Body Parts

1. pää

   Head

   Usage

   Show it at a clinic and point to your head. A headache is one compound word, "päänsärky", as in the Health & Hospital category's "Minulla on kova päänsärky"

   Grammar Note

   The nominative is "pää"; in a sentence it shifts to "päässä" or "pään" depending on the case

2. hiukset

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a salon or barber: "voitko leikata hiukseni?" — could you cut my hair?

   Grammar Note

   Always plural when you mean a head of hair; a single strand is "hius"

3. kasvot

   Face

   Usage

   For a beauty salon or a dermatologist. A facial massage is "kasvohieronta"

   Grammar Note

   A plural-only noun in practice — the singular is virtually unused

4. silmä

   Eye

   Usage

   At an optician or pharmacy. For both eyes use the plural "silmät"; eye drops are "silmätipat"

5. korva

   Ear

   Usage

   Earache is "korvasärky". Useful when your ears block up on a flight. Same form as in the Health & Hospital category

6. nenä

   Nose

   Usage

   A nosebleed is "nenäverenvuoto" and a blocked nose is "tukkoinen nenä". The tissue word "nenäliina" in the Basic Nouns category comes from it too

7. suu

   Mouth

   Usage

   At the dentist, "avaa suu" means open your mouth. Mouthwash is "suuvesi"

8. hammas

   Tooth

   Usage

   A dentist is a "hammaslääkäri" and toothache is "hammassärky". Point at the tooth that hurts

   Grammar Note

   The plural is "hampaat" — an example of Finnish consonant gradation changing the stem

9. kieli

   Tongue

   Usage

   At an examination, "näytä kieli" means show me your tongue. The same word means a language — "suomen kieli" is the Finnish language

10. kaula

    Neck

    Usage

    The neck as seen from outside. Unlike the Scandinavian languages, Finnish splits neck, throat and nape into three separate words — kaula, kurkku, niska — so pick the one that matches where it hurts. A scarf is a "kaulahuivi"

11. kurkku

    Throat

    Usage

    A sore throat is "kurkkuun sattuu" or "minulla on kurkku kipeä", the standard line at a cold clinic. The same word also means cucumber — the "kurkku" in a supermarket is the vegetable. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

12. niska

    Nape / Back of the neck

    Usage

    For a stiff or cricked neck. "Niska-hartiaseudun jumit" — tension across the neck and shoulders — is the phrase you hear in every Finnish massage clinic. Same form as in the Health & Hospital category

13. olkapää

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Handy for showing a masseur where to work. Same form as in the Health & Hospital category

14. käsivarsi

    Arm

    Usage

    Point here for a blood test or blood pressure cuff. Everyday speech often just says "käsi", but this is the word when you need to mean the arm specifically. Same form as in the Health & Hospital category

15. kyynärpää

    Elbow

    Usage

    Point here after a fall. Tennis elbow is "tenniskyynärpää"

16. käsi

    Hand

    Usage

    Hand sanitiser is "käsidesi", a sign at the door of every pharmacy and shop. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

    Grammar Note

    The plural is "kädet", with a stem change. In everyday speech it often covers the arm as well

17. sormi

    Finger

    Usage

    For a cut or a split nail. A toe is a different word, "varvas". Same form as in the Health & Hospital category

18. kynsi

    Nail

    Usage

    A nail salon is a "kynsistudio". Use it for a broken or ingrown nail

19. rintakehä

    Chest

    Usage

    Use this for chest pain. Plain "rinta" can also mean a breast, so "rintakehä" is the unambiguous choice in a medical setting. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

20. vatsa

    Belly / Stomach area

    Usage

    The belly as a whole. "Vatsaan sattuu" — my stomach hurts. For the organ itself, say "mahalaukku". Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

21. mahalaukku

    Stomach (the organ)

    Usage

    The organ itself, for talking about stomach medicine or a gastroscopy. Everyday tummy ache uses "vatsa"; show this word when the doctor needs the organ

22. selkä

    Back

    Usage

    For a massage or physio. "Selkään sattuu" — my back hurts. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

23. alaselkä

    Lower back

    Usage

    Finnish has no single word for the Japanese "koshi"; lower-back pain is described with "alaselkä". A sudden lumbago is a "noidannuoli" — literally a witch's arrow. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

24. takapuoli

    Bottom

    Usage

    The neutral word, literally "the back side", and fine at a clinic. Use it for a fall or for where an injection goes

25. jalka

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Finnish "jalka" covers both the leg and the foot, and in everyday speech that one word is enough. When you must be precise, "jalkaterä" is the foot proper, "sääri" the shin and "reisi" the thigh. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

26. polvi

    Knee

    Usage

    The most common ski and hiking injury word. "Väänsin polveni" — I twisted my knee. Same form as in the Health & Hospital category

27. nilkka

    Ankle

    Usage

    A sprain is a "nyrjähtänyt nilkka" — a very common winter accident on icy Finnish pavements, which is why shops sell "liukuesteet", strap-on shoe grips

28. iho

    Skin

    Usage

    A dermatologist is an "ihotautilääkäri" and a rash is "ihottuma", as in the Health & Hospital category. Also for dry winter skin and post-sauna care

29. luu

    Bone

    Usage

    The root of "luunmurtuma", the fracture word in the Health & Hospital category. Finnish keeps bone and leg as separate words, so it lacks the ambiguity the Scandinavian languages have

30. veri

    Blood

    Usage

    A blood test is a "verikoe" and blood pressure is "verenpaine". Pairs with "verenvuoto" and "korkea verenpaine" in the Health & Hospital category

31. sydän

    Heart

    Usage

    Use it with "sydänsairaus" (heart disease) from the Health & Hospital category when declaring a condition. An ECG is a "sydänfilmi" or "EKG"

32. keuhko

    Lung

    Usage

    Pneumonia is "keuhkokuume". Use it with "astma" and "hengenahdistus" from the Health & Hospital category

33. suoli

    Intestine / Bowel

    Usage

    A stomach bug is a "vatsatauti". Pairs with "ummetus" (constipation) in the Health & Hospital category

34. maksa

    Liver

    Usage

    For liver tests and medication questions. It is also the food word — "maksalaatikko", a liver-and-rice bake, is a Finnish classic. Note it is spelled like the imperative of "maksaa" (to pay)

35. munuainen

    Kidney

    Usage

    A kidney stone is a "munuaiskivi". Also the word to use if you are on dialysis

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