Body Parts

1. Ihloko

   Head

   Usage

   Point at your own head when you report pain there

   Grammar Note

   The plural is iinhloko. Zulu ikhanda is not used in Southern Ndebele

2. Iinhluthu

   Hair

   Usage

   The word for hair, used at a hairdresser or when pointing to hair

   Grammar Note

   Normally used in the plural (iin-). In grooming talk it is mentioned together with amazipho (nails)

3. Ubuso

   Face

   Usage

   Used when pointing at the face, for example to show swelling or pain

   Grammar Note

   A noun with the ubu- prefix. It can also mean the surface of something

4. Ilihlo

   Eye

   Usage

   Point at one eye when you report pain or itching there

   Grammar Note

   The plural is amehlo (both eyes), which is the more common form in everyday use

5. Indlebe

   Ear

   Usage

   Point at your ear when you report pain or trouble hearing

   Grammar Note

   The plural is iindlebe. "To pay attention" is expressed by putting down the ear

6. Ipumulo

   Nose

   Usage

   Point at your nose when you report a nosebleed or a blocked nose

   Grammar Note

   The plural is iimpumulo. The beginning differs from Zulu impumulo

7. Umlomo

   Mouth

   Usage

   Point at your mouth when you report pain or a sore inside it

   Grammar Note

   A noun with the um- prefix. Oral health staff are "abasebenzi bezepilo yomlomo"

8. Izinyo

   Tooth

   Usage

   Point at the sore tooth when you report a toothache

   Grammar Note

   The plural is amazinyo. A dentist is "udorhodere wamazinyo"

9. Ilimi

   Tongue

   Usage

   Stick out your tongue as you report soreness or a sore on it

   Grammar Note

   ilimi also means "language", so context tells the two apart

10. Intamo

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at your neck when you report pain or a stiff neck

    Grammar Note

    A noun with the in- prefix, the same form as Zulu intamo

11. Umphimbo

    Throat

    Usage

    Point at your throat when you report soreness or irritation

    Grammar Note

    It shares its stem with iphimbo (voice). The throat itself is umphimbo

12. Ihlombe

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at your shoulder when you report pain or stiffness

    Grammar Note

    "Ukubethela ihlombe" is also used as an idiom for applauding

13. Umkhono

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at your arm when you report pain or an injury

    Grammar Note

    The plural is imikhono (um- nouns take imi-). The hand is isandla

14. Isandla

    Hand

    Usage

    Show your hand as you report pain or an injury

    Grammar Note

    The plural is izandla. Washing hands is "ukuhlamba izandla"

15. Amazipho

    Nails

    Usage

    Used when talking about trimming nails or a damaged nail

    Grammar Note

    Normally used in the plural. It is also used for the claws of animals

16. Isifuba

    Chest

    Usage

    Point at your chest when you report pain or breathlessness

    Grammar Note

    A noun with the isi- prefix. It is also used for the breast of an animal

17. Amathumbu

    Intestines (tummy)

    Usage

    Hold your belly as you report a stomach ache

    Grammar Note

    Normally plural (ama-). It is also used for the tummy

18. Umhlana

    Back

    Usage

    Used for back pain or when saying you lie on your back

    Grammar Note

    "To lie on the back" is "ukulala ngomhlana". The same form also means "date", so context decides

19. Umlenze

    Leg

    Usage

    Point at your leg when you report pain or an injury

    Grammar Note

    The plural is imilenze. The foot itself is inyawo

20. Idolo

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at your knee when you report pain there

    Grammar Note

    The plural is amadolo. "Bend the knees" is "ukugoba amadolo"

21. Inyawo

    Foot

    Usage

    Point at your foot when you report pain or a blister

    Grammar Note

    The plural is iinyawo. The beginning differs from Zulu unyawo

22. Isikhumba

    Skin

    Usage

    Point at your skin when you report a rash, itching or sunburn

    Grammar Note

    Also used for the hide or coat of an animal

23. Iingazi

    Blood

    Usage

    The basic word for bleeding, blood pressure or a blood test

    Grammar Note

    Normally used in the form iingazi (it looks plural but names blood as a whole). A nosebleed is "ipumulo ephuma iingazi"

24. Ithambo

    Bone

    Usage

    Point at the sore spot when you report a fracture or bone pain

    Grammar Note

    The plural is amathambo

25. Ihliziyo

    Heart

    Usage

    Used to report palpitations or chest pain, and also for the heart in the sense of feelings

    Grammar Note

    Unlike Zulu inhliziyo, it is spelled ihliziyo

26. Ubuchopho

    Brain

    Usage

    Used when talking about an illness or injury of the head

    Grammar Note

    A noun with the ubu- prefix

27. Umzimba

    Body

    Usage

    Used for the whole body, as in aches all over

    Grammar Note

    The plural is imizimba. Warming up the body is ukufuthumeza umzimba

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