Fitness words in English, including vocabulary for exercises, equipment, body parts, and more.

Fitness is all about keeping our bodies healthy and strong. To talk about fitness in English, it helps to know the right words. In this guide, we’ll cover common vocabulary for exercises, equipment, body parts, and more — all from a level 6th grade point of view.
  • Covers 100+ key fitness vocabulary words
  • Organized by topic for easy learning
  • Includes simple definitions and example sentences
Exercise words are the building blocks of any workout conversation. These names cover common activities you’ll hear or see at the gym.
  1. Push-up — a move where you push your body up and down using your arms
  2. Squat — an exercise where you bend your knees and sit back like in a chair
  3. Jumping jacks — a warm-up where you jump with your legs and arms moving out
  4. Plank — hold your body straight and still, resting on your forearms and toes
  5. Lunge — step forward with one leg and bend both knees
  6. Sit-up — lie down and lift your upper body toward your knees
  7. Burpee — a full-body move with a squat, jump, and push-up all together
  8. Crunch — a small sit-up focusing on tightening your stomach muscles
  9. Mountain climber — a plank position move where you quickly bring knees to chest
  10. Jump rope — skipping over a rope that swings under your feet
Gyms are full of tools designed to help you exercise safely and effectively. Here are the most common fitness equipment words.
  1. Dumbbell — a small hand weight used for lifting
  2. Treadmill — a machine for running or walking indoors
  3. Kettlebell — a round weight with a handle, used for swinging exercises
  4. Resistance band — a stretchy band that helps build muscle
  5. Exercise ball — a large, soft ball used for balance and core training
  6. Bench — a flat surface for sitting or lying while lifting weights
  7. Jump rope — a rope used for skipping exercises
  8. Pull-up bar — a bar used for lifting your body weight by pulling up
  9. Yoga mat — a soft mat for stretching and floor exercises
  10. Foam roller — a cylindrical tool for massaging sore muscles

___ es una máquina para correr o caminar dentro de casa/gimnasio.


Which machine is used for running or walking indoors?


Treadmill
A treadmill is designed for indoor running or walking. Exercise balls, benches, and pull-up bars serve different purposes.
Knowing the names of key body parts helps you follow workout instructions and describe how you feel.
  1. Muscle — the part of your body that moves and gets stronger with exercise
  2. Joint — the connection between two bones that allows movement (like elbows or knees)
  3. Back — the rear part of your torso
  4. Chest — the front upper part of your body, between your shoulders and stomach
  5. Abdomen (Abs) — your stomach area
  6. Arm — the limb from shoulder to hand
  7. Leg — the limb from hip to foot
  8. Shoulder — the joint where your arm meets your torso
  9. Calf — the back part of your lower leg
  10. Wrist — the joint between your hand and arm
People do fitness for many reasons. Here are common words for the goals people try to achieve.
  1. Strength — building muscle power
  2. Endurance — improving the ability to exercise for a long time
  3. Flexibility — increasing the range of motion in your joints and muscles
  4. Weight loss — reducing body fat
  5. Muscle gain — increasing muscle size
  6. Cardio — exercises that raise heart rate (like running or cycling)
  7. Tone — making muscles firm and defined without adding lots of size
  8. Balance — the ability to stay steady and controlled
  9. Recovery — time and activities that help your body heal after exercise
  10. Warm-up — gentle activity to prepare your body for a workout

___ significa reducir la grasa corporal.


What goal means reducing body fat?


Weight loss
Weight loss focuses on reducing fat. Muscle gain increases size; balance improves stability; recovery allows healing after workouts.
Talking about routines helps you describe what you do during workouts. These words cover common parts of a fitness session.
  1. Set — a group of repetitions of an exercise
  2. Rep (repetition) — one complete movement of an exercise
  3. Rest — taking a short break between sets or exercises
  4. Warm-up — light activity to prepare your body for exercise
  5. Cool-down — gentle activity to help your body relax after a workout
  6. Stretch — to lengthen muscles and improve flexibility
  7. Circuit — a series of exercises done one after another with little rest
  8. Routine — the planned series of exercises you follow
  9. Trainer — a person who guides and teaches workouts
  10. Intensity — how hard you work during exercise
Food gives you the energy to exercise and recover. Here are basic nutrition words often used in fitness.
  1. Protein — a nutrient that helps build and repair muscles (found in meat, beans, and more)
  2. Carbohydrate (Carb) — a nutrient that provides energy (found in bread, rice, and fruit)
  3. Fat — a nutrient that supplies long-lasting energy
  4. Hydration — drinking enough water to keep your body working well
  5. Calories — units of energy in food
  6. Supplement — extra vitamins or nutrients taken in pill or powder form
  7. Meal prep — planning and cooking meals ahead of time
  8. Snack — a small amount of food eaten between meals
  9. Balanced diet — eating a variety of foods for overall health
  10. Electrolytes — minerals (like sodium and potassium) that help maintain fluid balance
These adjectives are useful for describing workouts, how you feel, or the results you see.
  1. Strong — having a lot of muscle power
  2. Tired — feeling the need to rest after exercise
  3. Sore — muscles that feel achy after a workout
  4. Fit — having a healthy, strong body
  5. Active — moving regularly and not sitting still
  6. Flexible — able to stretch and move easily
  7. Fast — moving quickly
  8. Slow — moving at a gentle or reduced pace
  9. Hard — difficult or requiring a lot of effort
  10. Light — easy or requiring little effort
Here are some simple English phrases you might hear or use when talking about fitness.
  1. “Let’s warm up.” — time to get your body ready
  2. “How many reps?” — asking how many times to repeat an exercise
  3. “I’m feeling sore.” — my muscles are achy
  4. “Take a break.” — rest for a moment
  5. “Keep your back straight.” — a common exercise tip
  6. “Hold the plank for 30 seconds.” — stay in position without moving
  7. “Listen to your body.” — stop if something hurts
  8. “Time to cool down.” — end your workout slowly
  9. “Focus on your form.” — pay attention to how you move
  10. “Let’s stretch it out.” — time to lengthen your muscles

¿Qué significa 'Keep your back straight.'?


What does 'Keep your back straight.' mean?


Hold your back in a straight position
'Keep your back straight.' means maintain a straight posture. Arching, rounding, or lifting hips are different positions.
Learning fitness vocabulary helps you understand workouts, follow instructions, and talk about your healthy habits in English. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll feel confident talking about fitness anytime!

Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025

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