Body Parts

1. Голова

   Go-lo-va

   Head

   Usage

   Point here and show the word; the full sentence is "U menya bolit golova" — my head hurts

   Grammar Note

   Feminine. Russian says pain as "U menya bolit" plus the body part in the nominative

2. Волосы

   Vo-lo-sy

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a salon or barber. Hair as a whole is always plural; the singular "volos" is one strand

3. Лицо

   Li-tso

   Face

   Usage

   Use it to mark the treatment area at a salon, or to show a skin problem to a doctor

4. Глаз

   Glaz

   Eye

   Usage

   Show it with "glaznye kapli" — eye drops — at a pharmacy. Both eyes is "glaza"

   Grammar Note

   The nominative plural "glaza" shifts the stress to the ending

5. Ухо

   U-kho

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or a blocked ear. Both ears is "ushi"

6. Нос

   Nos

   Nose

   Usage

   For a blocked nose or a nosebleed. A runny nose is its own word, "nasmork"

7. Рот

   Rot

   Mouth

   Usage

   At the dentist you will hear "Otkroyte rot" — open your mouth

8. Зуб

   Zub

   Tooth

   Usage

   Toothache is "U menya bolit zub". More than one tooth is "zuby"

9. Язык

   Ya-zyk

   Tongue

   Usage

   Also the word for "language", so point at your mouth to make clear you mean the organ

10. Шея

    She-ya

    Neck

    Usage

    For a stiff or wrenched neck. The inside of the throat is a different word, "gorlo"

11. Горло

    Gor-lo

    Throat

    Usage

    "U menya bolit gorlo" is a sore throat; also useful when buying lozenges

12. Плечо

    Ple-cho

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Use it at a massage to say where you want the therapist to work

13. Рука

    Ru-ka

    Arm

    Usage

    Russian "ruka" covers everything from shoulder to fingertips, so point to narrow it down

    Grammar Note

    It does not split arm from hand; strictly the part past the wrist is "kist ruki"

14. Локоть

    Lo-kot'

    Elbow

    Usage

    For showing where you hit yourself after a fall

15. Кисть руки

    Kist' ru-ki

    Hand

    Usage

    The clinical way to mean the hand alone, when "ruka" would be too broad

16. Палец

    Pa-lets

    Finger

    Usage

    Toes use the same word; add "na ruke" for a finger or "na noge" for a toe

17. Ноготь

    No-got'

    Nail

    Usage

    For a nail salon, or when a broken nail needs treating

18. Грудная клетка

    Grud-na-ya klet-ka

    Chest

    Usage

    The anatomical term for the ribcage — the safest word for chest pain at a clinic

19. Живот

    Zhi-vot

    Belly

    Usage

    The whole belly. Stomach ache is "U menya bolit zhivot"

20. Спина

    Spi-na

    Back

    Usage

    The whole back — the word to show a massage therapist

21. Поясница

    Po-yas-ni-tsa

    Lower back

    Usage

    Russian separates the lower back from the back, so show this one for lumbar pain

22. Ягодицы

    Ya-go-di-tsy

    Buttocks

    Usage

    The anatomical term, used at a clinic for injections rather than in small talk

23. Нога

    No-ga

    Leg

    Usage

    Russian "noga" covers both leg and foot; for the foot alone say "stupnya"

    Grammar Note

    Like "ruka", it does not split the limb from its end

24. Колено

    Ko-le-no

    Knee

    Usage

    For knee pain or injury; both knees is "koleni"

25. Ступня

    Stup-nya

    Foot

    Usage

    The part below the ankle — use it instead of "noga" for blisters or sole pain

26. Щиколотка

    Shchi-ko-lot-ka

    Ankle

    Usage

    For a sprain. A clinic may use the synonym "lodyzhka"

27. Кожа

    Ko-zha

    Skin

    Usage

    Comes up for a rash, sunburn or an allergy

28. Кость

    Kost'

    Bone

    Usage

    When you suspect a break; the fracture itself is "perelom"

29. Кровь

    Krov'

    Blood

    Usage

    For bleeding or a blood test; your blood type is "gruppa krovi"

30. Сердце

    Serd-tse

    Heart

    Usage

    For declaring a heart condition — worth writing on a medical card

31. Желудок

    Zhe-lu-dok

    Stomach

    Usage

    The organ itself, distinct from the visible belly "zhivot" — show this at the pharmacy

32. Кишечник

    Ki-shech-nik

    Intestines

    Usage

    The bowel — the word a doctor will use about diarrhoea or constipation

33. Лёгкие

    Lyog-ki-ye

    Lungs

    Usage

    For breathing trouble or explaining asthma; always plural

34. Печень

    Pe-chen'

    Liver

    Usage

    Also the word for liver as food, so on a menu it means the dish

35. Почки

    Poch-ki

    Kidneys

    Usage

    For declaring a kidney condition or medication; the singular is "pochka"

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