy (adj.)
heart /hɑːt/
noun — A1
Meaning: the organ in the chest that pumps blood; the centre of emotions
Examples:
- Exercise is good for the heart.
- She has a kind heart.
Collocations: heart attack, by heart, heart and soul, broken heart
sick /sɪk/
adjective — A1
Meaning: not well; ill
Examples:
- I can’t come to work — I’m sick.
- She felt sick after eating too much.
Collocations: feel sick, call in sick, be sick of, sick and tired
Word Family: sick (adj.) → sickness (n.)
well /wel/
adjective/adverb — A1
Meaning: (adj.) in good health; (adv.) in a good way
Examples:
- I hope you feel well soon.
- She speaks English very well.
Collocations: as well, feel well, get well, well done, well known
doctor /ˈdɒktər/
noun — A1
Meaning: a person trained in medicine who treats sick people
Examples:
- You should see a doctor about that cough.
- The doctor said I need more rest.
Collocations: see a doctor, doctor’s appointment, family doctor
hospital /ˈhɒspɪtl/
noun — A1
Meaning: a large building where sick people are treated
Examples:
- He was taken to hospital after the accident.
- She works as a nurse in a hospital.
Collocations: go to hospital, in hospital, hospital bed, leave hospital
pain /peɪn/
noun — A1
Meaning: the feeling you have when part of your body hurts
Examples:
- I feel a sharp pain in my back.
- Are you in pain?
Collocations: back pain, chest pain, in pain, pain relief, pain killer
Word Family: pain (n.) → painful (adj.) → painless (adj.) → painfully (adv.)
medicine /ˈmedsn/
noun — A1
Meaning: a substance taken to treat illness; the science of treating disease
Examples:
- Did you take your medicine this morning?
- She’s studying medicine at university.
Collocations: take medicine, cold medicine, traditional medicine
Word Family: medicine (n.) → medical (adj.) → medically (adv.)
sleep /sliːp/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: to rest with eyes closed and mind unconscious
Examples:
- I couldn’t sleep last night — it was too noisy.
- Try to get eight hours of sleep.
Collocations: go to sleep, get some sleep, sleep well, lose sleep
Word Family: sleep (v./n.) → sleepy (adj.) → asleep (adj.) → sleepless (adj.)
tired /taɪəd/
adjective — A1
Meaning: feeling that you need to rest or sleep
Examples:
- I’m too tired to cook tonight.
- She was tired after a long day at work.
Collocations: feel tired, look tired, get tired, tired of
Word Family: tired (adj.) → tiredness (n.) → tiring (adj.)
strong /strɒŋ/
adjective — A1
Meaning: having physical power; not easy to break
Examples:
- He’s very strong — he goes to the gym every day.
- This coffee is really strong.
Collocations: strong enough, strong wind, strong coffee, strong opinion
Word Family: strong (adj.) → strongly (adv.) → strength (n.) → strengthen (v.)
life /laɪf/
noun — A1
Meaning: the state of being alive; the time between birth and death
Examples:
- She has had a happy life.
- That was the best day of my life.
Collocations: daily life, real life, way of life, all my life, quality of life
Word Family: life (n.) → lives (pl.) → lifetime (n.) → lifelong (adj.) → lively (adj.)
die /daɪ/
verb — A1
Meaning: to stop living
Examples:
- He died in his sleep at the age of 92.
- Many plants die in winter.
Collocations: die of/from, die young, die in your sleep
Word Family: die (v.) → death (n.) → dead (adj.) → deadly (adj.)
Quick Review
| Word | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| body | n. | physical structure of a person |
| head | n. | top part above neck |
| face | n./v. | front of head / deal with |
| eye | n. | organ for seeing |
| ear | n. | organ for hearing |
| mouth | n. | opening for eating/speaking |
| nose | n. | part for breathing/smelling |
| hand | n./v. | end of arm / give to |
| arm | n. | between shoulder and hand |
| leg | n. | used for walking |
| foot | n. | below the ankle |
| back | n./adv. | behind chest / return |
| hair | n. | threads on head |
| heart | n. | organ that pumps blood |
| sick | adj. | not well |
| well | adj./adv. | in good health / in a good way |
| doctor | n. | treats sick people |
| hospital | n. | building for treating sick |
| pain | n. | feeling when body hurts |
| medicine | n. | substance to treat illness |
| sleep | v./n. | rest unconsciously |
| tired | adj. | needing rest |
| strong | adj. | having physical power |
| life | n. | state of being alive |
| die | v. | stop living |