dito indice
/ˈdi.to ˈin.di.t͡ʃe/word by wordmasculine
The English phrase "index finger" is translated into Italian as dito indice. Wiktionary also lists indice.
Meaning: noun (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dito indice | /ˈdi.to ˈin.di.t͡ʃe/ (word by word) | masculine |
| indice | /ˈin.di.t͡ʃe/ | masculine |
Both dito indice and indice refer to the index finger.
What does it mean word for word?
The word indice literally means "index" or "pointer".
Which one should you use?
In common spoken Italian, the word dito is often omitted and indice is used alone to mean "index finger".
How does it change in a sentence?
The term is a masculine noun. When using the shortened form with a definite article, it becomes l'indice.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈdi.to ˈin.di.tʃe/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian culture, pointing with the indice is often considered rude or aggressive in social settings. To direct attention politely, people may use a subtle gesture with the whole hand or a nod.
- The Italian word dito comes from the Latin 'digitus', which is the root of the English word 'digit'. Both terms originally referred to counting on fingers before they were used for numbers in mathematics.
- The word indice is a polysemous term used for the finger, the index of a book and an economic indicator. This reflects its origin as a tool for pointing out specific information.
Examples in context
- In un momento di rabbia ho tirato un pugno al muro e mi sono rotto l'indice.In a fit of anger I punched the wall and broke my index finger.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form indice when describing an injury.Tatoeba #670996 by Guybrush88, translation #666705 by darinmex
- Mi ha indicato la destinazione usando il dito indiceHe/she pointed out the destination to me using the index finger
- Punta il dito indice verso la porta.Point your index finger toward the door.
- Mi si è sporcato il dito indice di vernice.I got paint on my index finger.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are looking at a map.
- SofiaDove siamo esattamente sulla mappa?Where exactly are we on the map?
- AlessandroGuarda dove appoggio il dito indice.Look where I'm placing my index finger.
- SofiaAh, ho capito, siamo vicino al parco.Ah, I see, we are near the park.
- AlessandroSì, dobbiamo camminare ancora un po'.Yes, we have to walk a bit more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “index finger” translations and entries dito indice, indice, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (dito, indice) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dito, indice, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
