Health and body vocabulary

 Why Learn Health and Body Vocabulary?

Whether you're visiting the doctor, reading about fitness, or simply describing how you feel, knowing the right words is essential. This vocabulary will help you:

• Describe your body and its parts

• Talk about health problems and symptoms

• Understand doctor’s instructions

• Discuss fitness and well-being

🔑 Key Vocabulary: Body Parts

Here are common English words for parts of the body, with examples and memory tips:

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence	Memory Tip
Head	Top part of your body	“He hit his head on the door.”	“Headphones go on your head.”
Arm	Limb between shoulder-hand	“She broke her arm playing football.”	Think of "arm wrestling."
Leg	Limb used for walking	“My legs hurt after the hike.”	“Leg” rhymes with “peg.”
Hand	End of your arm	“Wash your hands before eating.”	Use your hands to hold things.
Foot (Feet)	Bottom part of the leg	“My feet are cold.”	Feet go in shoes.
Back	Rear part of your body	“He has back pain.”	"Backpack" sits on your back.
Stomach	Area where you digest food	“My stomach hurts after dinner.”	Think of “tummy” for kids.

📌 Tip: Practice with your own body. Point to each part and say the word out loud.

🤒 Health and Illness Vocabulary

Learn how to describe common health problems and how you feel.

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence	Common Phrase
Sick / Ill	Not healthy	“I feel sick today.”	“Call in sick (to work)”
Cold	Mild illness with sneezing, etc.	“I caught a cold.”	“Have a cold”
Fever	High body temperature	“He has a fever and is sweating.”	“Run a fever”
Cough	Air forced from lungs	“She has a bad cough.”	“Cough syrup”
Headache	Pain in the head	“I have a headache.”	“Take a painkiller”
Sore throat	Pain in the throat	“He can’t speak because of a sore throat.”	“Drink warm tea for sore throat”
Injury	Physical damage	“She had a knee injury from running.”	“Sports injury”

🎯 Practice Task:

Match the symptom to the advice:

1. I have a sore throat. → _______________

2. I have a headache. → _______________

3. I have a fever. → _______________

Answers:

1. Drink warm tea

2. Take a painkiller

3. Rest and drink water

🏥 At the Doctor's Office: Useful Phrases

✅ Common Questions:

• “What seems to be the problem?”

• “Where does it hurt?”

• “How long have you had this?”

🗣️ How to Answer:

• “I’ve had a headache for two days.”

• “My back hurts when I stand.”

• “I think I have a cold.”

Tip: Use simple full sentences. It helps the doctor understand clearly.

💪 Health & Wellness Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Exercise	Physical activity	“I try to exercise three times a week.”
Healthy	Good for your body	“Eating vegetables is healthy.”
Diet	The food you usually eat	“She’s on a low-sugar diet.”
Rest	Time to relax and recover	“You need to get more rest.”
Stress	Mental tension or pressure	“Work gives me a lot of stress.”
Medicine	Treatment for illness	“Take this medicine twice a day.”

🧩 Memory Tricks for Long-Term Learning

1. Visual Flashcards: Use apps like Anki or Quizlet to make flashcards with pictures.

2. Use Your Voice: Say new words out loud and use them in sentences.

3. Label Your Body: Use sticky notes to label parts of your body at home in English.

4. Watch Health Videos: Watch simple YouTube videos about the human body or health tips.

5. Practice Daily: Review 5–10 words each day, not all at once.

📝 Mini Quiz – Test Yourself!

1. What do you take for a headache?
A. Soap
B. Cough syrup
C. Painkiller

2. Which part of your body helps you walk?
A. Arm
B. Leg
C. Hand

3. You sneeze and have a sore throat. You probably have...
A. A cold
B. A fever
C. A headache

Answers:

1. C

2. B

3. A

📚 Extra Practice Ideas

• Write a diary entry: “Today, my ______ hurts. I went to the doctor. He said I have ______.”

• Speak to a partner: Practice role-playing a doctor-patient conversation.

• Play online games: Use vocabulary games for the body and health (e.g., on EnglishClub or ESL Games+).

✅ Final Tip

Don’t just memorize words—connect them to real-life situations. The more you use a word, the better you’ll remember it.