Body parts
Lichaamsdelen
- Get to know the basic body parts.
- Basic phrases to describe your health.
- Frequently used irregular verbs
This lesson introduces Dutch vocabulary for body parts, such as de arm (arm), de nek (neck), and de rug (back), and includes useful phrases to describe pain and visit the doctor, helping you discuss health-related topics confidently.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (16) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Divide the words into two groups: body parts that you see on the front of your body and body parts that you have on the back.
Lichaamsdelen voorkant
Lichaamsdelen achterkant
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Het been
The leg
2
Het oor
The ear
3
De vinger
The finger
4
De rug
The back
5
De hand
The hand
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Name the bodyparts. (Name the bodyparts.)
- Describe where it hurts. (Describe where it hurts.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Een voet heeft vijf tenen. A foot has five toes. |
|
Het hoofd heeft ogen, oren, een neus en een mond. The head has eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth. |
|
Mijn nek doet pijn. My neck hurts. |
|
De rug is verbonden met de nek. The back is connected with the neck. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ik ___ vandaag moe na het werk.
(I ___ tired today after work.)2. Jij ___ naar de dokter omdat je buik pijn doet.
(You ___ to the doctor because your stomach hurts.)3. Wij ___ onze handen gewassen na het boodschappen doen.
(We ___ washed our hands after grocery shopping.)4. Zij ___ morgen naar het ziekenhuis gaan voor een controle.
(They ___ go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up.)Exercise 8: A walk with Jan
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Lopen - Walk
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- Ik loop
- Jij loopt
- Hij/zij/het loopt
- Wij lopen
- Jullie lopen
- Zij lopen
Zitten - Sit
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- Ik zit
- Jij zit
- Hij/zij/het zit
- Wij zitten
- Jullie zitten
- Zij zitten
Hebben - Have
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- Ik heb
- Jij hebt
- Hij/zij/het heeft
- Wij hebben
- Jullie hebben
- Zij hebben
Gaan - Go
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- Ik ga
- Jij gaat
- Hij/zij/het gaat
- Wij gaan
- Jullie gaan
- Zij gaan
Zijn - Be
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
- Ik ben
- Jij bent
- Hij/zij/het is
- Wij zijn
- Jullie zijn
- Zij zijn
Exercise 9: Veel gebruikte onregelmatige werkwoorden
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Frequently used irregular verbs
Show translation Show answersgaat, zullen, heeft, is, ga, ben, heb
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Lopen to walk Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) loop | I walk |
| (jij) loopt/loop | you walk/walk |
| (hij/zij/het) loopt | he/she/it walks |
| (wij) lopen | we walk |
| (jullie) lopen | you walk |
| (zij) lopen | they walk |
Zitten to sit Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) zit | I sit |
| (jij) zit/zit je | you sit/you are sitting |
| (hij/zij/het) zit | he/she/it sits |
| (wij) zitten | we sit |
| (jullie) zitten | you sit |
| (zij) zitten | they sit |
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Lesson Overview: Body Parts in Dutch
This lesson introduces you to key vocabulary related to body parts in Dutch, focusing on both the front and back areas of the body. You will learn common expressions used to describe pain or sensations in various parts of the body, helping you communicate physical conditions clearly. The lesson also incorporates practical dialogues for real-life medical and health conversations, as well as exercises to practice verb conjugations associated with talking about health and actions.
Key Vocabulary: Body Parts
The vocabulary is grouped by location on the body:
- Front body parts: de arm (arm), de buik (belly), de hand (hand), de mond (mouth), de neus (nose)
- Back body parts: de nek (neck), de rug (back), de voet (foot)
Common Expressions for Health and Pain
You will find useful expressions to describe discomfort or medical issues, such as "Ik heb pijn in mijn arm" (I have pain in my arm) or "Mijn rug doet pijn na het tuinieren vandaag" (My back hurts after gardening today). These phrases help you express where you feel pain or discomfort clearly and naturally.
Practical Dialogues
To strengthen your speaking skills, the lesson includes dialogues suited for different health-related settings:
- At the general practitioner's office – Discussing complaints and symptoms.
- At the physiotherapist's – Talking about body parts and pain.
- Health and prevention – Simple conversations about maintaining health and noticing symptoms.
Verb Practice
The lesson presents key irregular verbs often used when talking about health and body conditions in the present tense, such as lopen (to walk), zitten (to sit), hebben (to have), gaan (to go), and zijn (to be). You will practice these verbs in context to enhance your communication accuracy.
Short Story
A short story about a character named Jan helps to contextualize the vocabulary and verbs within a natural and simple narrative, showing how to describe everyday experiences related to body and health.
Language Notes: Differences and Useful Phrases
In English, body parts and health descriptions often require articles (e.g., "my arm", "the back") similar to Dutch mijn arm or de rug. Unlike English, Dutch nouns are gendered and always preceded by a definite article (de or het), which can affect sentence structure.
Useful phrases include:
- Ik heb pijn in mijn [body part] – "I have pain in my [body part]"
- Mijn [body part] doet pijn – "My [body part] hurts"
- Zullen we naar de dokter gaan? – "Shall we go to the doctor?"
- Zijn je handen warm na het wassen? – "Are your hands warm after washing?"
These phrases allow you to describe symptoms and conditions conveniently and politely, which is essential for healthcare communication.
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