Body Parts

1. Ikhanda

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head; "ikhanda liyangizwa buhlungu" means my head hurts

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; the plural is "amakhanda".

2. Izinwele

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a salon or barber; hair as a whole is normally said in the plural

   Grammar Note

   A class 10 (izin-) plural; a single hair is the class 11 "unwele".

3. Ubuso

   Face

   Usage

   Use it to mark the treatment area at a spa, or to show where a skin problem is

   Grammar Note

   A class 14 (ubu-) noun; it takes the same prefix as abstract nouns and is not counted.

4. Iso

   Eye

   Usage

   Use for one eye; both eyes take the irregular plural "amehlo"

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun with the irregular plural "amehlo".

5. Indlebe

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or trouble hearing

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is "izindlebe".

6. Impumulo

   Nose

   Usage

   For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; the plural is "izimpumulo". Xhosa spells it "impumlo".

7. Umlomo

   Mouth

   Usage

   For mouth ulcers or pain inside the mouth

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 (um-) noun; the plural is "imilomo".

8. Izinyo

   Tooth

   Usage

   For toothache; several teeth are "amazinyo"

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; the plural is "amazinyo".

9. Ulimi

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a burn or a change in taste; the same word also means "language"

   Grammar Note

   A class 11 (ulu-/ul-) noun; the plural is "izilimi". Xhosa spells it "ulwimi".

10. Intamo

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck — a stiff neck after a long bus ride; the throat itself is "umphimbo"

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is "izintamo".

11. Umphimbo

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat, at a pharmacy or a clinic

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun; the plural is "imiphimbo". Xhosa uses "umqala".

12. Ihlombe

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain, or to mark where you want a massage

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "amahlombe". Xhosa uses "igxalaba".

13. Ingalo

    Arm

    Usage

    For an injured arm; Zulu keeps "ingalo" (arm) and "isandla" (hand) apart

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is "izingalo".

14. Indololwane

    Elbow

    Usage

    For a painful or grazed elbow

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is "izindololwane". Xhosa uses "ingqiniba" instead.

15. Isandla

    Hand

    Usage

    For a painful or injured hand; the plural is "izandla"

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (isi-) noun; the plural is "izandla".

16. Umunwe

    Finger

    Usage

    To point out an injured finger; the plural is "iminwe"

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun; Xhosa spells it "umnwe".

17. Uzipho

    Nail

    Usage

    At a nail salon, or to say a nail is broken or torn off

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (u-) noun; the plural is "izinzipho".

18. Isifuba

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or breathlessness — the chest as a body part

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 noun; the plural is "izifuba".

19. Isisu

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Zulu does not split belly from stomach — both are "isisu", as in "umuthi wesisu", stomach medicine

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (isi-) noun; the plural is "izisu".

20. Umhlane

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun; the plural is "imihlane". Xhosa spells it "umhlana".

21. Ukhalo

    Waist / lower back

    Usage

    For pain around the waist — lower than "umhlane", the back

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (u-) noun; the plural is "izinkalo".

22. Izinqe

    Buttocks

    Usage

    For where an injection goes, or soreness after a long journey; normally used in the plural

    Grammar Note

    A class 10 (izin-) plural; one side is the class 9 "inqe". Xhosa uses "iimpundu".

23. Umlenze

    Leg

    Usage

    The whole leg; from the ankle down is "unyawo"

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun; the plural is "imilenze".

24. Idolo

    Knee

    Usage

    For a sore or injured knee; the plural is "amadolo"

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun.

25. Unyawo

    Foot

    Usage

    For an injured sole or ankle area; the plural is "izinyawo"

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (u-) noun; in Xhosa the plural is "iinyawo".

26. Iqakala

    Ankle

    Usage

    For a sprain — a common word after hiking in the Drakensberg

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "amaqakala".

27. Isikhumba

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, insect bite or sunburn

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (isi-) noun; the plural is "izikhumba". It also means hide or leather. Xhosa uses "ulusu".

28. Igazi

    Blood

    Usage

    The base word for tests, transfusions and bleeding; "umfutho wegazi ophakeme" is high blood pressure

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun.

29. Ithambo

    Bone

    Usage

    Point to the sore spot if you suspect a fracture; "ithambo lephukile" means a broken bone

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "amathambo".

30. Inhliziyo

    Heart

    Usage

    For describing a heart condition; "isifo senhliziyo" is heart disease

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun. The spelling differs from Xhosa "intliziyo".

31. Amathumbu

    Intestines

    Usage

    Used when discussing stomach trouble or diarrhoea; normally in the plural

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 (ama-) plural; the singular is the class 5 "ithumbu".

32. Iphaphu

    Lung

    Usage

    For a cough or difficulty breathing; pair it with "angikwazi ukuphefumula" — I can't breathe

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "amaphaphu".

33. Isibindi

    Liver

    Usage

    Used when discussing a condition or medication; figuratively it also means courage

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (isi-) noun; the plural is "izibindi".

34. Inso

    Kidney

    Usage

    Used when explaining a kidney condition or stones

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is "izinso". Xhosa spells it "intso".

35. Ubuchopho

    Brain

    Usage

    Used for scans after a head injury

    Grammar Note

    A class 14 (ubu-) noun; not counted for number.

36. Umzimba

    Body

    Usage

    The base word for feeling unwell all over, when you cannot localise the pain

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (um-) noun; the plural is "imizimba".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages