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Imagine that you are having a health-related emergency while you are travelling to Germany or living in Germany. You will have to visit a hospital or call an emergency service. How are you going to explain to the health workers or the paramedics what is going on with your body? This is where German body parts vocabulary becomes an important matter—even knowing a few words in this list can be a lot more helpful than not knowing a single one. So let us look at this detailed Guide to German body parts Vocabulary and learn the basics.
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Guide to German Body Parts Vocabulary: Introduction
The importance of learning the local language before travelling to a location cannot be stressed enough. It is not just a cool party trick to show off to the waiter in the restaurant, a receptionist in the hotel or a street vendor. It can act as a lifesaver in many circumstances. For example, if you get injured while travelling, if you sprain your feet during a hike and want to ask for first aid from the guide, or in the worst-case scenario, you have to visit a hospital or call an emergency service. For all these cases, basic knowledge of German is essential to traverse them smoothly. We cannot become masters of a language overnight. But we can always learn the basics. And that is exactly what we are going to do here, learn the basics of German Body Parts Vocabulary.
Top German Body Parts Vocabulary Lists
1: How do you say "Good Morning" in German?
Some of the important words that come under the German Body Parts Vocabulary are listed below.
Head and Face
The head is the most important part of the human body. And chances of words describing parts of the head or face to come in a conversation is very high. So let us learn a few of them.
| German Singular | German Plural | English Meaning |
| der Bart | die Bärte | Beard |
| das Kinn | die Kinne | Chin |
| das Ohr | die Ohren | Ear |
| das Auge | die Augen | Eye |
| das Gesicht | die Gesichter | Face |
| das Haar | die Haare | Hair |
| die Lippe | die Lippen | Lips |
| der Mund | die Münder | Mouth |
| der Hals | die Hälse | Neck |
| die Nase | die Nasen | Nose |
| der Zahn | die Zähne | Teeth |
| die Augenbraue | die Augenbrauen | Eyebrow |
| die Wimper | die Wimpern | Eyelash |
| die Zunge | die Zungen | Tongue |
| die Wange | die Wangen | Cheek |
| der Kopf | die Köpfe | Head |
| der Schnurrbart | die Schnurrbärte | Moustache |
Torso And Limbs
The words for parts of the torso and limbs are almost as important as parts of the head and face while having a conversation. So let us learn a few of them too.
| German Singular | German Plural | English |
| die Brust | die Brüste | Chest |
| das Herz | die Herzen | Heart |
| die Lunge | die Lungen | Lungs |
| der Magen | die Mägen | Stomach |
| das Abdomen or der Bauch | die Abdomina or die Bäuche | Abdomen |
| der Bauchnabel | die Bauchnäbel | Navel |
| die Taille | die Taillen | Waist |
| der Rücken | die Rücken | Back |
| die Schulter | die Schultern | Shoulder |
| der Arm | die Arme | Arm |
| der Ellbogen | die Ellbogen | Elbow |
| die Hand | die Hände | Hand |
| der Hals | die Hälse | Neck |
| der Finger | die Finger | Finger |
Lower Body Parts
After the head and upper body come the words for lower body parts. So let us look into that area of German Body Parts Vocabulary.
| German Singular | German Plural | English |
| die Hüfte | die Hüften | Hip |
| das Bein | die Beine | Leg |
| das Knie | die Knie | Knee |
| der Knöchel | die Knöchel | Ankle |
| der Fuß | die Füße | Foot |
| der Zeh | die Zehen | Toe |
| die Ferse | die Fersen | Heel |
Internal Body Parts
After all of the above, the words for internal organs come. Let us learn them too.
| Body part in German | English | Pronunciation |
| Gehirn | Brain | [ɡəˈhɪʁn] |
| Kleinhirn | Cerebellum | [ˈklaɪ̯nˌhɪʁn] |
| Stammhirn | Brainstem | [ʃtamhɪʁn] |
| Herz | Heart | [hɛʁt͡s] |
| Lungen | Lungs | [ˈlʊŋən] |
| Leber | Liver | [ˈleːbɐ] |
| Blase | Bladder | [ˈblaːzə] |
| Nieren | Kidneys | [ˈniːʁən] |
| Magen | Stomach | [ˈmaːɡn̩] |
| Gedärme | Intestines | [ɡəˈdɛʁmə] |
| Blinddarm | Appendix | [ˈblɪntˌdaʁm] |
| Knochen | Bones | [ˈknɔxn̩] |
| Knochenmark | Bone marrow | [ˈknɔxn̩ˌmaʁk] |
| Bronchien | Bronchi | [ˈbʁɔnçi̯ən] |
| Mandeln | Tonsils | [ˈmandln] |
| Kehlkopf | Larynx | [ˈkeːlkɔp͡f] |
| Membran | Diaphragm | [mɛmˈbʁaːn] |
| Gallenblase | Gallbladder | [ˈɡalənˌblaːzə] |
| Genitalien, Geschlechtsorgane | Genitals | [ɡeniˈtaːli̯ən], [ɡəˈʃlɛçt͡sʔɔʁˌɡaːnə] |
| Eierstöcke | Ovaries | [ˈaɪ̯ɐˌʃtœkə] |
| Uterus | Uterus | [ˈuːtəʁʊs] |
| Plazenta, Mutterkuchen | Placenta | [plaˈt͡sɛnta], [ˈmʊtɐˌkuːxn̩] |
| Prostata | Prostate | [ˈpʁɔstata] |
| Lymphknoten | Lymph Nodes | [ˈlʏmfˌknoːtn̩] |
| Pankreas, Bauchspeicheldrüse | Pancreas | [ˈpankʁeas], [ˈbaʊ̯xʃpaɪ̯çl̩ˌdʁyːzə] |
| Rachen | Pharynx | [ˈʁaxn̩] |
| Rückenmark | Spinal cord | [ˈʁʏkn̩ˌmaʁk] |
| Milz | Spleen | [mɪlt͡s] |
| Schilddrüse | Thyroid | [ˈʃɪltˌdʁyːzə] |
| Kapillaren | Capillaries | [kapɪˈlaːʁən] |
Systems of the Body
If you have to understand what a doctor or nurse is trying to tell you then you have to have a basic understanding of the words for body systems in German too. Let us learn a few of them.
| English | German |
| Circulatory system | Das Kreislaufsystem |
| Digestive system | Das Verdauungssystem |
| Muscular system | Das Muskelsystem |
| Endocrine system | Das endokrine System |
| Nervous system | Das Nervensystem |
| Skeletal system | Das Skelettsystem |
| Respiratory system | Das Atmungssystem |
| Reproductive system | Das Fortpflanzungssystem |
| Excretory system | Das Ausscheidungssystem |
| Lymphatic system | Das Lymphsystem |
| Exocrine system | Das exokrine System |
Verbs, Expressions and Sayings in German Using Body Parts
Beyond the human body’s parts, there are a lot more terms that are associated with the body. Some are similar to those in English, while others differ, but you’ll notice that both languages frequently employ the body to explain abstract ideas like mental states or character qualities. Let us learn some of them.
| German | Literal Translation | Pronunciation | English |
| Niemand | – | [ˈniːmant] | Nobody |
| Jemand | – | [ˈjeːmant] | Somebody |
| Jeder | – | [ˈjeːdɐ] | Everybody |
| Hals- und Beinbruch! | Break a neck and a leg! | [hals ʔʊnt ˈbaɪ̯nbʁʊx] | Break a leg! |
| Es liegt mir auf der Zunge | It lies on my tongue | [ɛs liːkt miːɐ̯ aʊ̯f deːɐ̯ ˈt͡sʊŋə] | It’s on the tip of my tongue |
| Ganz Ohr sein | To be all ear | [ɡant͡s oːɐ̯ zaɪ̯n] | To be all ears |
| Stein und Bein schwören | To swear stone and leg | [ˈʃtaɪ̯n ʊnt ˈbaɪ̯n ˈʃvøːʁən] | To swear by your life |
| Jemandem Löcher in den Bauch fragen | To ask someone holes into their stomach | [ˈjeːmandm̩ ˈlœçɐ ɪn deːn ˈbaʊ̯x ˈfʁaːɡn̩] | To pick someone’s brain |
| Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben | To have butterflies in the stomach | [ˈʃmɛtɐlɪŋə ɪm baʊ̯x ˈhaːbn̩] | To have butterflies in the stomach |
| Haare auf den Zähnen haben | To have hair one one’s teeth | [ˈhaːʁə aʊ̯f deːn ˈt͡sɛːnən ˈhaːbn̩] | To be aggressively confrontational |
| Auf dem Zahnfleisch gehen | To walk on the gums | [aʊ̯f deːm ˈt͡saːnflaɪ̯ʃ ˈɡeːən] | To be on edge |
| Jemandem an die Nieren gehen | To get to someone’s kidneys | [ˈjeːmandm̩ an diː ˈniːʁən ˈɡeːən] | To get to someone |
| Jemanden übers Ohr hauen | To punch someone above the ear | [ˈjeːmandn ˈyːbɐs oːɐ̯ ˈhaʊ̯ən] | To cheat someone |
| Körpersprache | Body language | [ˈkœʁpɐˌʃpʁaːxə] | Body language |
| Von Kopf bis Fuß | From head to foot | [fɔn kɔp͡f bɪs fuːs] | From head to toe |
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Tips for Memorizing and Using German Body Parts Vocabulary
You might now be wondering how are you going to learn these long lists full of words and meanings in German. There is no need to worry at all. With the tips given below, you will be fluent enough to easily memorise and learn German Body Parts Vocabulary in no time. Let us look at the tips and tricks to improve our German Body Parts Vocabulary.
Kids Songs
Songs are a great way to learn the most important body parts in German. A few of them are listed below.
- Kopf, Schulter, Knie and Fuß
- Kopf und Schultern, Knie und Fuß
- Körperteil Blues
Gamify the Learning
The most enjoyable ways to learn something new are always through games. Start by tapping a body part with your partner. For instance, if you tap your nose, your partner must say “Nase” in German. The first person to run out of appropriate vocabulary loses. Or try using skin-friendly ink to write body parts on your body.
Try Using the English Term
“Mund” and “mouth,” “Lippen” and “Lips,” “Nase” and “Nose,” “Fuß” and “Foot,” “Knie” and “Knee,” and many other German words about the body are extremely similar to English words, even more so than in other vocabulary groups. When it comes to body parts, you will almost always get away with saying the English word with a little German flair if you are unsure of the German word.
Watch Sports
Sports are one setting where you may hear people discussing body parts. Listen for the body parts when you watch a boxing match or a soccer match with German commentary. Did a player use his elbow to touch the ball? Did the boxer sustain an ankle injury? Choose a game you like, relax, and listen as you pick up new vocabulary.
Additional Resources for Learning German Vocabulary
You can learn German Vocabulary from many sources. There is no lack of resources in this internet era. Let us look into some of them.
Books
Books are the traditional and often most authentic way in which you can learn a language. Let it be a magazine, a novel or anything. You can keep a dictionary near you and keep a vocabulary journal for more effective learning.
Podcasts
Podcasts are an excellent way to improve your vocabulary as well as listening comprehension skills. You can choose the podcast you like and listen to it in the background while doing chores. Even when you are engaged in another activity, you are learning passively by listening to podcasts in the background. It will also help you understand the correct pronunciations of words and the right context for using certain expressions or sayings.
Online courses
Joining a German language course can seriously improve your speed of learning and the wasteness of materials available to you. Even though you are solely interested in self-learning having a mentor from a reputable platform can give you an edge over those learners who don’t have that. If the course encourages peer interaction, then you will have many people to practise your skills with. Some courses also offer you certificates which can prove to be useful if you need to show proof of your language proficiency level. Entri Elevate German course is one of the best German language courses available on the internet. They provide expert mentors, live classes, recorded sessions, mock tests, pdf notes etc.
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Guide to German Body Parts Vocabulary: Conclusion
In general, one of the most important things you can do when learning German (or any language for that matter) is to become familiar with the names of the body parts. Doing so will not only help you understand how the language functions, but it will also be useful in everyday situations. You should know how to pronounce and say the various body parts in German by now. Additionally, your confidence in applying them in context should increase. If you’re determined and have the correct mindset, you’ll be speaking German before even you can tell!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is it essential to learn German Body Parts Vocabulary?
There are many reasons for learning German Body Parts Vocabulary. Some of them are listed below.
To Be Ready for Any Kind of Medical Emergency
Language barriers are never enjoyable, but if you find yourself in a foreign country and are having trouble communicating during a medical emergency, they can become dangerous. It is useful and possibly even life-saving to know how to describe your body in German, mentioning any areas that may hurt or where you think there may be a medical issue that needs to be addressed.
Gain A Better Understanding of Figurative Language
A word that you’re about to recall is on (the tip of) your tongue in both German and English (auf der Zunge liegen)), though other idioms differ. You’re asking someone “holes into their stomach” in German (“Löcher in den Bauch fragen”) while it is picking their brain in English. There are a lot of idioms that relate to body parts. You’ll need a body-related vocabulary to comprehend them.
Offer A Compliment
Knowing some basic body-related vocabulary is a simple way to compliment someone until we know them well enough to praise their personality. “Du hast schöne Augen” means “you have beautiful eyes,” and “Ich mag deine Haare” means “I like your hair.” It’s common to appreciate compliments. Don’t go overboard, though. Be kind.
