finger: Entire Entry

пђлец¹ finger

Одќн из учђстников экспедќции отморћзил себљ пђльцы на рукђх.

One of the members of the expedition got frostbitten fingers.

Semantics

Russian differs from English in that the word пђлец may mean either "finger" or "toe." Only the meaning "finger" is described in this entry, as well as the corresponding part of an animal's paw, "digit." Common sense will dictate which words and expressions can be used to refer to an animal's digits. Because of the potential ambiguity of the Russian word пђлец "finger; toe" the following four expressions are used to distinguish between toes and fingers:

пђльцы рџк_g (or на рукђх_p)	fingers
пђльцы нћг_g (or на ногђх_p)	toes

Without any such indication and without a clear context, the word пђлец is more likely to be understood to mean "finger" than "toe."

The word пђлец may also refer to the finger of a glove or mitten, a meaning not described in this dictionary.

Morphology

пђлец SS (е) m.in.noun

Syntax

Syntactic actants

Actant 1: whose finger it is
(a) Genitive
(b) Possessive

Длќнные пђльцы Сергљя бІстро двќгались по клђвишам.	Sergey's long fingers quickly moved across the keyboard.
От стќрки её пђльцы распџхли.	Her fingers were swollen from doing the washing.
NB When the word пђлец functions as a subject and does not have a descriptive modifier, the construction пђлец у + Genitive is often preferred to (a) and (b), above:
От стќрки у неё распџхли пђльцы.	Her fingers were swollen from doing the washing.

Restrictive modifiers

(a) Noun phrase: Adj + Genitive of рукђ
(b) Prepositional phrase: на (+ Adj) + Prepositional of рукђ

NB Note that (b) is more common than (a).
пђльцы лљвой/прђвой рукќ	the fingers of the left/right hand
пђльцы на лљвой/прђвой рукљ	the fingers on the left/right hand
У неё распџх большћй пђлец лљвой рукќ (or на лљвой рукљ).	The thumb of/on her left hand had swelled up.

Lexical Relationships

Synonyms

пљрст Archaic or Poetic

finger

Diminutives

пђльчик	finger
Мђльчик-с-пђльчик	Tom Thumb

Different fingers

большћй пђлец	the thumb
указђтельный пђлец	the index finger
срљдний пђлец	the middle finger
безымїнный пђлец	the ring finger
мизќнец	the little finger

Parts

фалђнги	the phalanges, the bones of the finger
нћготь	a fingernail
подџшечка пђльца_g	the pad of the finger
кћнчик пђльца_g	the tip of the finger
Онђ дотрћнулась до егћ щекќ кћнчиками пђльцев.	She touched his cheek with the tips of her fingers.
костїшки пђльца_g	the knuckles, i.e. the joints of a bent finger

What it is a part of

рукђ	hand
пђльцы лљвой рукќ	the fingers of the left hand
NB Note that one does not use the synonym кќсть in this phrase.

Appearance, conditions, and sensations

Size and shape; aesthetics

длќнные пђльцы	long fingers
корћткие пђльцы	short fingers
тћлстые пђльцы	plump fingers
тћнкие пђльцы	slender fingers; thin fingers
нљрвные пђльцы	nervous fingers
NB The above expression describes long, thin, mobile fingers.
жќрные пђльцы	fat fingers
пђльцы, как сосќски	fingers like sausages
костлївые пђльцы; худІе пђльцы	bony fingers
прямІе пђльцы	straight fingers
рћвные пђльцы	even fingers
кривІе пђльцы	crooked fingers
узловђтые пђльцы	knotted fingers
растопІренные пђльцы	splayed fingers
скрєченные пђльцы	gnarled fingers
красќвые пђльцы	beautiful fingers
изїщные пђльцы	elegant fingers
аристократќческие пђльцы	aristocratic fingers
некрасќвые пђльцы	ugly fingers

Strength and mobility

сќльные пђльцы	strong fingers
желљзные пђльцы	*very strong fingers (lit.* "fingers of iron")**
Сосљд схватќл Пљтьку за плечћ своќми желљзными пђльцами и не выпускђл.	The neighbor grabbed Pet'ka by the shoulder with his powerful fingers and would not let him go.
цљпкие пђльцы	prehensile fingers
слђбые пђльцы	weak fingers
подвќжные пђльцы	agile fingers
бІстрые пђльцы	nimble fingers
лћвкие пђльцы	dexterous fingers
нелћвкие пђльцы	clumsy fingers
невљрные пђльцы	uncertain fingers
Ученќца разІгрывала гђммы невљрными пђльцами.	The student played the scales with uncertain fingers.

Fingers exposed to cold

крђсные пђльцы	reddened fingers
замерзђть/замёрзнуть: у N_g пђльцы_n замерзђют	N's fingers are very cold
*сгибђться [no Pf.]: у N_g пђльцы_n не сгибђются*	N's fingers don't bend
Ћй, кђк рџки замёрзли! Пђльцы не сгибђются!	Oh, my hands are so cold! I can't bend my fingers!
*одеревенљть [no Impf.]: у N_g пђльцы_n одеревенљли*	N's fingers are stiff
*не чџвствовать [no Pf.] пђльцев_g*	not to feel one's fingers
отморђживать/отморћзить (себљ_d) пђльцы_a; обморђживать/обморћзить (себљ_d) пђльцы_a	to get frostbitten fingers
обморћженные пђльцы	frostbitten fingers

Medical conditions

*нарывђть [no Pf.]: у N_g пђлец_n нарывђет*	N has an infection in his finger
распухђть/распџхнуть: у N_g пђлец_n распџх	N's finger is swollen
*болљть/заболљть [Pf-begin]: у N_g пђлец_n болќт*	N's finger hurts
*дљйствовать [no Pf.]: у N_g пђльцы_n не дљйствуют*	N's fingers don't work

Inflicting and sustaining injuries

ушибђть/ушибќть N_d/(себљ_d) пђлец_a	*to injure N's/one's finger*
*порљзать [no Impf.] N_d/(себљ_d) пђлец_a*	*to cut N's/one's finger*
Ї порљзал (себљ) пђлец.	I cut my finger.
Ћй, тІ порљзал мнљ пђлец!	Ouch! You cut my finger!
укђлывать/уколћть N_d/(себљ_d) пђлец_a	*to prick N's/one's finger*
прищемлїть/прищемќть N_d/(себљ_d) пђлец_a	*to catch N's/one's finger [in a door, a drawer, etc.]*
вывќхивать/вІвихнуть N_d/(себљ_d) пђлец_a	*to dislocate N's/one's finger*
ломђть/сломђть N_d/(себљ_d) пђлец_a	*to break N's/one's finger*
*занозќть [no Impf.] (себљ_d) пђлец_a*	to get a splinter in one's finger

Adornments

кольцћ	ring
обручђльное кольцћ	wedding ring
пљрстень	*ring (usually a heavy ring with a stone)*
*носќть [no Pf.] кольцћ_a (or пљрстень_a) на пђльце_p*	to wear a ring on one's finger

Touching, holding, seizing, etc.

схвђтывать, хватђть/схватќть N_a пђльцами_i	to grasp N with one's fingers
NB The above expression is often used with a modifier:
Ћн схватќл лопђту замёрзшими пђльцами.	He grasped the shovel with his freezing fingers.
держђть) N_a в пђльцах_p	to hold N with one's fingers
брђть/взїть N_a пђльцами_i	to take N with one's fingers
Своќми длќнными, худІми пђльцами ћн взїл щепћтку сћли и тщђтельно посолќл картћшку на тарљлке.	With his long, gaunt fingers he took a pinch of salt and carefully salted the potatoes on his plate.
касђться/коснџться N_g пђльцем_i (or кћнчиком_i пђльца_g)	to touch N with one's finger (or the tip of one's finger)
Ћн осторћжно коснџлся пђльцем её мћкрых реснќц.	He carefully touched her wet eyelashes with his finger.
прћбовать/попрћбовать пђльцем_i нћж_a	to test (the sharpness of) a knife with one's finger

Movements that express emotional or psychological states

целовђть/поцеловђть кћнчики_a своќх пђльцев_g	to kiss the tips of one's fingers
NB The above expression describes a gesture of admiration.
потирђть пђльцем_i перенћсицу_a	to rub the bridge of one's nose
NB The above expression describes a contemplative gesture.
*кусђть [no Pf.] себљ_d пђльцы_a*	to bite one's fingers
NB The above expression describes a nervous gesture.
*хрустљть/хрџстнуть [Pf-once] пђльцами_i*	to crack one's knuckles
NB The above expression describes a nervous gesture.
*щёлкать/защёлкать [Pf-begin] пђльцами_i*	to snap one's fingers
NB The above phrase refers to a gesture used to express annoyance, when one cannot remember something.
— С ітой... нџ... с ітой, нџ... — отвљтил гћсть и защёлкал пђльцами. [М. Булгђков, Мђстер и Маргарќта]	"With this... ah... with this...," answered the guest, and started snapping his fingers. [M. Bulgakov, Master and Margarita]
барабђнить/побарабђнить [Pf-awhile] пђльцами_i по столџ_d (or по стеклџ_d); стучђть/постучђть [Pf-awhile] пђльцами_i по столџ_d (or по стеклџ_d)	to drum on a table/glass with one's fingers
NB The phrases above describe gestures of pensiveness or preoccupation.
переплетђть/переплестќ пђльцы_a; сплетђть/сплестќ пђльцы_a	*to intertwine fingers (of two people)*
NB The above expression is usually said of lovers who intertwine their fingers.
*тІкать/ткнџть [Pf-once] пђльцем_i в N_a*	to jab N with one's finger
Ћн тІкал своќм тћлстым пђльцем в моє рџкопись и ругђлся.	He jabbed my manuscript with his fat finger and swore.
грозќть/погрозќть N_d пђльцем_i	to shake one's finger at N

Other movements

приклђдывать/приложќть пђлец_a к губђм_d	to put one's finger to one's lips
NB The above expression describes a gesture requesting silence.
поднимђть/поднїть пђлец_a	to raise a finger
NB The above expression describes a gesture which calls for attention.
укђзывать/указђть пђльцем_i на N_a; покђзывать/показђть пђльцем_i на N_a	to point at N
подзывђть/подозвђть N_a пђльцем_i	to beckon to N
считђть/пересчитђть на пђльцах_p	to count on one's fingers
выстџкивать/вІстучать пђльцем_i мотќв_a (or рќтм_a)	to tap out a tune (or a rhythm) with one's finger
*шевелќть/пошевелќть, зашевелќть [Pf-begin] пђльцами_i*	to move one's fingers
У вђс артрќт. Старђйтесь бћльше шевелќть пђльцами.	You have arthritis. Try to move your fingers more.
сгибђть/согнџть пђлец_a	to bend one's finger
загибђть/загнџть пђльцы_a	to count on one's fingers
NB The above expressions describe a movement used when one is counting on one's fingers, which Russians do by bending the fingers.
...тџт Стравќнский стђл загибђть длќнные пђльцы, поглїдывая тћ в лќст, тћ на Ивђна... [М. Булгђков, Мђстер и Маргарќта]	...at this point Stravinsky began counting on his long fingers, looking now at the page, now at Ivan... [M. Bulgakov, Master and Margarita]
сжимђть/сжђть пђльцы_a	to squeeze one's fingers together; to clench a fist
сжимђть/сжђть пђльцы_a в кулђк_a	to clench a fist
NB The above expression is often used with the adverb крљпко "tightly."
разжимђть/разжђть пђльцы_a	to unclench one's fist
сцеплїть/сцепќть пђльцы_a	to intertwine one's fingers
Ћн молчђл, сцепќв пђльцы.	He kept silent, his fingers intertwined.
растопІривать/растопІрить пђльцы_a	to splay one's fingers
заклђдывать/заложќть (большћй) пђлец_a за лђцкан_a пиджакђ_g (or за ремљнь_a or за пћяс_a)	to hook one's finger/thumb into the lapel of one's jacket (or into one's belt)
*ковырїть/поковырїть [Pf-awhile] пђльцем_i в носџ_loc*	to pick one's nose
затыкђть/заткнџть (себљ_d) пђльцами_i џши_a	to plug one's ears, to stick one's fingers in one's ears to block out sound
накрџчивать/накрутќть вћлосы_a (or бћроду_a) на пђльцы_a	to wind one's hair/beard around one's finger
щипђть/ущипнџть	to pinch
щипђть/ущипнџть N_a за џхо_a (or зђ ухо_a, or за нћс_a, or зђ нос_a, etc.)	*to tweak N's* ear (or nose, etc.)**
Своќми длќнными, холћдными пђльцами ћн бћльно ущипнџл менї зђ ухо и сказђл: «Бџдешь тепљрь знђть!»	With his long, cold fingers he tweaked my ear painfully and said, "Next time you'll know!"
*водќть [no Pf.] пђльцем_i по стрћчкам_d*	to run one's finger under the words
NB The above expression describes a gesture used by people having trouble reading — a child or an uneducated adult.
*бќть [no Pf.] N_a линљйкой_i по пђльцам_d*	to hit N on the fingers with a ruler
NB The above expression describes a punishment that used to be common in schools.

Other expressions

отпечђтки пђльцев_g

fingerprints

Sample texts

На конвљрте Гђнин равнодџшно узнђл косћй, крџпный, ћчень прђвильный пћчерк. Мђрка былђ наклљена внќз головћй, и в углџ тћлстый пђлец Јрики остђвил жќрный слљд. [В. Набћков, Мђшенька]	Ganin dispassionately recognized the sloping, forceful, very correct handwriting on the envelope. The stamp had been affixed upside down, and in the corner, Erica's plump finger had left a greasy print. [V. Nabokov, Mashenka]
Хозїин тћже проводќл глазђми Натђшу и спросќл у грђфа, котћрая егћ дћчь? — Charmante! — сказђл ћн, поцеловђв кћнчики своќх пђльцев. [Л. Толстћй, Войнђ и мќр]	*The host also followed Natasha with his eyes, and asked the count which was his daughter. "Charmante!"* he said, kissing the tips of his fingers. [L. Tolstoy, War and Peace]**
Ћн молчђл всё врљмя обљда и, щџрясь и мћрщась, глядљл кругћм себї ќли, остановќв глазђ, с вќдом совершљнной рассљянности, потирђл пђльцем перенћсицу. [Л. Толстћй, Войнђ и мќр]	He was quiet all through dinner and, squinting and frowning, looked around or, fixing his gaze on someone, he would rub the bridge of his nose with an air of complete absentmindedness. [L. Tolstoy, War and Peace]
— У менї ж дљло стоќт! — ужљ рычђл Рќмский, тІча пђльцем в грџду недопќсанных бумђг. [М. Булгђков, Мђстер и Маргарќта]	*"My work has come to a halt!" Rimsky began snarling, poking his finger at the pile of unfinished papers. [M. Bulgakov, Master and Margarita]*
... Тћт [Бегемћт] ћчень оживќлся, соскочќл с седлђ нђземь, вложќл пђльцы в рћт, надџл щёки и свќстнул. [М. Булгђков, Мђстер и Маргарќта]	*He [Behemoth] became very animated, leapt off his saddle onto the ground, put his fingers in his mouth, puffed out his cheeks and whistled. [M. Bulgakov, Master and Margarita]*
Ї смотрє, кђк ћн чџть нљрвно барабђнит пђльцами по столџ, кђк ћн улыбђется едвђ замљтно в своќ усІ.	I watched him drum his fingers on the table a bit nervously and smile almost imperceptibly into his moustache.

пђлец1 finger