Inklingo
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pulgar

/pool-GAHR/

thumb

A close-up illustration of a human hand with the thumb pointing upwards.

In Spanish, 'pulgar' refers to the thumb, the thickest finger on the hand.

pulgar(noun)

mA2

thumb

?

the thickest finger on the human hand

Also:

big toe

?

sometimes used for the large toe, though 'dedo gordo' is more common

📝 In Action

Me lastimé el pulgar jugando baloncesto.

A2

I hurt my thumb playing basketball.

Ella hizo una señal con el pulgar hacia arriba.

B1

She gave a thumbs-up sign.

El niño se chupa el pulgar cuando tiene sueño.

A2

The boy sucks his thumb when he is sleepy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dedo pulgar (thumb)

Common Collocations

  • pulgar hacia arriba – thumbs up
  • pulgar hacia abajo – thumbs down
  • chuparse el pulgar – to suck one's thumb

Idioms & Expressions

  • luchar pulgar a pulgar – to fight or compete very closely

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'the' instead of 'my'

In Spanish, when talking about body parts like your thumb, you usually use 'el' (the) instead of 'mi' (my) if it's obvious the body part belongs to you. For example: 'Me duele el pulgar' (The thumb hurts me) instead of 'mi pulgar'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't confuse with 'pulgada'

Mistake: "Using 'pulgar' to mean 'inch'."

Correction: Use 'pulgada' for the unit of measurement (inch) and 'pulgar' only for the body part (thumb).

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing the big toe

While 'pulgar' technically refers to the thumb, people often call the big toe 'el dedo gordo' (the fat finger) instead of using 'pulgar del pie'.

A close-up of a grapevine branch showing a small, new green shoot emerging from a pruned stem.

In an agricultural context, 'pulgar' describes a short shoot or branch left on a vine after pruning.

pulgar(noun)

mC1

shoot

?

agriculture, specifically a short branch left on a vine after pruning

📝 In Action

El agricultor dejó dos yemas en cada pulgar de la vid.

C1

The farmer left two buds on each shoot of the vine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Specialized Context

Unless you are studying viticulture (wine-making), you likely won't need this meaning.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pulgar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly says 'I hurt my thumb' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pulgada(inch) - noun
pulgarcito(Tom Thumb (little thumb)) - noun
dedal(thimble) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pulgar' used for the big toe too?

Technically, yes, it can be called 'el pulgar del pie,' but in everyday conversation, almost everyone says 'el dedo gordo' (the big toe).

Does 'pulgar' mean 'inch'?

No. While they share a root, the word for 'inch' is 'pulgada'. 'Pulgar' is only the physical body part.