Print this PostI’d like to take a moment to introduce you to a new feature of this site: Spanish Sunday. You see, when I started this blog I had two big goals — the first was to make my readers aware of Spanish Culture and the second was to teach my readers a little bit about the Spanish Language. Lately, I feel as though my blog has been heavy on the “culture” end of things and a little light on the “language” side, so that’s why I’m hoping to write one post a week –on Sundays– that has to do with teaching you some aspect of the Spanish language (hence the name “Spanish Sunday”). Here is the first edition of “Spanish Sunday” which has to do with the names of the fingers in Spanish.
Basically, the names of the fingers in the Spanish of Spain are as follows. Starting with the thumb, we have the pulgar, índice, corazón, anular, and meñique. All of these words are nouns and they are all masculine.
To make things a little more clear, here’s a diagram I put together.
The names of the fingers in Spanish.
Remember, these are the names used in Spain. Specifically, they are used in the region of Spain that I live in (Castilla y León). I’m pretty sure that other countries probably have other words for the names of the fingers. If any of my readers would like to provide input on that point, feel free to leave a comment on this post.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Spanish Sunday! Stay tuned next week for another little Spanish tidbit.
Hasta luego,
–Chris
http://abroadinspain.com
Nope………as far as I know!!! I come from Avilés, north of Spain; my parents are from a village in Salamanca and I live in Madrid, and I don’t think there are other names unless you mean in the other co-official languages in Spain. Not sure about Spanish in other countries, will try and “do some research”.
Just “found” your blog and I LIKE IT!!!
Begoña
@Begoña – Thanks for the comment! What I meant in the post was that perhaps in some South American countries they use other names for the fingers…. If you find anything out, let me know. I’ll try asking some of my latino friends as well and see if I can come up with an answer.
I’ve just learned that the middle finger is called “corazón” in spanish, even if i’m spanish native!
All the ppl I know (acquaintances from Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú, Venezuela, Argentina and even Spain) call the middle finger “dedo mayor”.
All the other names are the same, “meñique, anular, mayor, índice, pulgar”. In Argentina is very common to say “dedo gordo” and “dedo pulgar” indifferently.
@Pablo – Thanks for your input. I thought that these names could differ slightly in South America. Thanks again for sharing that!
Chris, as an English resudent in Spain, I enjoy yourblogs. Thank you. Just a thought on el dedo anular. In Andalucia (not sure about the rest of Spain) married people wear the wedding rings on the an ular of their right hand, not the left as in usual in UK (and USA?). Also the custom is for a surviving spouse to put their partners wedding ring on their finger when they are widowed. (If it will fit, I guess)
@Michael – First, thanks for your kind words about my blog. And yes, in the USA we also wear the wedding ring on the left hand ring finger — not the right hand… I also found that difference sort of curious when I first came to Spain. And thanks for sharing the information about what happens when someone is widowed — I didn’t know that little tidbit (we don’t have that custom in the USA; however, it is common for the widower to keep his/her widow’s ring in a special place).