finger

/ˈfɪŋɡə/

//ˈfɪŋɡə// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"finger" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“finger” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,104 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,104
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

finger vs fixer
67% similar
finger vs fiver
67% similar
finger vs fisher
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for finger
PropertyValue
Headwordfinger
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfɪŋɡə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#3,104
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “finger” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). finger lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for finger is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɪŋɡə/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,104 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 34 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for finger, with forms such as "ffinger", "figner", and "finegr". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "fixer", "fiver", "fisher", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *pénkʷe From Middle English fynger, finger, from Old English finger (“finger”), from Proto-West Germanic *fingr, from Proto-Germanic *fingraz (“finger”), from Proto-Indo-European *penkʷrós, from *pénkʷe (“five”). Compare West Frisian finger, Low G… The correct English form is finger, spelled F-I-N-G-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb.
  2. 2
    Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals, particularly
  3. 3
    Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals
  4. 4
    Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals
  5. 5
    Similar or similar-looking extremities in other animals
  6. 6
    Something similar in shape to the human finger, particularly
  7. 7
    Something similar in shape to the human finger
  8. 8
    Something similar in shape to the human finger
  9. 9
    Something similar in shape to the human finger
  10. 10
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body, particularly
  11. 11
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
  12. 12
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
  13. 13
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
  14. 14
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
  15. 15
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
  16. 16
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
  17. 17
    Something similarly extending, (especially) from a larger body
  18. 18
    Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
  19. 19
    Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
  20. 20
    Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
  21. 21
    Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
  22. 22
    Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
  23. 23
    Something similar in function or agency to the human finger, (usually) with regard to touching, grasping, or pointing.
  24. 24
    Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
  25. 25
    Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
  26. 26
    Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
  27. 27
    Various units of measure based or notionally based on the adult human finger, particularly
  28. 28
    A part of a glove intended to cover a finger.
  29. 29
    Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument.
  30. 30
    Someone skilled in the use of their fingers, (especially) a pickpocket.
  31. 31
    A person.
  32. 32
    An obscene or insulting gesture made by raising one's middle finger towards someone with the palm of one's hand facing inwards.
  33. 33
    Any of the individual receivers used in a rake receiver to decode signal components.
  34. 34
    An act of fingering (inserting a finger into someone's vagina or rectum for sexual pleasure).

Etymology

PIE word *pénkʷe From Middle English fynger, finger, from Old English finger (“finger”), from Proto-West Germanic *fingr, from Proto-Germanic *fingraz (“finger”), from Proto-Indo-European *penkʷrós, from *pénkʷe (“five”). Compare West Frisian finger, Low German/German Finger, Dutch vinger, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish finger; also Old Armenian հինգեր-որդ (hinger-ord, “fifth”). More at five.

Synonyms

toeclawtalontendriljet bridgedigitinformantfingering techniquetouchblokeladboyguvfingerlupper

This word in other languages

dedo(Español)doigt(Français)Finger(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ffinger,figner,finegr,fingerr,fingger,fingre,finnger,fniger,ifnger

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of finger - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ffinger1figner2finegr2fingerr1fingger1fingre2finnger1fniger2
Edit distance from "finger"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "finger"?
"finger" is spelled F-I-N-G-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɪŋɡə/.
What does "finger" mean?
As a noun, "finger" means: A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb.
What words are commonly confused with "finger"?
"finger" is commonly confused with "fixer", "fiver", "fisher". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "finger"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "finger" is /ˈfɪŋɡə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "finger"?
PIE word *pénkʷe From Middle English fynger, finger, from Old English finger (“finger”), from Proto-West Germanic *fingr, from Proto-Germanic *fingraz (“finger”), from Proto-Indo-European *penkʷrós, from *pénkʷe (“five”). Compare West Frisian fin... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “finger”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is F-I-N-G-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɪŋɡə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “fixer” - see the side-by-side comparison. finger vs fixer
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list