# Signifying the number 3 with your fingers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2019, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098 "2019-01-20T06:25:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/21 "2019-01-20T21:39:36Z")
Totally situationally-dependent. 1. If I’m counting, it goes thumb, then index, then down the hand. 2. If I’s signalling to someone a ways away, it’s middle, ring and pinky fingers. 3. If I’m answering a question from a student about what number we are currently on, it’s index, middle and ring. Don’t know why I differentiate that way, but I do. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/22 "2019-01-20T21:40:42Z")
If the observer is some distance from me I use my thumb to hold down my ring ringer. That gives the three digits the maximum spread I can manage. For close up work I’d hold down my pinkie. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/23 "2019-01-20T22:58:11Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > This is famously a regional thing: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWgHiUZYRSo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWgHiUZYRSo) > > (Bar scene from “Inglorious Basterds” – see 0:45) Yes, I’m German and do the thumb, index and middle finger thing. At first viewing Ingloriouof Germany do it differently. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/24 "2019-01-21T05:48:03Z")
Might have been more informative if your 4 options were American and thumb and little finger American and other Non-American and thumb and little finger Non-American and other. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/25 "2019-01-21T06:06:35Z")
I don’t think I have a natural preference. I’ve alternated between holding my pinky and holding my index finger down with my thumb. I’ve never used my thumb as one of the three digits that are up. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Raygun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@Ronald\_Raygun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_Raygun)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/26 "2019-01-21T06:17:47Z")
I can’t do thumb-index-middle. My ring finger pops up as well. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/27 "2019-01-21T07:09:29Z")
Taiwanese start counting from the index finger as “1”, then index and middle as “2”, add the ring finger for “3”, pinko for “4” then the thumb for 5”. They continue by holding out the thumb and pinky for “6”, the thumb and index for “7”, add the middle for “8”, add the ring for “9” (which is difficult at first) and then make a cross with the two index fingers for 10. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/28 "2019-01-21T13:14:45Z")
Seriously messed up poll. No option for holding pinky with thumb while eating pie. I picked Option 1, but it was a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/29 "2019-01-21T13:58:54Z")
I voted for holding pinky with thumb, but I actually tuck my pinky into the fold of my palm and hide my thumb behind the middle three fingers. If I attempt to hold my pinky with the tip of my thumb, I struggle to straighten my ring finger. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/30 "2019-01-21T15:07:00Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > This is famously a regional thing: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWgHiUZYRSo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWgHiUZYRSo) > > (Bar scene from “Inglorious Basterds” – see 0:45) I learned The German Three in high school German class, like a million years ago. When the Missus and I were watching IB and dude held up the wrong 3 fingers it pinged me hard enough as either his or the director’s error that I actually gasped. Missus said “what?” and I said “that’s not how Germans signal 3.” I felt like a total dweeb for knowing & saying anything about it, until the Nazis caught on. Then I was a goddam sorcerer. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/31 "2019-01-21T15:24:36Z")
IIRC, the international basketball signals chart say to use thumb, index, middle to signal when a 3-point shot has been attempted. Most of the time, I use index, middle, ring, but there are times (usually when sticking my arm out to the side) when it’s middle, ring, pinky, with the tips of the thumb and index fingers touching, making an O shape. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/32 "2019-01-21T15:43:52Z")
It is common to use one’s thumb to hold the little finger. However, I’m physically incapable of doing this so I use my thumb to hold my index finger. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/33 "2019-01-21T16:13:52Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Yes, I’m German and do the thumb, index and middle finger thing. At first viewing Ingloriouof Germany do it differently. Sorry, I just saw that I somehow mangled the last sentence completely. It should have read: At first viewing Inglorious Basterds, I didn’t get the scene, but the second time I realized that people outside of Germany do it differently. ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/34 "2019-01-21T18:33:19Z")
I use my thumb, index and middle finger for 3. I learned from my deaf oldest sister. I wish I were fluent in ASL but I’m at least able to stumble around a few questions if needed. It helped when I a was a cashier with the occasional deaf customer. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/35 "2019-01-22T02:52:54Z")
It’s actually hard for me to grasp how holding down the pinkie finger with the thumb creates problems for some people. Holding it down is what allows me to extend my ring finger. Otherwise it wants to bend with the pinkie finger. I get how you might not have that problem, but for it to be the exact opposite is quite interesting to me. Also, I can’t completely do the sign language 3 in my left hand, as my ring finger doesn’t want to stay down. I hold it down to the pointer-middle 2 (V) sign. Luckily, you make one-handed signs with your dominant hand. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/36 "2019-01-22T05:01:28Z")
I think using the thumb to represent 1 is a European thing. Maybe specifically German. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098/37 "2019-01-22T15:23:38Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I don’t think that I ever have held up fingers to signify a number instead of using words. But if I did, I would have a hard time doing a 3. **I can’t fold down my pinkiy while keeping the other 3 up**. Even physically holding it down with my thumb, my other fingers curl up uncontrollably. The only way I can fold my pinky down and still hold the others up is to hold it down with the other hand. Same boat here. I was able to do the bolded when I was a kid, but no longer. I actually use two of the poll options about equally: sometimes signifying three with middle-ring-pinky fingers, and other times with thumb-index-middle. The latter is chiefly used when counting off on the fingers (say, for timing a musical beat). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signifying-the-number-3-with-your-fingers/828098.md?page=1)