Body Parts

1. ראש

   rosh

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head. A headache is "ke'ev rosh". The same word means "head" in the sense of leader — "rosh ha-memshala" is the prime minister — so point while you show it

2. שיער

   se'ar

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at the "misparah", the salon or barber. "Ani rotse tisporet" means "I'd like a haircut"

3. פנים

   panim

   Face

   Usage

   For marking a treatment area or showing where a skin problem is. In Hebrew the word is always plural in form, even for one face

4. עין

   ayin

   Eye

   Usage

   For eye pain, redness or asking for eye drops. Both eyes are "einayim". The "Ein" in so many place names means "spring of water", so keep this to a bodily context

5. אוזן

   ozen

   Ear

   Usage

   For ear trouble after a flight or a dive in the Red Sea. Both ears are "oznayim", which is also the word for headphones

6. אף

   af

   Nose

   Usage

   Show it at the pharmacy for a blocked nose or a nosebleed, "dimum me-ha-af"

7. פה

   pe

   Mouth

   Usage

   For mouth ulcers or pain inside the mouth. The same spelling also means "here", so point at your mouth in a medical context. A lip is "safa" (שפה)

8. שן

   shen

   Tooth

   Usage

   Point at the aching tooth while showing this. The plural is "shinayim"; the dentist is "rofe shinayim" and toothache is "ke'ev shinayim"

9. לשון

   lashon

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a burning tongue or a sore on it. The same word means "language" — "lashon ha-kodesh", the holy tongue, is a traditional name for Hebrew

10. צוואר

    tsavar

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck — for a crick or stiffness. The inside of the throat is "garon", a separate word; choose by where it hurts

11. גרון

    garon

    Throat

    Usage

    For pain at the back of the throat: "ko'ev li ha-garon". The outside of the neck is "tsavar"

12. כתף

    katef

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point here to ask for extra attention during a massage. Both shoulders are "ktefayim"

13. זרוע

    zroa

    Arm

    Usage

    For where you were hurt in a fall or an accident. Hebrew "yad" covers the hand and forearm, so use this when you mean the arm proper

14. מרפק

    marpek

    Elbow

    Usage

    A common spot for grazes — point here when examined after a fall

15. פרק כף היד

    perek kaf hayad

    Wrist

    Usage

    Literally "the joint of the palm of the hand". For a sprain: "naka'ti et ha-yad", I twisted my hand

16. יד

    yad

    Hand

    Usage

    Covers the hand and the forearm; for the arm proper use "zroa". Both hands are "yadayim"

17. אצבע

    etsba

    Finger

    Usage

    For a finger injury or a ring size; the plural is "etsba'ot". A toe uses the same word, spelled out as "etsba regel"

18. ציפורן

    tsiporen

    Nail

    Usage

    For a nail salon or an ingrown-nail problem; the plural is "tsiporna'im". The same word also names the spice clove

19. חזה

    khaze

    Chest

    Usage

    The rib cage, for chest pain — a woman's breast is a separate word, "shad", so this one is unambiguous. Chest pain is urgent, so show it early

20. בטן

    beten

    Belly

    Usage

    The key word for food poisoning or a stomach ache: "ko'evet li ha-beten". The digestive organ itself is "keva"

21. קיבה

    keva

    Stomach (organ)

    Usage

    Hebrew separates the belly you can touch ("beten") from the digestive organ ("keva"). Ask the pharmacist for "trufa la-keva"

22. גב

    gav

    Back

    Usage

    For marking a massage focus or the site of a pain. The lower back is spelled out as "gav takhton"

23. גב תחתון

    gav takhton

    Lower back

    Usage

    Hebrew has no single word matching the Japanese "koshi", so it takes two. "Takhton", lower, is masculine to agree with "gav"

24. ירך

    yarekh

    Thigh / hip

    Usage

    Covers the thigh and hip area — for a bruise from a fall or aching after a long walk

25. רגל

    regel

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Hebrew "regel" covers both the leg and the foot — point at the actual spot to narrow it down. Both are "raglayim"

26. ברך

    berekh

    Knee

    Usage

    The joint most often strained on the Snake Path up Masada or the steps of Jerusalem's Old City. "Ko'evet li ha-berekh" means "my knee hurts"

27. כף רגל

    kaf regel

    Foot

    Usage

    Literally "palm of the leg" — the way to specify the foot below the ankle. Handy for blisters or a burn from hot sand

28. קרסול

    karsol

    Ankle

    Usage

    Point here for a sprain: "naka'ti et ha-karsol"

29. עור

    or

    Skin

    Usage

    For bites, sunburn or a rash at the pharmacy. Sunburn is "kviyat shemesh" and a dermatologist is "rofe or". At the Dead Sea, salt water stings any broken skin — do not shave the day before

30. עצם

    etsem

    Bone

    Usage

    For a suspected fracture — a break is "shever". "Yesh shever?" asks whether the bone is broken

31. דם

    dam

    Blood

    Usage

    For bleeding or a blood test. Your blood type is "sug dam" and blood pressure is "lakhats dam"

32. לב

    lev

    Heart

    Usage

    For a heart condition or palpitations: "yesh li be'ayat lev". The same word is also the heart in the emotional sense

33. ריאה

    ri'a

    Lung

    Usage

    For a cough, breathlessness or asthma — asthma is "astma". Both lungs are "re'ot"

34. מעיים

    me'ayim

    Intestines

    Usage

    For persistent diarrhoea or abdominal trouble; the word is always in the dual form. Diarrhoea is "shilshul" and constipation "atsirut"

35. כבד

    kaved

    Liver

    Usage

    For telling a doctor about a liver condition or your medication. The same spelling is also the adjective "heavy", but in a clinical setting the organ is understood

36. כליה

    kilya

    Kidney

    Usage

    For a kidney condition or flank pain. A stone is "even ba-kilya". The dry climate makes stones more likely if you skimp on water, so keep drinking

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