dedo gordo (del/de pie)
masculine
The English phrase "big toe" is translated into Spanish as dedo gordo (del/de pie). Wiktionary also lists dedo gordo (podal) and ortejo mayor.
Meaning: largest of the toes of the foot of a human (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dedo gordo (del/de pie) | masculine | |
| dedo gordo (podal) | /ˈdedo ˈɡoɾdo poˈdal/ (word by word) | |
| ortejo mayor | /oɾtexo maʝoɾ/ (from spelling rules) | Chile, masculine |
The term refers to the largest toe on a human foot. Because dedo can also mean a finger on the hand, it is common to add del pie (of the foot) to the phrase to specify that you are talking about the foot. For a formal or technically accurate way to refer to it, you can use primer dedo del pie.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dedo gordo literally translates to "fat finger".
Which one should you use?
dedo gordo (podal) is an alternative form provided in the dictionary.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, the term ortejo mayor is used to refer to the big toe.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of dedo gordo is dedos gordos.
Did you know?
- If a Spanish speaker refers to the dedo gordo without specifying the foot, a listener might assume they are talking about the thumb.
- While dedo gordo is the common term, the word ortejo is a doublet of artículo, the word for a grammar 'article'.
Examples in context
- El médico señaló un dolor punzante en el dedo gordo del pie derecho.The doctor pointed out a sharp pain in the big toe of the right foot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “big toe” translations and entries ortejo mayor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (dedo, gordo, podal) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dedo, gordo, mayor, ortejo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
