German · Body & Health

"Thumb" in German: Daumen

der Daumen

Say it: DOW-menmasculine · der Daumennoun/ˈdaʊ̯mən/

Thumb in German is der Daumen, masculine. Plural is die Daumen. Daumen hoch means thumbs up.

Injury

Mein Daumen ist nach dem Handball dick.
My thumb is swollen after handball.
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How to pronounce Daumen

Say it

DOW-men

/ˈdaʊ̯mən/

DOW-men. Au like ow. Soft final -en.

"Thumb" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
der Daumenthumb

Default.

die Daumenthumbs

Plural.

Daumen hochthumbs up

Approval gesture.

Daumen drückento keep one's fingers crossed

Wish someone luck.

How to use Daumen in real life

  1. 1Injury

    Mein Daumen ist nach dem Handball dick.

    My thumb is swollen after handball.

    Mein Daumen.

  2. 2Approval

    Daumen hoch für den Plan.

    Thumbs up for the plan.

    Daumen hoch.

  3. 3Luck

    Ich drücke dir die Daumen für die Prüfung.

    I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your exam.

    Die Daumen.

Mistakes English speakers make with Daumen

Incorrect: die Daumen (singular)

Correct: der Daumen

Singular is der Daumen; plural looks the same.

Incorrect: der Thumb

Correct: der Daumen

Use Daumen, not English.

Good to know

Germans say Daumen drücken for good luck — literally press thumbs, similar to crossing fingers. Daumen hoch is the casual approval gesture.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Cheering before a test

  1. ChatPal

    Nervös vor der Prüfung?

    Nervous before the exam?

  2. You

    Etwas. Drück mir die Daumen.

    A bit. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

  3. ChatPal

    Klar. Daumen hoch du schaffst das.

    Sure. Thumbs up — you've got this.

  4. You

    Danke. Mit dem Daumen tippe ich dir später.

    Thanks. I'll text you later with my thumb.

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"Thumb" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Thumb" in German

How do you say thumb?

Der Daumen.

Thumbs up?

Daumen hoch.

Fingers crossed?

Die Daumen drücken.

Plural?

Die Daumen.

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