dedal
/deˈdaw/masculine
The English word "thimble" is dedal in Portuguese.
dedal refers to a cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material.
Meaning: cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /deˈdaw/.
Did you know?
- The word dedal is a linguistic 'cousin' to the English word 'digital'. Both come from the same Latin root for finger, 'digitus'.
- In Portuguese, the word for 'finger' (dedo) is used for both fingers and toes, meaning a dedal is conceptually a 'digit-cap' regardless of which limb it serves.
- In some Portuguese dialects, the pronunciation of the 'l' in dedal might sound more like a 'u' to an English ear, sounding almost like 'de-dah-oo'.
Examples in context
- Ele comprou um dedal.He bought a thimble.This sentence is useful for showing how to use dedal in a simple sentence.Tatoeba #1941607 by alexmarcelo, translation #704397 by azulhana
- O meu dedal desapareceu. Vou precisar de comprar um novo.My thimble has gone missing. I'll need to buy a new one.
- Eu preciso de um dedal para costurar.I need a thimble to sew.
- O dedal de metal é muito pequeno.The metal thimble is very small.
Example conversation
Rodrigo is helping Mariana with a sewing project.
- RodrigoVocê consegue encontrar o dedal para mim, Mariana?Can you find the thimble for me, Mariana?
- MarianaAcho que ele caiu atrás da mesa.I think it fell behind the table.
- RodrigoEu preciso do dedal para terminar isso.I need the thimble to finish this.
- MarianaAqui está, Rodrigo!Here it is, Rodrigo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thimble” translations and entries dedal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dedal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
