Body Parts

1. Intloko

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 (in-) noun; the plural is "iintloko".

2. Iinwele

   Hair

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   A class 10 (iin-) 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. Iliso

   Eye

   Usage

   Use for one eye when reporting an eye problem

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 (ili-) noun with the irregular plural "amehlo".

5. Indlebe

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or trouble hearing

   Grammar Note

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

6. Impumlo

   Nose

   Usage

   For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

   Grammar Note

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

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; also works at a dental reception

   Grammar Note

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

9. Ulwimi

   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 "iilwimi".

10. Intamo

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck; the inside of the throat is "umqala"

    Grammar Note

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

11. Umqala

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat; the word can also cover the neck, so point to the spot

    Grammar Note

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

12. Igxalaba

    Shoulder

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

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

13. Ingalo

    Arm

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

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

14. Ingqiniba

    Elbow

    Usage

    For a painful or grazed elbow

    Grammar Note

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

15. Isandla

    Hand

    Usage

    For a painful or injured hand

    Grammar Note

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

16. Umnwe

    Finger

    Usage

    To point out an injured finger; toes take the same word, so show which one you mean

    Grammar Note

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

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 "iinzipho".

18. Isifuba

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or breathlessness; point to your ribcage

    Grammar Note

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

19. Isisu

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Xhosa does not split belly from stomach — both are "isisu". It can also mean pregnancy, so point to where it hurts

    Grammar Note

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

20. Umhlana

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain

    Grammar Note

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

21. Umqolo

    Lower back / spine

    Usage

    For the lower back; the word also covers the spine itself

    Grammar Note

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

22. Iimpundu

    Buttocks

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    A class 10 (iim-) plural; one side is the class 9 "impundu".

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

    Grammar Note

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

25. Unyawo

    Foot

    Usage

    For pain in the sole or top of the foot; the whole leg is "umlenze"

    Grammar Note

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

26. Isikhumba

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, insect bite or sunburn

    Grammar Note

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

27. Igazi

    Blood

    Usage

    The base word for tests, transfusions and bleeding; blood pressure is "uxinzelelo lwegazi"

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun.

28. Ithambo

    Bone

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

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

29. Intliziyo

    Heart

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun. Note the spelling differs from Zulu "inhliziyo".

30. 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".

31. 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".

32. Intso

    Kidney

    Usage

    Used when explaining a kidney condition or stones

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; the plural is "iintso". The spelling differs from Zulu "inso".

33. Ubuchopho

    Brain

    Usage

    Used for scans after a head injury

    Grammar Note

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

34. 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".

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