• Question: Is a thumb a finger?

    Asked by scientist101 to Edd, Jess, Nicolas, Zara on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Edward Codling

      Edward Codling answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Our thumbs are very similar to our fingers – we just call it something different. They are all ‘digits’ at the ends of our hands!

      The fact that we have an ‘opposable thumb’ (we can move our thumb around independently of the other fingers and hold things between finger and thumb) means that we are very dextrous compared to animals. This has allowed us to do things that animals can’t do like writing and holding tools.

    • Photo: Zara Gladman

      Zara Gladman answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Hi scientist101!

      This is what the Oxford dictionary says about the ‘thumb’:

      “The short, thick first digit of the human hand , set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them.”

      So no mention of it being a finger! But, like Edd said, it is a ‘digit’ (and so are fingers).

      I wonder if it’s the same in other languages? Maybe Nicolas could tell us if the thumb is called a finger in German?

      Thumbs are very important! Very few mammals have them and they and let us do things that would be impossible otherwise… have you ever tried washing the dishes without using your thumbs? The comedian, Karl Pilkington (from the Ricky Gervais Show) did! He said: “Four fingers and a thumb is just the right amount. One too many and it’d get in the way, one less and it’d be tricky with a slippery dish.” He found it really difficult and it took him ages (his wife was really annoyed) 😆

      I found this funny blog written by someone whose right thumb was stuck in a cast: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/01/in-appreciation-of-the-opposable-thumb/ It made everyday tasks a nightmare!

    • Photo: Jessica Chu

      Jessica Chu answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      agree so won’t repeat answers 🙂

Comments