Body Parts in Romance Languages Quiz

Answer: Nose

The nose is one of the parts of your body through which air comes into your lungs. This is done in conjunction with the mouth. In English the etymology of the word 'nose' is derived from the Proto-Germanic root 'nusus', comparable to the origin of the term for all Romance languages from the Latin root 'nasus'.

Answer: Lips

Lips are tactile organs that serve many purposes. They are the access point to food intake, help in speech, and are fundamental for kissing. The term 'lip', originates from the Old English word 'lippa'; it is related to the Latin root 'labium', source of all Romance variants.

Answer: Neck

The term 'neck' comes from the Old English term 'hnecca', derived from the Proto-Germanic 'khnekkon' and with no related terms outside the Germanic Languages. In Romance Languages, most terms are related to the Latin root 'collum' (Galician 'pescozo' comes from Old Spanish 'cuezo', which is related to 'collum'). The Romanian term 'gât' is related to the Latin root 'guttura' (throat).

The neck separates the torso from the head. Seven sections (or vertebrae) from the human spine belong to the neck!

Answer: Knee

The knee (from the Proto-Germanic root 'knewan') is one of the joints in your legs. It connects several bones. In humans, knees support almost the entire weight of the body. The Latin term for knee is 'genu', but the Romanian term is more closely related to vulgar Latin root 'genunculu'.

The names for the knee in Spanish and Galician are related to the Latin root 'rotella' (rotary/wheel).

Answer: Eyes

The term eye is derived from Old English 'ege', which comes from the Proto-Germanic root 'augon'. The Romance terms are all related to the Latin root 'occulos'. In French, the term 'yeux' has undergone several stages of palatalization from its singular Old French form 'Olz', ancestor to the modern French 'Oeil'.

On a trivial note, the human eye can see 10 million colors!

Answer: Finger

The fingers (from the Proto-Germanic term 'fingraz' and has no related terms outside the Germanic Language family) are sensory organs found in your hands. They are specialized for manipulation, and they are found both in humans and other primates. The term finger is not used to refer to the digits of other animals. All Romance Language terms for this body part are related to the Latin root 'digitum' (digit/finger).

Answer: Cheeks

The cheek is the area of skin that covers the cheekbone and forms the lateral walls of the mouth. The term comes from the West Germanic 'kaukon' (jaw) and is not found elsewhere. In some Roman Languages, such as Neapolitan, the term is related to the Latin 'maxilla' (jaw). In others (such as Italian and Catalan), it is related to the Indo-European word 'gonunta' (jaw).

Answer: Leg

The word leg derived from the Proto-Germanic root 'lagjaz' and was first used in English in the 13th century. The Romance Language terms are either derived from the Latin 'perna', as in Portuguese, or the Latin 'camba' (the part between the ankle and the knee in animals), as in Sicilian and Provençal.

The legs are a significant portion of the total body mass (the original term implied the muscle and bone as well). Legs allow individuals to stand, run, kick, jump, and walk, among other activities.

Answer: Elbow

The word elbow comes from the Proto Germanic root 'elino-bugon', literally meaning 'bend of the forearm'. The elbows are the regions that surround the joints within the arms. The Romance languages terms are derived from the Latin root 'cubitus'.

Answer: Ear

From the Proto-Germanic Root 'auzon', and commonly referred to as the ears, the correct anatomical name for this body part is the pinna. It helps to collect sound. The Romance Language terms are derived from the Latin root 'auricula'.