Body & Appearance

Overview

25 A2 words for talking about the body, physical features, and personal care.

Words

ankle /ˈæŋkl/

noun — A2

Meaning: the joint connecting your foot to your leg Examples:

• She twisted her ankle while running.
• My ankle is swollen.

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beard /bɪəd/

noun — A2

Meaning: hair growing on a man’s chin and cheeks Examples:

• He grew a long beard.
• The man with the grey beard is my uncle.

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cheek /tʃiːk/

noun — A2

Meaning: the soft part of your face below your eyes Examples:

• She kissed him on the cheek.
• His cheeks turned red.

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chin /tʃɪn/

noun — A2

Meaning: the bottom part of your face below your mouth Examples:

• He rested his chin on his hand.
• She has a small chin.

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elbow /ˈelbəʊ/

noun — A2

Meaning: the joint in the middle of your arm Examples:

• She bumped her elbow on the door.
• Don’t put your elbows on the table.

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forehead /ˈfɒrɪd/

noun — A2

Meaning: the part of your face above your eyebrows Examples:

• She wiped sweat from her forehead.
• He has a high forehead.

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heel /hiːl/

noun — A2

Meaning: the back part of your foot Examples:

• She wore high heels.
• I have a blister on my heel.

Collocations: high heels, heel of the foot

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hip /hɪp/

noun — A2

Meaning: the joint where your leg meets your body Examples:

• She broke her hip in the fall.
• Her hands were on her hips.

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knee /niː/

noun — A2

Meaning: the joint in the middle of your leg Examples:

• He fell and hurt his knee.
• She sat on her father’s knee.

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lip /lɪp/

noun — A2

Meaning: one of the two soft edges of the mouth Examples:

• She put lipstick on her lips.
• He bit his lip nervously.

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muscle /ˈmʌsl/

noun — A2

Meaning: body tissue that allows movement Examples:

• He pulled a muscle in his back.
• Regular exercise builds muscles.

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nail /neɪl/

noun — A2

Meaning: the hard covering on fingers and toes; a metal pin Examples:

• She painted her nails red.
• Hammer the nail into the wall.

Collocations: nail polish, hit the nail on the head

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pale /peɪl/

adjective — A2

Meaning: having a light colour; looking white or ill Examples:

• She looked very pale and tired.
• He has pale blue eyes.

Collocations: pale skin, pale face, turn pale

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palm /pɑːm/

noun — A2

Meaning: the inside surface of your hand Examples:

• She held the coin in her palm.
• His palms were sweaty.

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shoulder /ˈʃəʊldər/

noun — A2

Meaning: the part of your body between your neck and arm Examples:

• She put her bag on her shoulder.
• He has broad shoulders.

Collocations: shoulder to shoulder, cold shoulder

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skin /skɪn/

noun — A2

Meaning: the outer covering of your body Examples:

• She has very soft skin.
• The sun can damage your skin.

Collocations: skin care, dark skin, skin cancer

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slim /slɪm/

adjective — A2

Meaning: thin in an attractive way Examples:

• She’s tall and slim.
• He wants to get slimmer.

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stomach /ˈstʌmək/

noun — A2

Meaning: the organ where food is digested; the front part of your body Examples:

• I have a pain in my stomach.
• Don’t exercise on a full stomach.

Collocations: stomach ache, upset stomach

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throat /θrəʊt/

noun — A2

Meaning: the passage from your mouth to your stomach Examples:

• I have a sore throat.
• She cleared her throat before speaking.

Collocations: sore throat, clear your throat

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tongue /tʌŋ/

noun — A2

Meaning: the soft part inside your mouth used for tasting Examples:

• Stick out your tongue.
• English is her mother tongue.

Collocations: mother tongue, on the tip of your tongue

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waist /weɪst/

noun — A2

Meaning: the narrow part of your body above your hips Examples:

• She tied the belt around her waist.
• He has a 32-inch waist.

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wrist /rɪst/

noun — A2

Meaning: the joint between your hand and arm Examples:

• She wears a watch on her wrist.
• He broke his wrist playing cricket.

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yawn /jɔːn/

verb, noun — A2

Meaning: to open your mouth wide when tired Examples:

• She yawned during the meeting.
• He couldn’t stop yawning.

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figure /ˈfɪɡər/

noun — A2

Meaning: the shape of a person’s body; a number Examples:

• She has a slim figure.
• Sales figures are improving.

Collocations: key figure, figure out, public figure

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appearance /əˈpɪərəns/

noun — A2

Meaning: the way someone or something looks Examples:

• She cares about her appearance.
• Don’t judge by appearances.

Word Family: appearance (n.) → appear (v.)

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Quick Review

Word	Type	Meaning
ankle	n.	foot joint
beard	n.	face hair
cheek	n.	face side
chin	n.	face bottom
elbow	n.	arm joint
forehead	n.	above eyes
heel	n.	back of foot
hip	n.	body joint
knee	n.	leg joint
lip	n.	mouth edge
muscle	n.	body tissue
nail	n.	finger cover
pale	adj.	light colour
palm	n.	hand inside
shoulder	n.	body top
skin	n.	body covering
slim	adj.	thin
stomach	n.	belly
throat	n.	neck passage
tongue	n.	mouth organ
waist	n.	body middle
wrist	n.	hand joint
yawn	v./n.	tired mouth open
figure	n.	body shape
appearance	n.	look