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pulgar

pool-GAHR/pulˈɡaɾ/

thumb

Also: big toe
NounmA2
A close-up illustration of a human hand with the thumb pointing upwards.

📝 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

shoot

NounmC1formal
A close-up of a grapevine branch showing a small, new green shoot emerging from a pruned stem.

📝 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.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pulgar" in Spanish:

big toe→shoot→thumb→

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'pollicaris,' which relates to the 'pollex' (thumb). It originally meant something that was the width or length of a thumb.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: polegarFrench: pouceItalian: pollice

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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.