Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "finger" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

палец

Meaning: finger, toe, pin

Pronunciation: [PAH-lits]

Part of speech: noun (masculine noun)

Rank: #254 (see frequency list)

A girl is typing with her fingers.
Photo © 2009 MasterRussian.com

Example sentences:

Серге́й случа́йно поре́зал па́лец.
Sergey accidentally cut his finger.
Осторо́жно! Не уда́рь себя́ молотко́м по па́льцу.
Be careful not to hit your finger with the hammer!
literal Carefully! Not hit yourself with a hammer by a finger.
Ка́ждый па́лец руки име́ет своё назва́ние.
Every finger on the hand has its own name.
На него́ всегда́ пока́зывают па́льцем.
People are always pointing the finger of scorn at him.
literal They always point a finger at him.
Обруча́льное кольцо́ но́сят на безымя́нном па́льце.
The wedding ring is worn on the ring finger.
Он слома́л па́льцы в ава́рии.
He broke his fingers in an accident.
Его́ заста́вили сдава́ть отпеча́тки па́льцев.
They made him submit his fingerprints.
Нас по па́льцам мо́жно сосчита́ть.
We can be counted on one's fingers.
Ната́ша расчеса́ла во́лосы па́льцами.
Natasha combed her hair using fingers.
Он прищеми́л па́лец две́рью.
He pinched his finger in the door.
literal He pinched finger by the door.
Он показа́л па́льцем на дверь.
He pointed his finger to the door.
У мое́й маши́ны стуча́т па́льцы при разго́не.
My car pins make a knocking noise during acceleration.

Idioms and set expressions:

указа́тельный па́лец = index finger, forefinger
literal pointing finger
по па́льцам мо́жно сосчита́ть = smth can be counted on the fingers of one hand
знать как свои́ пять па́льцев = to know like the back of one's hand
literal to know like one's five fingers
большо́й па́лец = thumb; big toe
literal big finger
пока́зывать па́льцем на кого-либо = to judge smb, to point the finger of scorn at smb
literal to point a finger at smb
сре́дний па́лец = middle finger
безымя́нный па́лец = ring-fnger
literal nameless finger
смотре́ть сквозь па́льцы на что-либо = to look through one's fingers at smth
па́лец о па́лец не уда́рить = not to lift a finger
literal not to strike a finger by a finger
па́льцем не шевельну́ть = not to lift a finger
literal not to move a finger
обвести́ вокру́г па́льца = to cheat, to deceive
literal to lead around a finger
пока́зывать / ука́зывать па́льцем (на + accusative) = to point one’s finger at
прищеми́ть себе́ па́лец = to pinch one's finger
прищеми́ть па́лец две́рью = to pinch one's finger in the door

Related words:

па́льчик = finger (diminutive form)
рука́ = arm, hand
нога́ = leg
мизи́нец = little finger, little toe

Other forms of the word (declensions):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	па́лец	па́льцы
Genitive	па́льца	па́льцев
Dative	па́льцу	па́льцам
Accusative	па́лец	па́льцы
Instrumental	па́льцем	па́льцами
Prepositional	па́льце	па́льцах

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

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