Comments on: Spanish Sunday #1: The finger names

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:56:11 +0000

@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).

By: Michael Briscoe

Michael Briscoe — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:29:55 +0000

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)

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:19:06 +0000

@Pablo – Thanks for your input. I thought that these names could differ slightly in South America. Thanks again for sharing that!

By: Pablo

Pablo — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:57:24 +0000

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.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:54:03 +0000

@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.

By: Luz

Luz — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:43:24 +0000

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