Body Parts

1. Isi

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head; "Isi na-awa m" means my head hurts

   Grammar Note

   A tonally distinct homograph also means "beginning" or "chief".

2. Ntutu isi

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a salon or barber; literally "hair of the head", with "isi" added to distinguish it from body hair

3. Ihu

   Face

   Usage

   To show where a skin problem is, or to mark a treatment area

   Grammar Note

   "Ihu" also means "front"; "n'ihu" means "in front of".

4. Anya

   Eye

   Usage

   For an eye problem, or when asking for eye drops at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Plurality is expressed with a numeral, as in "anya abụọ" (two eyes).

5. Ntị

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or trouble hearing

   Grammar Note

   Spelt with dotted "ị"; "nti" without the dot is a different word.

6. Imi

   Nose

   Usage

   For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

7. Ọnụ

   Mouth

   Usage

   For mouth ulcers or pain inside the mouth. A tonally distinct homograph means "price", so always point at your mouth while showing it

   Grammar Note

   Both "ọ" and "ụ" carry dots; "onu" without dots is a different word.

8. Eze

   Tooth

   Usage

   For toothache. A tonally distinct homograph means "king", so point at your mouth while showing it

9. Ire

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a burn or a change in taste; sticking out your tongue removes any doubt

   Grammar Note

   A tonally distinct homograph is the verb "to sell".

10. Olu

    Neck

    Usage

    For neck pain. The same spelling can also mean "voice", so put your hand on your neck while showing it

11. Akpịrị

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat, at a pharmacy or a clinic; the outside of the neck is "olu"

    Grammar Note

    Both instances of "ị" carry the dot.

12. Ubu

    Shoulder

    Usage

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

13. Aka

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Igbo "aka" covers both hand and arm; point to the part you mean. It also appears in idioms such as "nyere m aka" — help me

14. Nkuku aka

    Elbow

    Usage

    For a painful or grazed elbow; literally "the bend of the arm"

15. Mkpịsị aka

    Finger

    Usage

    To point out an injured finger; literally "stick of the hand". A toe is "mkpịsị ụkwụ"

16. Mbọ aka

    Fingernail

    Usage

    At a nail salon, or to say a nail is broken or torn off; "mbọ" on its own also covers an animal's claw

17. Obi

    Heart / chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or palpitations — put your hand on your chest while showing it. It also means the heart as feeling: "obi dị m ụtọ" is "I'm happy"

    Grammar Note

    A tonally distinct homograph also means a compound or meeting house.

18. Afọ

    Belly / stomach

    Usage

    The core word for stomach trouble, as in "ọgwụ afọ" (stomach medicine). A tonally distinct homograph means "year", so point at your belly while showing it

19. Azụ

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain. Tonally distinct homographs mean "fish" and "behind", so always reach round to your back while showing it

    Grammar Note

    The "ụ" carries a dot; "azu" without it is a different word.

20. Ikpere

    Knee

    Usage

    For a sore or injured knee

21. Ụkwụ

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Covers both leg and foot, so point to where it hurts. Note the dotted "ụ" — "ukwu" is a different word

22. Akpụkpọ ahụ

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, insect bite or sunburn; literally "the hide of the body"

23. Ọbara

    Blood

    Usage

    The base word for tests, transfusions and bleeding — it comes up when you get tested for malaria

24. Ọkpụkpụ

    Bone

    Usage

    Point to the sore spot if you suspect a fracture

    Grammar Note

    All three of "ọ", "ụ" and "ụ" carry dots.

25. Ụbụrụ

    Brain

    Usage

    Used for scans after a head injury

    Grammar Note

    All three vowels are dotted "ụ".

26. Ahụ

    Body

    Usage

    The base word for feeling unwell all over, and the core of compounds like "ahụ ọkụ" (fever) and "ahụ ike" (health)

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