The Body & Senses — A1 Essential Words
Ten essential A1 words (Body) with the complete apparatus: pronunciation, simple definitions, natural American examples, collocations, family, the common mistake and spoken usage — plus a 15-question practice quiz. Mark your status on every word.
head /hed/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: The top part of the body, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
Example: He nodded his head to say yes.
Another example: She wears a hat on her head.
Collocations: shake your head · nod your head · headache
Synonyms:
Word family: heads (n pl) · headache (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Nod your head = yes (up-down); shake your head = no (side-side) in the US — body language worth learning.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Use your head!' means think — teachers say it in every classroom.
Register: Neutral — body basics.
hand /hænd/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: The part of the body at the end of the arm, with fingers, used for holding things.
Example: Raise your hand to ask a question.
Another example: He held the baby in his hands.
Collocations: raise your hand · wash your hands · hold hands
Synonyms: palm (inside part)
Word family: hands (n pl) · handful (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Wash your HANDS (plural) is the hygiene rule. In class, students raise A hand (one).
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Give me a hand' means help me — not a real hand!
Register: Neutral — daily life.
eye /aɪ/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: One of the two organs in the head used for seeing.
Example: She has blue eyes.
Another example: Close your eyes and listen.
Collocations: blue eyes · close your eyes · eye contact
Synonyms: sight (the sense)
Word family: eyes (n pl) · eyelash (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Eye and I sound exactly the same — context separates them. People have two eyes, always plural in life.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Keep an eye on the kids' means watch them carefully.
Register: Neutral — body essential.
ear /ɪər/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: One of the two organs on the sides of the head used for hearing.
Example: Music hurts my ears at this volume.
Another example: The dog's ears are long.
Collocations: in one ear · earache · listen with both ears
Synonyms: hearing (the sense)
Word family: ears (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: Ear (the organ) vs year (365 days) — similar sound, different spelling; careful in dictation.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'I'm all ears' means I'm listening fully — say it and people smile.
Register: Neutral — senses basics.
nose /nəʊz/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: The part of the face above the mouth, used for breathing and smelling.
Example: The baby has a small nose.
Another example: Roses smell sweet to my nose.
Collocations: runny nose · blow your nose · nose ring
Synonyms: smell (the sense)
Word family: noses (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: A runny nose comes with every cold. Blow your nose into a tissue — the polite move.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Follow your nose' means trust the smell — or your instinct.
Register: Neutral — face basics.
mouth /maʊθ/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: The opening in the face used for eating, speaking, and smiling.
Example: Open your mouth and say 'ah'.
Another example: She covered her mouth and laughed.
Collocations: open your mouth · mouth full · by word of mouth
Synonyms: lips (the edges)
Word family: mouths (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: Doctors ask you to open your mouth. 'Word of mouth' means news spread by people talking.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Watch your mouth!' warns someone about rude words.
Register: Neutral — face essential.
arm /ɑːrm/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: One of the two long parts of the body from the shoulder to the hand.
Example: He broke his arm playing football.
Another example: The baby sleeps in her mother's arms.
Collocations: broken arm · in her arms · arm in arm
Synonyms:
Word family: arms (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: 'In her arms' (plural) means being held lovingly. A chair's sides are also called arms.
🗣 In spoken American English: Hugs are measured in them: 'with open arms' means with a warm welcome.
Register: Neutral — body basics.
leg /leɡ/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: One of the two long parts of the body used for standing and walking.
Example: She hurt her leg in the race.
Another example: Dogs have four legs; people have two.
Collocations: long legs · break a leg · leg day
Synonyms:
Word family: legs (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: 'Break a leg!' wishes LUCK to actors before a show — a theater superstition, not a wish for injury.
🗣 In spoken American English: Tables and chairs have legs too — furniture borrows body words.
Register: Neutral — body essential.
foot /fʊt/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: The part of the body at the end of the leg, used for standing and walking.
Example: My foot hurts after the long walk.
Another example: He goes to work on foot.
Collocations: on foot · foot pain · bare feet
Synonyms: feet (plural)
Word family: feet (n pl — irregular)
⚠ Common mistake: One foot, two FEET (never 'foots'). 'On foot' means walking, not riding.
🗣 In spoken American English: America measures height in feet: 'six feet tall'.
Register: Neutral — body and measures.
hair /heər/ noun A1 Body
Meaning: The thin threads that grow on the head and body.
Example: She has long brown hair.
Another example: He cut his hair short for summer.
Collocations: long hair · hair salon · wash your hair
Synonyms: hairstyle, locks (poetic)
Word family: hairs (n pl — single threads only)
⚠ Common mistake: Hair is uncountable for the whole head: her hair IS long. Single threads are hairs ('two hairs on the soup' — rare!).
🗣 In spoken American English: Salon talk: 'I'm getting my hair done' covers cuts, color, and styling.
Register: Neutral — appearance basics.
Practice — The Body & Senses
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