In the realm of learning a new language, understanding fundamental elements such as our digits becomes our first stepping stone. If you're learning English, knowing how to say "hands" and "fingers" is essential. But what about those ten digits at the end of your fingers? Let's delve into "dedos en inglés," the Spanish term for fingers in English.
Before we start, let's quickly review. "Dedos" refers to fingers, and "en inglés" means "in English." So, "dedos en inglés" translates literally to "fingers in English." Now, let's explore how to count and name those unique digits.
Counting Fingers in English
Counting fingers in English follows a simple numerical sequence, just like in many other languages. Let's start from one and go up to ten.
You might already know that "one" is replaced by "l ú n," "two" by "d ó s," and so on. But it's important to know that English also uses "and" to connect numbers when counting.
One to Nine
Here's how we say the first nine fingers in English:
- One (1) – One
- Two (2) – Two
- Three (3) – Three
- Four (4) – Four
- Five (5) – Five
- Six (6) – Six
- Seven (7) – Seven
- Eight (8) – Eight
- Nine (9) – Nine
Ten and Beyond
Counting continues with "ten" but introduces the word "and" to connect the numbers:
- Ten (10) – Ten
- Eleven (11) – Eleven
- Twelve (12) – Twelve
- Thirteen (13) – Thirteen
- Fourteen (14) – Fourteen
- Fifteen (15) – Fifteen
- Sixteen (16) – Sixteen
- Seventeen (17) – Seventeen
- Eighteen (18) – Eighteen
- Nineteen (19) – Nineteen
- Twenty (20) – Twenty
Finger Names in English
Just like we have names for our toes, we also have specific names for our fingers in English. Unlike most languages, English has a unique name for each individual finger, not just thumb, index, middle, ring, and pinky.
Let's break it down:
Thumb
The thumb has a unique name in English: the "thumb." Due to its unique shape and functionality, it has no equivalent number name like other fingers.
Index Finger to Pinky
The remaining four fingers share names based on their position:
- Index finger – Also called the "pointer" or "first finger," it's located next to the thumb.
- Middle finger – The tallest finger, sandwiched between the index and the ring finger.
- Ring finger – So named because it's typically where we wear our wedding or engagement ring.
- Pinky/Pinkie – The smallest finger, located on the farthest side from the thumb. It's diminutive name comes from its tiny size.
In conclusion, mastering "dedos en inglés" involves learning the counting sequence and unique names for each finger. Practice regularly, and soon you'll be counting and naming your fingers like a native English speaker!
