German word

Finger

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfɪŋɐ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounfinger

Example

Ich habe mir den Finger verbrannt.

I burned my finger.

Illustration for Finger (finger)

More examples

Sie legte den Finger auf die Lippen.

She placed her finger on her lips.

Core concept

A slender, flexible projection at the end of the hand, suited to precise contact, pointing, and grip.

Common phrases

  • den Finger auf die Lippen legen

    place one's finger on one's lips

  • mit dem Finger auf dem Bildschirm tippen

    tap the screen with one's finger

Similar words

Hand: The body part at the arm's end that contains the palm and digits.
Daumen: The short, sturdy digit that opposes the others when grasping objects.
Zeigefinger: The digit used especially for indicating things and pressing small objects.
Nagel: A thin, hard plate at the fingertip that shields the underlying tissue.

Definition in German

Das dünne, bewegliche Glied an der Hand, mit dem man tastet, greift und zeigt.

Word origin

German Finger descends from Proto-Germanic *fingraz through Old and Middle High German forms, and is cognate with English finger and Dutch vinger.

Usage tips

  • For an injured body part, German commonly uses a dative reflexive with the definite article, as in Ich habe mir den Finger verbrannt.

Related words

  • Mittelfingermiddle fingernoun
  • Fingerspitzetip of the fingernoun

Word lists with this word