Body Parts in Arabic for Kids
Body parts are words a child can learn by touching: point to your nose, say أنف, and your child points to theirs. No pictures or toys needed.
Several Arabic body parts come in pairs and have a special pair form ending in ـان: عين (an eye) becomes عينان (two eyes). The list shows the single word; the FAQ explains the pairs.
The face
- وجهface · wajh
- شعرhair · sha'r
- عينeye · 'ayn
- أذنear · udhun
- أنفnose · anf
- فمmouth · fam
- أسنانteeth · asnaan
- لسانtongue · lisaan
The body
- رأسhead · ra's
- ذراعarm · dhiraa'
- يدhand · yad
- إصبعfinger · isba'
- أظافرnails · azaafir
- رجلleg · rijl
- قدمfoot · qadam
Inside the body
- قلبheart · qalb
- دماغbrain · dimaagh
- رئتانlungs · ri'ataan
- عظامbones · 'izaam
The five senses
- البصرsight — with the eyes · al-basar
- السمعhearing — with the ears · as-sam'
- الشمّsmell — with the nose · ash-shamm
- التذوّقtaste — with the tongue · at-tadhawwuq
- اللمسtouch — with the skin · al-lams
Three ways to practise at home
- Play 'Simon says' in Arabic: المس أنفك (touch your nose), المس أذنك (touch your ear).
- At bath time, name each part as you wash it.
- Draw round your child's hand on paper and write يد inside, then a finger and إصبع.
Questions parents ask
Why do Arabic words for eyes and ears end in -aan?+
Arabic has a pair form (the dual). One eye is عين, two eyes are عينان; one ear أذن, two ears أذنان; one hand يد, two hands يدان. It is one of the first grammar patterns children pick up, because the body shows it to them.
What are the five senses in Arabic?+
البصر (sight), السمع (hearing), الشمّ (smell), التذوّق (taste) and اللمس (touch).
What age can children learn body parts in Arabic?+
By about age 2 most children can point to two or more body parts when asked, and saying the words follows soon after. Keep asking 'أين أنفك؟' (where is your nose?) every day.
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