Deutsch · A1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
The body
Name basic body parts and say where something hurts.
Understand the choice
Body words are most useful in descriptions and symptom phrases. Learn singular and plural where they change, especially Auge/Augen, Hand/Hände, and Ohr/Ohren.
Core rule: Wehtun separates around its subject: der Kopf tut weh; possessives agree with the body-part noun.
Notice it in context
Mein Kopf tut weh, und meine Augen sind müde.
My head hurts, and my eyes are tired.
Mein matches masculine Kopf; meine matches plural Augen; tut weh forms the pain expression.
Meine Hand ist kalt, aber mein Arm ist warm.
My hand is cold, but my arm is warm.
Feminine Hand takes meine; masculine Arm takes mein.
Das Kind hat große Ohren und eine kleine Nase.
The child has big ears and a small nose.
Ohren and Nase show plural and feminine accusative forms.
What to remember
- The plural of die Hand is Hände; the vowel changes.
- For a specific pain you can also say Ich habe Kopfschmerzen.
Common trap: Do not translate “I hurt my head” literally when reporting pain; say mein Kopf tut weh.