Names of toes?

[Dawood Usmani]

Could anyone tell me the specific names of toes, if there are in English?
Thanks a million
Dawood

[svartnik]

Could anyone tell me the specific names of toes, if there are in English?
Thanks a million
Dawood

little, ring, middle, pointing, thumb

[Dawood Usmani]

little, ring, middle, pointing, thumb

Which toe do you wear rings on, Svartnik? Isn't the innermost and largest toe called big toe? Are you sure of your answer? Thanks for your reply anyway.

[BobK]

The only ones I know are 'big toe', 'little toe', and 'middle toe'. I think the other two are in a nominal vacuum, outside the physician's surgery.

b

[Dawood Usmani]

The only ones I know are 'big toe', 'little toe', and 'middle toe'. I think the other two are in a nominal vacuum, outside the physician's surgery.

b

What about the third and fourth toe? Will that do? How do you express some sort of pain or itch in those toes in your English-speaking country, talking to a doctor or a child telling her mother ?

[BobK]

I've heard people use numbers, but they can be confusing: which end does the numbering start?/ Is it 'Big' + 1-4?.... If 'big/little' defines the two extremes, the other three can be described by reference to them: 'the toe next to my big toe', 'my middle toe', and 'the toe next to my little toe' - not very elegant, but effective enough.

b

[Dawood Usmani]

I've heard people use numbers, but they can be confusing: which end does the numbering start?/ Is it 'Big' + 1-4?.... If 'big/little' defines the two extremes, the other three can be described by reference to them: 'the toe next to my big toe', 'my middle toe', and 'the toe next to my little toe' - not very elegant, but effective enough.

b

ok, which one is the middle toe, right next to the big toe or the toe after big toe's neighbour?
What about these?
The toes are, from medial to lateral:

• Big toe (hallux)
• Index toe
• Middle toe
• Fourth toe
• Little toe (Colloquially known as the pinky toe in the USA)

Desperately waiting to know your answer...

[BobK]

ok, which one is the middle toe, right next to the big toe or the toe after big toe's neighbour?
Whyever should it be the first of these? For the word 'middle' to be useful it must refer to an odd number of things. The foot has five toes. How could 'middle toe' refer to one that isn't in the middle?
What about these?
The toes are, from medial to lateral:

• Big toe (hallux)
• Index toe
• Middle toe
• Fourth toe
• Little toe (Colloquially known as the pinky toe in the USA)

Desperately waiting to know your answer...

'Index' and 'pinky' work by analogy with the names of the fingers; but an index finger is used to indicate things, and in the limited contexts (congenital or trauma-induced deformity, hand-cuffs...) where people do point with their feet, they use the big toe (if available).

I've never heard the word "index" used in the context of toes.

b

[outofdejavu]

Ha ha. Bobk, I found your explanation really hilarious in someway but useful for me. Thanks.

In the Chinese language, the equivalent of "index finger" contains the meaning of "eating." However, we also don't use the meaning of "eating" with the toe counterpart.

[BobK]

PS A warning for the unwary: the term 'hallux' is accurate and unambiguous, but I've only ever heard it used in TV autopsies. I wouldn't use the word, even to a doctor; 'I've hurt my hallux' is an expression I've never met in any context, although I suppose it might occur ina jocular exchange between medical students.

b