Body words are essential German vocabulary covering parts of the body, organs, senses, and bodily functions to help describe health, appearance, and daily experiences.
This guide presents the most important German body-related vocabulary across several key categories, including parts of the body, organs, senses, and common bodily functions. Each section includes example sentences to show how the words are used in context.
Body Parts
This section covers the main parts of the body, from head to toe, using singular and plural forms and indicating gender for nouns. These are the building blocks for describing appearance and talking about injuries or sensations.
| German Body Part | Gender/Plural | English Body Part | Singular/Plural | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| der Kopf | die Köpfe | head | singular/plural | Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. | I have a headache. |
| das Auge | die Augen | eye | singular/plural | Sie hat blaue Augen. | She has blue eyes. |
| die Nase | die Nasen | nose | singular/plural | Meine Nase läuft. | My nose is running. |
| der Mund | die Münder | mouth | singular/plural | Öffne deinen Mund. | Open your mouth. |
| das Ohr | die Ohren | ear | singular/plural | Hörst du das? | Do you hear that? |
| der Hals | die Hälse | neck/throat | singular/plural | Mein Hals tut weh. | My throat hurts. |
| die Hand | die Hände | hand | singular/plural | Nimm meine Hand. | Take my hand. |
| der Fuß | die Füße | foot | singular/plural | Meine Füße sind kalt. | My feet are cold. |
| der Bauch | die Bäuche | belly | singular/plural | Ich habe Bauchschmerzen. | I have a stomach ache. |
| das Bein | die Beine | leg | singular/plural | Sie hat lange Beine. | She has long legs. |
Abre tu ___.
How do you say 'mouth' in German?
der Mund
'Der Mund' means 'mouth' in German. 'die Nase' is 'nose', 'das Ohr' is 'ear', and 'die Hand' is 'hand'.
Organs
These essential internal organs appear in descriptions of health, medicine, and biology. Knowing these helps you understand doctor visits and read simple medical texts.
| German Organ | Gender/Plural | English Organ | Singular/Plural | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| das Herz | – | heart | singular | Mein Herz schlägt schnell. | My heart is beating fast. |
| die Lunge | die Lungen | lung | singular/plural | Er hat Probleme mit der Lunge. | He has lung problems. |
| die Leber | – | liver | singular | Die Leber reinigt das Blut. | The liver cleans the blood. |
| die Niere | die Nieren | kidney | singular/plural | Sie hat zwei Nieren. | She has two kidneys. |
| der Magen | – | stomach | singular | Der Magen ist voll. | The stomach is full. |
| der Darm | die Därme | intestine | singular/plural | Der Darm ist wichtig für die Verdauung. | The intestine is important for digestion. |
| das Gehirn | – | brain | singular | Das Gehirn steuert den Körper. | The brain controls the body. |
| die Blase | – | bladder | singular | Meine Blase ist voll. | My bladder is full. |
| die Schilddrüse | – | thyroid | singular | Die Schilddrüse reguliert den Stoffwechsel. | The thyroid regulates metabolism. |
| das Blut | – | blood | singular | Das Blut fließt durch die Adern. | Blood flows through the veins. |
Senses
These words describe how we perceive the world around us—seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. They are key for talking about experience and at the doctor's office.
| German Sense | English Sense | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| das Sehen | sight | Das Sehen ist sehr wichtig. | Sight is very important. |
| das Hören | hearing | Das Hören funktioniert gut. | Hearing works well. |
| das Riechen | smell | Sein Riechen ist scharf. | His sense of smell is sharp. |
| das Schmecken | taste | Ich habe das Schmecken verloren. | I have lost my sense of taste. |
| das Fühlen | touch/feeling | Das Fühlen ist empfindlich. | The touch is sensitive. |
Bodily Functions
These common verbs describe what our bodies do naturally—breathing, bleeding, sweating, etc. They are useful for everyday conversations about health and well-being.
| German Verb | English Verb | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| atmen | to breathe | Ich kann nicht gut atmen. | I can't breathe well. |
| bluten | to bleed | Die Wunde blutet. | The wound is bleeding. |
| schwitzen | to sweat | Ich schwitze viel im Sommer. | I sweat a lot in summer. |
| niesen | to sneeze | Ich muss niesen. | I have to sneeze. |
| husten | to cough | Er hustet die ganze Nacht. | He coughs all night. |
| schlafen | to sleep | Der Körper braucht Schlaf. | The body needs sleep. |
| essen | to eat | Wir müssen essen. | We need to eat. |
| trinken | to drink | Trinke genug Wasser! | Drink enough water! |
| sich bewegen | to move | Beweg dich mehr! | Move more! |
| wachsen | to grow | Kinder wachsen schnell. | Children grow quickly. |
These tables provide a solid foundation in German body vocabulary, covering everything from basic parts to essential functions. Knowing these words will help you describe your body, talk about health, and understand simple medical conversations.
Ich ___ viel im Sommer.
How do you say 'to sweat' in German?
schwitzen
'Schwitzen' means 'to sweat'. The other options mean 'to breathe', 'to bleed', and 'to sneeze'.
Flashcards (1 of 35)
- Gender/Plural: die Köpfe
- Singular/Plural: singular/plural
- English Body Part: head
- English Example: I have a headache.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
