Body Parts in Arabic

Written by Amel B.

About this Arabic body parts activity

This activity teaches 18 body-part words, from hair to foot. In Tap & Learn you tap a numbered dot on a body diagram and see the Arabic word, an English-letter pronunciation guide and the English name, and hear it spoken. All Parts lays out every word as a card. In Quiz your child sees a picture and its English name, then picks the matching Arabic word from four choices. The pictures are emoji, and the audio uses your device's Arabic voice, so how it sounds depends on your phone or browser. The pronunciation guides are simplified.

The 18 words, grouped

In order: head, hair, eye, eyebrow, nose, mouth, teeth, ear. Neck, shoulder, chest, belly. Arm, hand, fingers. Knee, leg, foot.

Saying “my” and “this is”

Adding ـي to a noun means “my”: يَدِي (yadi, my hand), عَيْنِي (ayni, my eye), رَأْسِي (raasi, my head). Children can then point and say it about themselves.

For “this is”, use هَذَا with masculine nouns and هَذِهِ with feminine ones: هَذَا أَنْف (this is a nose) and هَذِهِ عَيْن (this is an eye). Paired body parts such as the eye, ear, hand and foot are feminine in Arabic.

Pairs have their own form

Arabic has a dual form for exactly two of something. Two eyes is عَيْنَان (aynaan), two ears is أُذُنَان (udhunaan), two hands is يَدَان (yadaan) and two feet is قَدَمَان (qadamaan). Children do not need to learn this at first, but it is worth noticing when they hear it.

Body words in everyday and religious life

Children who are learning wudu (ablution) meet several of these words: وَجْه (face), يَدَيْن (hands), رَأْس (head) and رِجْلَيْن (feet). Saying the names while washing is a natural way to practise. Note that in everyday speech many Arabic speakers say رِجْل (rijl) for the leg or foot, so your child may hear that at home as well as قَدَم.

A 5–10 minute session

1. Tap (3 min). Choose one group from the table. Tap each dot, say the word aloud and point to the same part on yourself.
2. Browse (2 min). Look at those words in All Parts without the diagram.
3. Quiz (3 min). Play a few rounds and say the answer aloud after each one.

Sounds that need extra listening

• عَيْن starts with the throat sound ع, which has no English equivalent.
• قَدَم begins with ق, a “k” made further back in the throat.
• أُذُن has ذ, the “th” of “the”, and رَأْس has a hamza, a short catch in the throat in the middle of the word.

Away from the screen

• Simon says. Say a word and have your child touch that part.
• Trace and label. Draw round your child on large paper and stick on Arabic labels.
• Mirror game. Name a part in Arabic and let your child find it on you.

Frequently asked questions

What are body parts called in Arabic?

The activity covers 18, including رَأْس (raas) head, عَيْن (ayn) eye, أَنْف (anf) nose, فَم (fam) mouth, يَد (yad) hand and قَدَم (qadam) foot.

How do you say head in Arabic?

رَأْس (raas). Hair is شَعْر (sha'r) and face is وَجْه (wajh), though face is not one of the 18 words in the activity.

How do you say eye and ear in Arabic?

Eye is عَيْن (ayn), which is also the name of the letter ع. Ear is أُذُن (udhun). Two eyes is عَيْنَان and two ears is أُذُنَان.

How do you say hand and foot in Arabic?

Hand is يَد (yad) and foot is قَدَم (qadam). Many speakers also say رِجْل (rijl) for leg or foot.

How can children learn body parts in Arabic?

Tap each part and say the word, point to the same part on yourself, and then try the quiz. Short daily sessions work better than one long one.

Is this suitable for young children?

Yes. Tap & Learn needs no reading, and the English name is shown in the quiz, so beginners can play. Older children can add “my” and “this is” sentences.

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