Parts of the body in Spanish: terms and pronunciation
When we are talking with our patient about what’s wrong with him, it’s essential to know the vocabulary of the parts of the body in Spanish to understand what and where he is in pain. We could say that this is the first step to generally understand what happens to our patient and understand him.
That’s why I think it’s important to know how to pronounce the parts of the body in Spanish. What’s the point of knowing how to write the words if you can’t pronounce them? If you know the pronunciation you can understand your patient when he/she uses these terms and in addition, you can also communicate with your patient using them to ask him/her if he/she has pain in any part of his/her body.
I’ve created a video for you to listen how to pronounce all parts of the body in Spanish, an English-Spanish comparative table and an infographic so you can always have the vocabulary in visual form. ¿Empezamos? Let’s go
Video to know the pronunciation
Comparative table of body parts in Spanish
I would like you to completely understand what the meaning of the terms for the body parts in Spanish are so here’s an English-Spanish comparative table with the vocabulary.
|Dedo del pie||Toe|
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Courious facts about vocabulary of parts of the body in Spanish
¿Tronco o torso?
Both terms can be used to talk about the central part of our body, but “tronco” can also be used when we talk about the central part of a tree.
The term “torso” is only used when we want to talk about the body part and about a statue whose head, legs and arms are missing.
Muñeca: part of the body in Spanish and doll
Yes, that’s right, the Spanish term “muñeca” is used either to talk about the part of the body that joins the hand with the forearm or to talk about a toy.
Controversial Word: pecho
The term “pecho” describes the frontal thorax part of women and men. But there are other terms that we use to speak about the chest, and in particular to speak about the woman chest such as “seno” “mama” or “teta”. What is the difference between them? The context will give you the keys to use one term or another.
One thing is clear and it’s that “pecho” could be the standard term, “seno” the formal term, “mama” the neutral term and “teta” the vulgar/colloquial term. But in real life this is not completely right because there are some differences between them. Take a look:
Pecho and seno: they are synonyms. “Pecho” can be used for men and women while “seno” is usually used only for women but in the medical Spanish “seno” refers to “breast” for women and men.
“Pecho” can also be used to describe a breathing condition.
Teta and mama: they are synonyms. They are used to talk about the inner part of the breast, meaning the mammary glands. As there is always a but, I have to tell you that “teta” is used in the colloquial language to describe “pecho” or “seno”. In English, it would be translated as “boob”.
I would like to show you some examples so you better understand theses uses:
Context: The patient is describing to his doctor the symptoms.
Siento dolor en el pecho al respirar y cuando hago ejercicio el dolor se vuelve más agudo.
English: I feel a chest pain when I breathe and when I exercise the pain intensifies
Context: The patient asks her doctor a question
Doctor, ¿es normal que cuando me viene la menstruación me duelan los senos?
English: Doctor, Is it normal that I have breast pain every time I’m on my period?
Context: A woman has just gone into labor and the nurse tells her
Tienes que darle el pecho cada tres horas al bebé
English: You have to breastfeed the baby every three hours
Context: You are talking with your mother
Mamá, tengo las tetas muy hinchadas y me duelen
English: Mum, I have swollen breasts and they hurt.
Context: At the doctor’s office
Siento decirle que tiene usted cáncer de mama.
English: I’m sorry to inform you that you have breast cancer
Did this post about parts of the body in Spanish help you? I hope so. You already know you can leave a comment below. See you on the next post 😉