How do you count on your fingers? (1 Viewer)

[Ahsoka]

There’s more options to this that I thought, based on where you’re from For example, I usually start with closed fist/s, and count by opening my fingers, starting with my thumb, up to 10. This isn’t common in North America, but it’s common in Europe. But if I show the number 3, I hold up my index, middle, and ring fingers, which is common in North American but not Europe (most Europeans would use the thumb). But I also have an alternative that I use if I’m holding my phone. In this case, I usually start with fingers extended, and count by putting them down, up to 5, starting with the thumb. I don’t know why I do that, but I do. Also, all these are very general. There’s a wide variety of ways people count everywhere, the claims here are made as overall statements.

Also, obligatory history section. I’m sure you've noticed that eleven and twelve are a bit odd in English. Shouldn’t they be oneteen and twoteen or something? And you get the same with some other Germanic languages (like elf and zwölf in German instead of einszehn and zweizehn). This is thought to come from the way Germanic people counted. Everyday people usually counted on hands, because they didn’t have that much of a need for bigger numbers most days. They counted using the joints between parts of their fingers. Index to pinky have 3 sections each, which gives you the ability to count to 12. Bottom index is 1, bottom middle is 2, up until top pinky, which is 12. Because of it, 11 and 12 became unrelated to 10 because they used base 12, not base 10 like we do.

 

[Ahsoka]

History:
@Lexie @Nyaz @Dreamer_of_Songs @Nina @velvet @AuGamer1987 @ChuuAntics @alo @sick

 

[dark_tranquility]

4th finger to start and end

 

[Nina]

closed fist/s

starting from pinky

 

[RandAlThor]

lol as i tested, it depends on which hand I start with.

left thumb
right index

but it may be i start thumb both ways ill have to try later cuz once i start thinking about it its skewed.

 

[RandAlThor]

2 is always peace/victory. three is the us way 3 center fingers' 4 thumb tucked.

same with R/P/S always index middle

 

[uran]

Fist > star from thumb and i start from right hand

 

[ChiaraStar169]

left index finger to thumb, then right index to thumb

 

[athenaaa]

Thumb goes last

 

[Harmony_Starz]

zweizehn

what i learnt today is that a keyboard smash really can be a word

 

[Selfmate]

Kpopsource Street is on fire today
brought to you by the letter R and the number 10!!!

 

[Tickita]

When counting I start with my pinky. I noticed I don't fold my thumb over like this

when counting; it just sticks out, and I'll wiggle it when I get to 5.

But when I hold up '1', I choose my index. Unless I'm listing off many things, then I start with my thumb.
If I hold up anything 1-3 (without counting), my pinky doesn't show up unless I hold up 4. And my thumb only shows if I hold up 5.

 

[Ahsoka]

When counting I start with my pinky. I noticed I don't fold my thumb over like this

when counting; it just sticks out, and I'll wiggle it when I get to 5.

But when I hold up '1', I choose my index. Unless I'm listing off many things, then I start with my thumb.
If I hold up anything 1-3 (without counting), my pinky doesn't show up unless I hold up 4. And my thumb only shows if I hold up 5.

The thumb thing sounds unique, but also cute

 

[eclipsoul]

the basic european way because i am a basic european