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Health and Fitness

Speaking the Language of Wellness: From Injuries to Exercise, Key Vocabulary for Everyday Health Topics

Health is a universal concern, and being able to talk about it clearly is a vital life skill, especially for ESL learners. Health and fitness vocabulary equips students with the language they need to describe how they feel, talk to medical professionals, understand health advice, and discuss personal fitness goals with clarity and confidence.

From everyday terms like back, ankle, arm, and chest to more complex ideas such as chronic pain, bronchitis, and allergy, this set gives students the tools to express common physical experiences. It’s especially useful for real-life situations where accurate communication is crucial, such as visiting a doctor, describing symptoms, or understanding instructions about medicine, exercise, or diet.

Many of these words are also helpful for discussing wellness routines and healthy habits. Vocabulary like aerobics, cardio, calorie, and fitness can be used in lessons about lifestyle choices, goal-setting, or New Year’s resolutions. These are perfect opportunities to engage students in conversations about their daily routines and encourage them to use vocabulary in context.

This pack also includes essential emotional and mental health terms like anxiety and brain, topics that are increasingly relevant, especially for students balancing the challenges of school, work, and adapting to a new culture or language.

Not only does this vocabulary support practical communication, but it also sparks meaningful discussion. Students can compare home remedies, share fitness interests, or explain cultural approaches to health care, helping them connect language learning to their personal lives.

These are words students will use at the doctor’s office, at the gym, in class discussions, and in their everyday lives. Add this pack to your curriculum and empower your learners with the vocabulary to take care of themselves, body and mind.

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36ArmNounThe part of the body from the shoulder to the hand.He raised his arm to wave hello.
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36LegNounA body part used for standing and walking.She stretched her leg after sitting too long.
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36BackNounThe part of the body behind the chest and stomach.He hurt his back lifting a heavy box.
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36FootNounThe part of the body you walk on.She stepped in water and got her foot wet.
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36HairNounThin strands that grow on the head or body.She has long, curly hair.
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36HandNounThe end part of the arm with fingers and thumb.He held her hand while walking.
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36HeadNounThe top part of the body with the brain and face.She felt pain in her head.
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36NeckNounThe part of the body between the head and shoulders.He turned his neck to look behind him.
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36SkinNounThe outside layer of your body.She has soft skin and takes good care of it.
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36ShoulderNounThe joint that connects the arm to the body.He shrugged his shoulders when he didn’t know the answer.
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37EarNounThe part of the body used for hearing.She cleaned her ear with a cotton swab.
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37EyeNounThe part of the body used to see.She has green eyes.
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37NoseNounThe part of the face used for smelling and breathing.She has a runny nose because of her cold.
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37MouthNounThe opening in the face used for eating and speaking.He opened his mouth to eat the cake.
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37TeethNounHard parts in your mouth used for chewing.She brushes her teeth twice a day.
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37TongueNounThe soft part inside the mouth that helps with talking and eating.She stuck out her tongue playfully.
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37EyebrowNounThe line of hair above the eye.She raised her eyebrow in surprise.
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37EyelashNounThe short hairs on the edge of your eyelid.Her eyelashes are very long.
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37ForeheadNounThe part of the face above the eyebrows.He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
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38FingerNounOne of the small parts on your hand.She pointed with her finger.
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38HipNounThe body part below the waist on each side.She had pain in her hip after falling.
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38ToeNounOne of the five parts at the end of your foot.She stubbed her toe on the table.
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38HeelNounThe back part of the foot below the ankle.She hurt her heel while running.
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38KneeNounThe joint between the thigh and lower leg.He hurt his knee playing football.
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38AnkleNounThe joint between your foot and your leg.She hurt her ankle playing football.
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38ElbowNounThe part in the middle of your arm that lets it bend.He put his elbow on the table to rest.
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38ThumbNounThe short thick finger on the side of your hand.He hurt his thumb while playing.
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38WaistNounThe part of the body between the chest and hips.She wore a belt around her waist.
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38WristNounThe part of the arm that connects to the hand.He hurt his wrist playing tennis.
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39HeartNounThe organ that pumps blood around the body.Her heart beats faster when she runs.
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39StomachNounThe organ that helps digest food.She felt full after food in her stomach.
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39BoneNounA hard part inside the body that gives it shape.She broke a bone in her arm.
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39LungNounAn organ used for breathing.She keeps her lungs healthy by not smoking.
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39BrainNounThe part inside your head that controls your body and thoughts.The brain helps us think and remember.
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39ChestNounThe front part of the body between the neck and stomach.He felt pain in his chest after running.
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39JointNounThe place where two bones meet in the body.The knee is a large joint used for movement.
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39MuscleNounA body part that helps you move.He exercises to build strong muscles.
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40VeinNounA tube in the body that carries blood to the heart.The nurse found a vein to take blood.
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40LiverNounAn organ that helps clean the blood and digest food.The test showed his liver was working well.
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40NerveNounThin body parts that send messages between the brain and body.He hurt a nerve in his back.
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40ArteryNounA blood tube that carries blood from the heart to the body.Doctors check arteries to make sure blood flows well.
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40KidneyNounAn organ that filters waste from the blood.The doctor checked his kidney health.
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40BladderNounAn organ that holds urine before it leaves the body.He had a bladder infection and needed medicine.
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372ExerciseNounActivity that helps you stay healthy and strong.She does exercise every day to stay fit.
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372WorkoutNounExercise done to stay fit.She finished her morning workout.
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372SportswearNounClothing made for exercise or sports.She bought new sportswear for her workouts.
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372StretchingNounMoving muscles to make them longer or looser.She always does stretching before her run.
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372Fitness ClassNounA group of people exercising together with a teacher.She goes to a fitness class every Tuesday.
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372Fitness centerNounA place with equipment for exercise.He goes to the fitness center after work.
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372WeightliftingNounThe sport or exercise of lifting heavy weights.He does weightlifting to build muscle.
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372Personal TrainerNounA person who helps someone exercise and get fit.She hired a personal trainer to help her get in shape.
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373GamesNounFun activities people play alone or with others.They played games like soccer and basketball.
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373TrainingNounLearning how to do something through practice.She is in training to be a fitness coach.
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373CardioNounExercise that makes your heart beat faster and helps you stay fit.She does cardio every morning to stay healthy.
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373CalorieNounA way to measure energy in food.This snack has 100 calories.
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373AerobicsNounExercise with music that helps you stay fit.She does aerobics to keep her heart healthy.
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373Heart RateNounThe number of heartbeats per minute.His heart rate went up during exercise.
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374CoughNounA sudden sound from your mouth when you try to clear your throat.He has a bad cough from his cold.
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374FeverNounA body temperature that is higher than normal.He stayed home from school because he had a fever.
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374Common coldNounA mild illness that causes a runny nose and sore throat.He caught a cold after getting wet in the rain.
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374StomachacheNounPain in the stomach area.He had a stomachache after too much candy.
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374FluNounA sickness with fever, pain, and tiredness.He got the flu and stayed in bed for two days.
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374HeadacheNounPain in the head.She took medicine for her headache.
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374Sore ThroatNounPain in the throat, usually from illness.He drank tea to feel better from his sore throat.
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374RashNounRed or itchy skin caused by illness, allergy, or irritation.She got a rash after using a new cream.
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374AllergyNounA health problem where the body gets sick from things like dust or food.He has an allergy to peanuts.
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375Back PainNounHurt or discomfort in the back.He has back pain from sitting all day.
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375NauseaNounA sick feeling that makes you want to vomit.She felt nausea after the long car ride.
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375DiarrheaNounA problem where you go to the bathroom many times with loose stool.She had diarrhea after eating bad food.
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375VomitingNounWhen food comes up from the stomach through the mouth.He started vomiting after eating bad food.
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375MigraineNounA very bad headache that may cause sickness or light problems.She rested in a dark room because of a migraine.
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375DizzinessNounA feeling like the room is spinning or you're about to fall.He felt dizziness when he stood up too fast.
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375ConstipationNounA problem when it is hard to pass stool.She drank more water to help her constipation.
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376ScaldNounA skin burn from hot water or steam.She got a scald from spilling hot soup.
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376WoundNounA break in the skin that can bleed or hurt.The nurse cleaned the wound.
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376SprainNounAn injury where a joint is stretched or torn.He got a sprain while running and had to rest.
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376FractureNounA break or crack in a bone.The X-ray showed a small fracture in his wrist.
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376RecoveryNounThe process of getting better after being sick or hurt.Her recovery after surgery was very fast.
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376SwellingNounSwelling of the body, often from injury.The swelling on his knee went down after rest.
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376Muscle StrainNounA small tear in a muscle from using it too much.He got a muscle strain lifting heavy boxes.
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377InfectionNounHarmful germs entering the body and causing illness.She took antibiotics to treat the infection.
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377AsthmaNounA health problem that makes breathing hard.She uses an inhaler to help with her asthma.
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377PneumoniaNounA serious lung infection that can make breathing hard.He was very sick with pneumonia and had to go to the hospital.
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377SinusitisNounSwelling of the sinuses that makes breathing through the nose hard.She had sinusitis during allergy season.
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377BronchitisNounA sickness that makes it hard to breathe and causes coughing.He stayed home from school because of bronchitis.
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378UlcerNounA sore inside the body, often in the stomach.The doctor said he had a stomach ulcer.
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378DiabetesNounA health problem where the body has too much sugar in the blood.He controls his diabetes with food and exercise.
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378Chronic PainNounPain that lasts for a long time and doesn't go away.She lives with chronic pain in her back.
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378Hearing LossNounTrouble hearing sounds.He started to notice hearing loss with age.
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378HypertensionNounWhen blood pressure stays too high for a long time.He controls his hypertension with diet and exercise.
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378InflammationNounSwelling and redness in the body, often from injury or infection.The doctor saw inflammation in her joints.
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378Heart DiseaseNounA health problem that affects the heart.Lifestyle changes can help prevent heart disease.
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378Vision ImpairmentNounWhen someone cannot see clearly.She wears glasses for her vision impairment.
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378High Blood PressureNounA condition where the blood moves through vessels with too much force.He takes medicine for high blood pressure.
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378GastritisNounStomach pain caused by swelling in the lining.She was diagnosed with gastritis after having stomach pain.
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379AnxietyNounA strong feeling of worry or fear.He felt anxiety before his test.
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379FatigueNounA strong feeling of tiredness in the body or mind.She felt fatigue after a long day at work.
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379InsomniaNounTrouble falling or staying asleep.He has insomnia and often cannot sleep.
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379DepressionNounA mental illness that makes a person feel very sad and tired.She got help to feel better from depression.
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379ContemplationNounQuiet thinking, often for peace or understanding.She uses contemplation to relax her mind.
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