Body Parts in Detail — A1 Essential Words

tongue /tʌŋ/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The soft part inside your mouth that moves to help you taste, swallow, and speak; also (formal) a language.

Example: The doctor asked him to stick out his tongue.

Another example: Babies put everything on their tongue to taste it.

Collocations: stick out your tongue · tongue taste · mother tongue (language)

Synonyms: language (formal sense)

Word family: tongues (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Say TUNG (the -ue is silent). 'Mother tongue' = your first language. A 'tongue twister' is a sentence that ties it in knots.

🗣 In spoken American English: Ice cream meets it first — its opinions are instant.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

chin /tʃɪn/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The part of your face below your mouth and above your neck.

Example: He rested his chin on his hand.

Another example: The ball hit his chin.

Collocations: on his chin · chin up (be brave) · double chin

Synonyms: jaw (the bone, wider)

Word family: chins (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: 'Chin up!' means stay brave and hopeful — posture as advice.

🗣 In spoken American English: Thinkers in statues always lean on it.

Register: Neutral — body basics.

shoulder /ˈʃəʊldər/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The part of the body between the neck and the top of the arm, where the arm joins.

Example: She carried the bag on her shoulder.

Another example: His shoulders hurt after lifting boxes.

Collocations: on my shoulder · shoulder bag · broad shoulders

Synonyms:

Antonyms: waist

Word family: shoulders (n pl) · shoulder (v — to carry a burden)

⚠ Common mistake: 'A shoulder to cry on' is a comforting friend. As a verb, you 'shoulder' responsibilities — carrying them like loads.

🗣 In spoken American English: Backpack designers worship its shape.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

knee /niː/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The joint in the middle of your leg that bends when you walk, sit, or kneel.

Example: He hurt his knee playing soccer.

Another example: Sit with your knees bent.

Collocations: hurt my knee · on your knees · knee pain

Synonyms: joint

Word family: knees (n pl) · kneel (v)

⚠ Common mistake: The K is silent: NEE. Football careers end here; proposals (marriage) begin here — 'on one knee'.

🗣 In spoken American English: Jeans always wear out there first for gardeners and toddlers.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

elbow /ˈelbəʊ/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The joint in the middle of your arm that bends when you move your forearm.

Example: She bumped her elbow on the door.

Another example: Rest your elbows on the table — or don't!

Collocations: elbow on the table · hurt my elbow · elbow room (space)

Synonyms: joint

Word family: elbows (n pl) · elbow (v — to push through)

⚠ Common mistake: 'Elbow room' means enough space. To 'elbow your way' through a crowd is pushing politely-rudely with them.

🗣 In spoken American English: Table manners police them ('elbows off!') in grandmothers' houses.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

finger /ˈfɪŋɡər/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: One of the five parts at the end of your hand that you move to hold and touch things.

Example: She wears a ring on her finger.

Another example: He cut his finger on the paper.

Collocations: a finger · fingers and toes · point a finger

Synonyms: digit (formal)

Word family: fingers (n pl) · fingernail (n) · fingerprint (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Count them with THUMB separately: four fingers plus a thumb. 'Cross your fingers' wishes luck; phones read their PRINTS to unlock.

🗣 In spoken American English: Piano teachers count in them what pianists play with them.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

toe /təʊ/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: One of the five small parts at the end of your foot.

Example: He stubbed his toe on the chair.

Another example: Babies love their toes.

Collocations: my toes · big toe · toe nails

Synonyms: digit (formal)

Word family: toes (n pl) · tiptoe (v)

⚠ Common mistake: The biggest is the BIG TOE — it keeps your balance. 'Tiptoe' is walking on them quietly, usually past sleeping people.

🗣 In spoken American English: Furniture legs hunt them at night, barefoot science says.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

thumb /θʌm/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The short, thick finger at the side of your hand that helps you hold things.

Example: He raised his thumb to say OK.

Another example: Texting uses your thumbs.

Collocations: thumbs up · my thumb · under his thumb (controlled)

Synonyms: first finger (informal name)

Word family: thumbs (n pl) · thumb (v — to page through)

⚠ Common mistake: The B is silent: THUM. 'Thumbs up' = approval worldwide; 'rule of thumb' = a practical general rule.

🗣 In spoken American English: Hitchhikers and phone screens both run on it.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

chest /tʃest/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The front part of your body between your neck and your stomach, containing the heart and lungs; also a large strong box for storing things.

Example: He felt pain in his chest.

Another example: She keeps blankets in a wooden chest.

Collocations: chest pain · my chest · a treasure chest

Synonyms: breast (upper front), torso

Word family: chests (n pl) · chesty (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Doctors listen here first. Pirates bury the other kind — 'treasure chest' — under X-marked sand.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Get it off your chest' means finally say the heavy thing.

Register: Neutral — body essential.

back /bæk/ noun A1 Health

Meaning: The part of your body behind you, from your shoulders to your waist; also the rear side of anything, and the adverb for returning.

Example: My back hurts from sitting.

Another example: Write on the back of the paper.

Collocations: my back hurts · the back of · back pain

Synonyms: rear, spine (the bone line)

Antonyms: front, chest

Word family: backs (n pl) · back (v/adv) · backbone (n)

⚠ Common mistake: One word, three lives: body part, rear side ('back door'), and return ('come back'). Context always tells.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Back to back' champions win twice in a row; walls have felt a million tired ones.

Register: Neutral — body essential.