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Fitness vocabulary and phrases

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Table of contents

1. Fitness vocabulary

Fitness equipment names and exercises

2. Common fitness words in English

2.1 Exercise types

2.2 Body and muscle

2.3 Actions and movements

2.4 Health and wellness

2.5 Equipment and gear

1. Fitness vocabulary

A man sitting and lifting dumbbells

Fitness refers to how strong our bodies are and how well they can move. When you are fit, you can run, jump, lift things, and do other physical activities easily. To stay fit, people do activities like jogging, swimming, cycling, yoga, and going to the gym.

Fitness vocabulary list with picture illustration
Fitness vocabulary

Fitness equipment names and exercises

Two green dumbbells dumbbells 🔊
A woman using pull-up bar pull-up bar 🔊
Treadmill machine treadmill 🔊
A yoga mat rolling on the floor yoga mat 🔊
woman using a foam roller foam roller 🔊
Two red boxing gloves boxing gloves 🔊
Photo of spin bikes spin bike 🔊
A woman lifting kettlebell kettlebell 🔊
An abdominal bench abdominal bench 🔊
A woman lifting weight weight lifting 🔊
Photo of a man doing squats exercises squat 🔊
A man doing push-ups push-up 🔊
A man doing sit-ups sit-up 🔊
A woman stretching at home stretch 🔊
A man doing bar dip bar dip 🔊
A man on a treadmill doing cardio exercises cardio 🔊
A woman doing plank exercises plank 🔊
A woman doing pull-up exercises pull-up 🔊

2. Common fitness words in English

Be familiar with these fitness words and start using them in your gym conversations. You'll find names of workouts, body parts, movements, food terms, and gym equipment.

24 examples of common fitness words in English
Fitness words

2.1 Exercise types

  1. cardio
  2. strength
  3. endurance
  4. flexibility
  5. nobility
  6. aerobics
  7. pilates
  8. yoga
  9. CrossFit
  10. HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)
  11. circuit
  12. calisthenics
  13. zumba
  14. spinning
  15. powerlifting
  16. bodybuilding
  17. functional
  18. tabata
  19. plyometrics
  20. kickboxing

2.2 Body and muscle

  1. abs
  2. biceps
  3. triceps
  4. glutes
  5. hamstrings
  6. quads
  7. core
  8. lats
  9. delts
  10. pecs
  11. muscles
  12. tendons
  13. ligaments
  14. joints
  15. posture
  16. metabolism
  17. stamina
  18. physique
  19. endorphins
  20. cardiorespiratory

2.3 Actions and movements

  1. stretch
  2. lift
  3. push
  4. pull
  5. squat
  6. lunge
  7. run
  8. jump
  9. sprint
  10. plank
  11. row
  12. press
  13. deadlift
  14. curl
  15. balance
  16. rotate
  17. hinge
  18. crunch
  19. dip
  20. kick

2.4 Health and wellness

  1. nutrition
  2. hydration
  3. protein
  4. carbs
  5. fat
  6. sleep
  7. recovery
  8. rest
  9. wellness
  10. BMI (Body Mass Index)
  11. body fat
  12. calories
  13. macros
  14. meal prep
  15. supplement
  16. fiber
  17. electrolytes
  18. energy
  19. mental health
  20. motivation

2.5 Equipment and gear

  1. dumbbell
  2. barbell
  3. kettlebell
  4. mat
  5. treadmill
  6. resistance band
  7. bike
  8. elliptical
  9. rowing machine
  10. bench
  11. foam roller
  12. weight plate
  13. jump rope
  14. pull-up bar
  15. sandbag
  16. TRX
  17. gym
  18. sneakers
  19. fitness tracker
  20. stopwatch
Words Definitions and Examples
In good shape Being physically fit and healthy.
-> After months of regular exercise, he’s in good shape now.
Out of shape Being physically unfit or unhealthy.
-> He hasn’t exercised in years, and he’s really out of shape.
Eat healthy To have a diet that is good for you, including lots of fruits and vegetables.
-> She tries to eat healthily by including lots of fruits and vegetables in her meals.
Cut down on To reduce the amount of something like unhealthy foods or habits.
-> He’s trying to cut down on sugar to improve his health.
Work up a sweat To exercise to the point where you start to sweat.
-> Jogging every morning helps him work up a sweat and keep fit.
Keep in shape To stay fit and healthy.
-> Yoga helps maintain good healp.
Balanced diet Eating the right amount and variety of different foods to stay healthy.
-> Maintaining a balanced diet is good for your health.
Regular exercise Doing physical activity consistently.
-> Regular exercise avoids high blood pressure.
Hydrate To drink enough water.
-> You need to hydrate properly during workouts.
High in calories Food that has a lot of energy, which could lead to weight gain if consumed excessively.
-> Foods like chocolate and fast food are high in calories.
Low in calories Food that does not have much energy, usually healthier and good for weight loss.
-> Vegetables and lean proteins are low in calories.
Junk food Foods that are not healthy, often high in fat, sugar, and calories but low in nutritional value.
-> Candy is a junk food.
Nutrient-rich Foods that are high in vitamins and minerals.
-> Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are nutrient-rich foods.
Cut out To stop consuming something, usually related to food or habits that are bad for your health.
-> She decided to cut out sugar from her diet to improve her health.
Maintain weight To keep one’s weight steady and within a healthy range.
-> Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can help maintain weight.
Overweight Weighing more than is normal.
-> Regular exercise can prevent you from becoming overweight.
Underweight Weighing less than is normal.
-> It’s just as unhealthy to be underweight as it is to be overweight.
Sedentary lifestyle A way of life that involves little physical activity.
-> Living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to many health problems.
Active lifestyle A way of life that includes regular physical activity.
-> She leads an active lifestyle, which includes daily exercise and healthy eating.
Stamina The ability to keep going for a long time, either physically or mentally.
-> Regular exercise can help improve your stamina.
Dehydration A harmful decrease in the amount of water in your body.
-> Drinking plenty of water can help prevent dehydration.
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