Portuguese · Body & Health
"Thumb" in Portuguese: polegar
o polegar
Thumb in Portuguese is o polegar. Give a thumbs-up with o polegar para cima or complain about a sore polegar after typing.
Phone strain
Meu polegar direito dói de tanto digitar.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce polegar
Say it
po-leh-GAHR
/po.le.ˈɡaʁ/
po-leh-GAHR. Stress on GAHR.
"Thumb" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o polegar | the thumb Body noun. | Body noun. |
| polegar direito / esquerdo | right / left thumb Side detail. | Side detail. |
| polegar para cima | thumbs up Gesture. | Gesture. |
| dedão | big toe / thumb (casual) Informal; often big toe. | Informal; often big toe. |
How to use polegar in real life
- 1Phone strain
Meu polegar direito dói de tanto digitar.
My right thumb hurts from so much typing.
Side + pain.
- 2Gesture
Ele respondeu só com o polegar para cima.
He answered with just a thumbs-up.
Gesture phrase.
- 3First aid
Cortei o polegar na faca da cozinha.
I cut my thumb on the kitchen knife.
Injury.
Mistakes English speakers make with polegar
Incorrect: A polegar inchou.
Correct: O polegar inchou.
Polegar is masculine.
Incorrect: Machuquei o thumb.
Correct: Machuquei o polegar.
Use polegar.
Good to know
Polegar para cima is the clear thumbs-up. Dedão can mean thumb in casual speech but often means big toe—polegar avoids confusion. Phone typing complaints about the polegar are modern and common.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After a kitchen mishap
ChatPal
Foi o polegar que cortou?
Was it the thumb that got cut?
You
Sim — o polegar esquerdo, bem na ponta.
Yes — the left thumb, right on the tip.
ChatPal
Lava o polegar e põe um curativo.
Wash the thumb and put on a bandage.
You
Já estou indo para o banheiro.
I’m already heading to the bathroom.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Thumb" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Thumb" in Portuguese
Gender?
Masculine: o polegar.
Thumbs up?
Polegar para cima.
Dedão instead?
Casual, but can mean big toe.
Plural?
Os polegares.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
