Fingers and toes, Italian style

It's always a good idea to know what each finger on the hand are called in a given language. 

Here are the names of the five fingers in italian:

Ogni mano ha cinque dita. Andiamo a conoscerle. Il pollice, indice, medio, anulare e mignolo.

Each hand has five fingers. Let's get to know them. The thumb, index, middle, ring, and little finger.

Captions 12-15, Marika spiega Gli arti superiori

 Play Caption

banner PLACEHOLDER

For more about upper limbs see this video from Marika. 

Compared to English, Italian has a different take on fingers and toes. Italian speakers use dito (finger) for both fingers and toes, but specify when it's not about hands.

Tutti i pezzi che mancavano meno uno. -Il dito? No, le dita ci sono tutte sia dei piedi che delle mani. -Eh.

All the missing pieces save one. -The finger? No, all the digits are there, both on the feet and the hands. -Yeah.

Captions 23-24, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1EP1 L'estate del dito - Part 17

 Play Caption

So it's important to know that in Italian, there is no real difference between a finger and a toe. It just depends on where it is located. 

However, the big toe is often referred to as l'alluce.

Il dito grande del piede si chiama alluce.

The big toe of the foot is called [the] big/great toe.

Caption 15, Marika spiega Il busto e gli arti inferiori

 Play Caption

Note that when we are talking about the toe of a boot or a shoe, then, it's la punta.

È la punta dello stivale Italia.

It's the toe of Italy's boot.

Caption 15, L'Italia a tavola Interrogazione sulla Calabria

 Play Caption

Ci sono delle scarpe a punta,

There are shoes with pointed toes,

Caption 22, Meraviglie EP. 6 - Part 10

 Play Caption

If you do something with your toe or toes, then it will probably be con la punta del piede.

Grammar corner:

Let's keep in mind that il dito (the finger) is a masculine noun, but has a feminine plural with an unusual ending: le dita (the fingers).

banner PLACEHOLDER