Body Parts

1. سر

   Sar

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head. A headache is "sardard" (سردرد), which is the word to use at a pharmacy

2. مو

   Mu

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at the "ārāyeshgāh", the salon or barber. "Mūhāyam rā kūtāh konīd" means "cut my hair". The plural "mūhā" usually stands for the hair as a whole

3. صورت

   Surat

   Face

   Usage

   For marking a treatment area or showing where a skin problem is. The same word also means "form" or "case" — "dar īn surat", in that case — so point at your face in a medical context

4. چشم

   Cheshm

   Eye

   Usage

   For eye pain, redness or asking for eye drops. On its own "cheshm" also means "certainly, will do", so point at your eye. Eye drops are "qatre-ye cheshm"

5. گوش

   Gush

   Ear

   Usage

   For ear trouble after a flight. Earache is "gūshdard" (گوش‌درد)

6. بینی

   Bini

   Nose

   Usage

   Show it at the pharmacy for a blocked nose or a nosebleed. In speech Persians usually say "damāgh" (دماغ) — the same spelling means "brain" in Arabic, so mind that with Arabic speakers

7. دهان

   Dahān

   Mouth

   Usage

   For mouth ulcers or pain inside the mouth. Speech shortens it to "dahan" (دهن). Lips are a separate word, "lab" (لب)

8. دندان

   Dandān

   Tooth

   Usage

   Point at the aching tooth while showing this. Toothache is "dandāndard" and the dentist is "dandānpezeshk". In speech it is pronounced "dandūn"

9. زبان

   Zabān

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a burning tongue or a sore on it. The same word means "language" — "zabān-e fārsī" is the Persian language — so point at your tongue in a medical context

10. گردن

    Gardan

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck — for a crick or stiffness. The inside of the throat is "galū", a separate word; choose by where it hurts

11. گلو

    Galu

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat: "galūdard" (گلودرد). The dry air and dust make it a common complaint

12. شانه

    Shāne

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point here to ask for extra attention during a massage. The same spelling also means "comb", so point at your shoulder. Speech also uses "kaft" (کتف)

13. بازو

    Bāzu

    Arm (upper)

    Usage

    The arm from shoulder to elbow. Persian "dast" covers both hand and arm, so use this when you need to be specific — for instance to indicate where a vaccination goes

14. آرنج

    Ārenj

    Elbow

    Usage

    A common spot for grazes — point here when examined after a fall

15. مچ دست

    Moch-e dast

    Wrist

    Usage

    Literally "joint of the hand". For a sprain: "moch-e dastam pīch khord", I twisted my wrist

16. دست

    Dast

    Hand

    Usage

    Covers both hand and arm; for the upper arm alone use "bāzū". "Dast-e shomā dard nakone" — may your hand not hurt — is the commonest way to say thank you in Persian

17. انگشت

    Angosht

    Finger

    Usage

    For a finger injury or a ring size — a ring is "angoshtar" from the same root. A toe is "angosht-e pā"

18. ناخن

    Nākhon

    Nail

    Usage

    For a nail salon or an ingrown-nail problem. Nail clippers are "nākhongīr"

19. قفسه سینه

    Qafase-ye sine

    Chest

    Usage

    Literally "the cage of the chest". "Sīne" on its own can also mean breast, so this fuller form keeps it to the rib cage. Chest pain is urgent — show it early

20. شکم

    Shekam

    Belly

    Usage

    The key word for food poisoning or a stomach ache; colloquially people say "deldard dāram" using "del". The digestive organ itself is "me'de"

21. معده

    Me'de

    Stomach (organ)

    Usage

    Persian separates the belly you can touch ("shekam") from the digestive organ ("me'de"). Ask the pharmacist for "dārū-ye meʿde"

22. پشت

    Posht

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain. The same word doubles as the preposition "behind", so point at your back while showing it

23. کمر

    Kamar

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    For lower-back pain: "kamardard" (کمردرد). A belt is "kamarband", from the same root

24. باسن

    Bāsan

    Hip / buttocks

    Usage

    For hip pain or landing on your backside in a fall. It is the neutral clinical word and carries no crude sense

25. پا

    Pā

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Persian "pā" covers both the leg and the foot — point at the actual spot to narrow it down. The calf is "sāgh-e pā" (ساق پا)

26. زانو

    Zānu

    Knee

    Usage

    Easily strained on the stairs of Persepolis or the stepped village of Masuleh. "Zānūyam dard mīkonad" means "my knee hurts"

27. مچ پا

    Moch-e pā

    Ankle

    Usage

    Literally "joint of the foot". Point here for a sprain: "moch-e pāyam pīch khord"

28. پوست

    Pust

    Skin

    Usage

    For bites, sunburn or a rash at the pharmacy. A dermatologist is "pūstpezeshk" or "motekhaṣṣeṣ-e pūst". Iran is dry enough that you will want moisturiser, "kerem-e mortūbkonande"

29. استخوان

    Ostokhān

    Bone

    Usage

    For a suspected fracture — a break is "shekastegī". "Ostokhānam shekaste?" asks whether the bone is broken

30. خون

    Khun

    Blood

    Usage

    For bleeding or a blood test. Your blood type is "gorūh-e khūnī" and blood pressure is "feshār-e khūn"

31. قلب

    Qalb

    Heart

    Usage

    For a heart condition or palpitations: "bīmārī-ye qalbī dāram". The heart in the emotional sense is "del" (دل), the word that carries Persian poetry

32. ریه

    Riye

    Lung

    Usage

    For a cough, breathlessness or asthma — asthma is "āsm" (آسم). Tehran's winter air pollution makes respiratory trouble common

33. روده

    Rude

    Intestine

    Usage

    For persistent diarrhoea or abdominal trouble. Diarrhoea is "eshāl" (اسهال) and constipation is "yobūsat" (یبوست)

34. کبد

    Kabed

    Liver

    Usage

    For telling a doctor about a liver condition or your medication. The everyday word is "jegar" (جگر), which also means liver as food and doubles as a term of endearment

35. کلیه

    Koliye

    Kidney

    Usage

    For a kidney condition or flank pain. A stone is "sang-e koliye". The dry climate makes stones more likely if you skimp on water, so keep drinking

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