Body parts; punctuation in writing; expressions about health and grooming.
📖 3 min read · 3 worked examples · 5 practice questions
Today we'll explore the topic جسمي ("My Body"). By the end of the lesson you'll be able to name the main body parts in Arabic, use punctuation correctly, and talk about daily health routines. We will identify body parts like رأس (head), يد (hand), قدم (foot), and so on. Then we'll practice sentences such as "أنا أُغسِل يدي كل يوم" – "I wash my hands every day." Notice this point about connecting the lesson to Kenyan daily life – for example, washing hands before lunch at school or taking care of your uniform. Can anyone think of another routine you do at home that involves your body?
The key vocabulary for body parts in Arabic. First, we have رأس /ra's/ meaning "head", عيون /ʿuyūn/ for "eyes", and أذنين /ʾudhayn/ meaning "ears". Next, فم /fam/ is "mouth", يد /yad/ means "hand", and رجل /rijl/ translates to "leg". Notice the pronunciation tips: the stress in رأس is on the 'a', and عيون has a glottal 'ʿ' at the start. Finally, this table shows the Arabic words side by side with their English equivalents, so you can compare and practice each pair.
Let's explore punctuation in Arabic writing, starting with the basic marks you already know from English. First, the period (.) works the same way as in English and appears at the end of a sentence. Next, the Arabic question mark (؟) looks like a mirrored question mark and also goes at the line end. Finally, the Arabic comma (،) is shaped differently and is placed right after the word, just before the space. Take a look at this chart comparing how often each punctuation mark is used in Arabic versus English. Notice the higher frequency of the Arabic comma, which helps clarify pauses in longer sentences. Do you see any patterns? Any questions before we move on?
Next, let's explore some everyday Arabic phrases about health and grooming. First phrase: "أنا أشرب الماء كل يوم" – I drink water every day. Notice the verb "أشرب" (I drink) and the frequency phrase "كل يوم". Can anyone repeat the phrase aloud? Try to match the rhythm. Second phrase: "أنا أفرّش أسناني مرتين يوميًا" – I brush my teeth twice a day. Pay attention to "أفرّش" (I brush) and "مرتين يوميًا" (twice a day). Let's say it together, slowly: أنا … أفرّش … أسناني … مرتين … يوميًا. Third phrase: "أنا أستحم بعد المدرسة" – I bathe after school. Notice the preposition "بعد" (after) and the noun "المدرسة" (school). Please repeat it aloud, paying attention to the soft "ث" in "أستحم". Let's practice all three phrases back‑to‑back. I'll say each one, and you repeat after me. Great job, everyone! Remember to use these phrases when talking about your daily routine.
Let's work through our first example: labeling a simple body diagram in Arabic. First, we start with the outline of a person. Notice the basic sketch on the slide. Here we add the Arabic label for the head: رأس (ra's). Place it right next to the head outline. Next, label the torso with جسمي (jasmi), meaning "my body."
Our worked example: a simple health sentence in Arabic. The sentence is "أنا أستحم كل صباح." which means "I wash every morning." Let's break it down: Subject – أنا (I), Verb – أستحم (wash), Object – كل صباح (every morning). Notice the Arabic period (.) comes at the end of the sentence, just like in English. Finally, practice reading aloud with a gentle rise‑fall intonation: "أنا أستحم كل صباح."
We'll work through Example 3: writing a short paragraph about a typical morning routine in Arabic. First sentence: "أستيقظ وأفتح عينيّ." – I wake up and open my eyes. Notice the conjunction "وأ" linking two actions smoothly. Make sure to end the sentence with a period. In Arabic, the punctuation mark looks the same as in English. Second sentence: "أغسل وجهي وأسناني." – I wash my face and my teeth. Here we use another conjunction to combine two hygiene actions. Again, place a period after the sentence. Third sentence: "أرتدي زائي المدرسي وأذهب إلى المدرسة." – I put on my school uniform and go to school. This sentence shows movement and purpose. Check the punctuation at the end, and now you have a complete three‑sentence paragraph describing a morning routine.
Free email sign-up — the tutor answers in English, Kiswahili or Sheng and walks you through جسمي step by step.