Body Parts

1. தலை

   talai

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head. A headache is "thalaivali"

2. முடி

   muṭi

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a barber or salon. "Mudi vetta vendum" means "I want a haircut"

3. முகம்

   mukam

   Face

   Usage

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

4. கண்

   kaṇ

   Eye

   Usage

   Point to it when your eye hurts, is red, or when you need eye drops. Both eyes is "kangal"

5. காது

   kātu

   Ear

   Usage

   Point to it for earache, ringing ears, or pressure that will not clear after a flight

6. மூக்கு

   mūkku

   Nose

   Usage

   Point to it for a blocked nose or a nosebleed — a common one at pharmacies in the dusty season

7. வாய்

   vāy

   Mouth

   Usage

   For sores or pain inside the mouth. "Vaai thirangal" means "please open your mouth"

8. உதடு

   utaṭu

   Lip

   Usage

   Point to it when buying lip balm for dry or cracked lips

9. பல்

   pal

   Tooth

   Usage

   Point to the sore tooth at the dentist. Toothache is "palvali"

10. நாக்கு

    nākku

    Tongue

    Usage

    For when a doctor asks to see your tongue, or to say that chilli has left your tongue burning

11. கழுத்து

    kaḻuttu

    Neck

    Usage

    The neck as seen from outside. For pain when swallowing, use "thondai" (throat) instead

12. தொண்டை

    toṇṭai

    Throat

    Usage

    Use it when asking for something for a sore throat. Tamil keeps neck ("kazhuthu") and throat ("thondai") apart

13. தோள்பட்டை

    tōḷpaṭṭai

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For asking a masseur to work on your shoulders, or reporting strain from a heavy pack

14. கை

    kai

    Hand / Arm

    Usage

    Tamil uses one word for the hand and the arm. The palm alone is "ullangai"

15. முழங்கை

    muḻaṅkai

    Elbow

    Usage

    Point to it after a fall, or to show where a bandage goes. It pairs in form with "muzhangaal", the knee

16. விரல்

    viral

    Finger

    Usage

    For cuts or ring sizes. A finger is "kai viral" and a toe is "kaal viral"

17. நகம்

    nakam

    Nail

    Usage

    For the nail salon or a broken nail. The same word covers fingernails and toenails

18. மார்பு

    mārpu

    Chest

    Usage

    A critical word. "Maarbu vali" — chest pain — is triaged as urgent, so show it and hold your chest

19. வயிறு

    vayiṟu

    Stomach / Belly

    Usage

    Everyday Tamil uses this one word for both the belly and the stomach organ. A stomach ache is "vayitru vali"

20. முதுகு

    mutuku

    Back

    Usage

    The upper back. Useful after a long bus or train ride has left it aching

21. இடுப்பு

    iṭuppu

    Waist / Hip

    Usage

    Covers the waist and the hip area together — used for trouser sizes and for lower-back pain alike

22. கால்

    kāl

    Leg

    Usage

    The leg as a whole. For the foot only, use "paadham"

23. முழங்கால்

    muḻaṅkāl

    Knee

    Usage

    Easily strained on temple stairs and hilltop shrines. Point to it when buying a brace or pain patch

24. பாதம்

    pātam

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot. You walk barefoot in temples, so burns from hot stone and small cuts come up often

25. கணுக்கால்

    kaṇukkāl

    Ankle

    Usage

    For a sprain — pavements with big steps make this a more useful word than you would expect

26. தோல்

    tōl

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, sunburn, or insect bites at a skin clinic or pharmacy

27. எலும்பு

    elumpu

    Bone

    Usage

    Use it if you suspect a break. "Elumbu murivu" is the word for a fracture

28. ரத்தம்

    rattam

    Blood

    Usage

    For bleeding or a blood test. Your blood group is "ratha vagai"

29. இதயம்

    itayam

    Heart

    Usage

    Use it to declare a heart condition. "Idhaya noi" means heart disease

30. நுரையீரல்

    nuraiyīral

    Lung

    Usage

    Show it when explaining asthma or another respiratory condition

31. இரைப்பை

    iraippai

    Stomach (organ)

    Usage

    The organ itself. Everyday speech makes do with "vayiru", but this is the word when a doctor needs the exact site

32. குடல்

    kuṭal

    Intestine

    Usage

    For diarrhoea or a bowel condition — the organ travellers end up naming most often

33. கல்லீரல்

    kallīral

    Liver

    Usage

    For liver function or hepatitis. The borrowed "livar" also works in clinics

34. சிறுநீரகம்

    ciṟunīrakam

    Kidney

    Usage

    For kidney stones or a chronic condition. The borrowed "kidni" also works in clinics

35. மூளை

    mūḷai

    Brain

    Usage

    For a head injury or dizziness

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