Vocabulary: the body, illness and healthy living

Parts of the body, saying what hurts, illness and accidents, and how to stay healthy.

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

The body

Me duele + singular, me duelen + plural: me duele la cabeza, me duelen los pies.
SpanishEnglish
la cabezahead
el brazoarm
la manohand
el dedofinger
la piernaleg
el piefoot
la espaldaback
el estómagostomach
la gargantathroat
la orejaear
la nariznose
la bocamouth
los dientesteeth
el corazónheart
la pielskin
la rodillaknee

Illness and the doctor

Tener dolor de + body part = to have a pain in: Tengo dolor de estómago.
SpanishEnglish
enfermo / enfermaill
la enfermedadillness
tener fiebreto have a temperature
la toscough
el resfriadoa cold
la gripeflu
el medicamentomedicine
el hospitalhospital
la citaappointment
alérgico / alérgicaallergic
estar mareado / mareadato feel sick, dizzy
la recetaprescription
la heridawound, injury
la tiritaplaster

Accidents and healthy living

Me rompí la pierna. = I broke my leg (Spanish uses la, not mi, with the body).
SpanishEnglish
romperse la piernato break your leg
caerseto fall over
hacerse dañoto hurt yourself
la ambulanciaambulance
sano / sanahealthy
malsano / malsanaunhealthy
estar en formato be fit
la saludhealth
hacer ejercicioto exercise
fumarto smoke
las drogasdrugs
la comida basurajunk food
descansarto rest
la dieta equilibradabalanced diet
Worked example

Translate: I fell off my bike and I hurt my knee.

  1. I fell = me caí (caerse)
  2. off my bike = de la bici / de mi bicicleta
  3. I hurt my knee = me hice daño en la rodilla

Answer: Me caí de la bici y me hice daño en la rodilla.

Key idea

La cabeza, el brazo, la mano, la pierna, el pie, la espalda, el estómago, la garganta, la rodilla. Me duele / me duelen, tener fiebre, la tos, el resfriado, la gripe, el medicamento, estar mareado, la receta, la tirita. Romperse la pierna, caerse, hacerse daño, sano, malsano, estar en forma, la comida basura.

Key words
la cabeza
head
el estómago
stomach
la garganta
throat
la comida basura
junk food

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2 more questions

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  1. What does la rodilla mean?

    1. knee
    2. back
    3. ear
    4. teeth
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    Answer: knee

    La rodilla = knee.

  2. Which is the Spanish for "hand"?

    1. la rodilla
    2. el pie
    3. la mano
    4. la garganta
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    Answer: la mano

    Hand = la mano.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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