Body Parts

1. ራስ

   ras

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head

2. ፀጉር

   tsegur

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a barber or salon

3. ፊት

   fit

   Face

   Usage

   The face as a whole — for sunburn or a rash

4. ዓይን

   ayn

   Eye

   Usage

   Dust and dry highland air irritate eyes — show this at a pharmacy

5. ጆሮ

   joro

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or trouble hearing

6. አፍንጫ

   afincha

   Nose

   Usage

   For a nosebleed or blocked nose — nosebleeds are common at altitude

7. አፍ

   af

   Mouth

   Usage

   At a dentist or pharmacy

8. ጥርስ

   tirs

   Tooth

   Usage

   Point at the aching tooth while showing this

9. ምላስ

   milas

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a burnt tongue or when a doctor asks to see it

10. አንገት

    anget

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck — for pain on swallowing use "guroro"

11. ጉሮሮ

    guroro

    Throat

    Usage

    Amharic distinguishes throat from neck — use this for pain when swallowing

12. ትከሻ

    tikesha

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain after carrying a pack

13. ክንድ

    kind

    Arm

    Usage

    The whole arm — the hand itself is "ej"

14. ክርን

    kirn

    Elbow

    Usage

    For a scrape after a fall

15. እጅ

    ej

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand itself — Ethiopians eat with the right hand

16. ጣት

    tat

    Finger

    Usage

    Same word for finger and toe — point to show which

17. ጥፍር

    tifr

    Nail

    Usage

    At a nail salon or to explain a crushed nail

18. ደረት

    deret

    Chest

    Usage

    Chest pain at altitude is serious — show a doctor at once

19. ሆድ

    hod

    Belly / stomach

    Usage

    Amharic does not split belly from stomach — "hode yamignal" means my stomach hurts

20. ጀርባ

    jerba

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain after a long bus ride

21. ወገብ

    wegeb

    Waist / lower back

    Usage

    The lower back and waistline

22. እግር

    igr

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Amharic uses one word for leg and foot — point at the spot

23. ጉልበት

    gulbet

    Knee

    Usage

    Commonly hurt trekking in the Simien Mountains

24. ቆዳ

    koda

    Skin

    Usage

    Highland UV is fierce — for sunburn or a rash

25. አጥንት

    atint

    Bone

    Usage

    Use when you suspect a fracture and want an X-ray

26. ደም

    dem

    Blood

    Usage

    For bleeding, blood tests or transfusions

27. ልብ

    libb

    Heart

    Usage

    For explaining a heart condition — "yelib himem" is heart disease

28. ጉበት

    gubet

    Liver

    Usage

    You cannot point at it — show the word itself to explain a condition

29. ኩላሊት

    kulalit

    Kidney

    Usage

    For explaining a condition or medication

30. ሳምባ

    samba

    Lung

    Usage

    Addis Ababa sits at 2,400 m — useful when short of breath

31. አንጀት

    anjet

    Intestine

    Usage

    For explaining diarrhoea or gut pain to a doctor

32. ጡንቻ

    tuncha

    Muscle

    Usage

    For muscle ache at a massage place or pharmacy

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