Lillefinger

Lillefinger is a term used in Danish, Norwegian, and, in some contexts, Swedish to refer to the little finger, the smallest finger on the hand. It is a direct compound of the words meaning “small” and “finger,” mirroring the English term “little finger” or “pinky.”

Anatomically, the lillefinger is the fifth digit of the hand. It comprises three phalanges (proximal, middle, and distal) and is connected to the hand at the metacarpophalangeal joint. Its movement is enabled by muscles in the hand’s hypothenar region, including the abductor digiti minimi and flexor digiti minimi brevis, and it is innervated in part by the ulnar nerve. The lillefinger plays a role in grip and dexterous manipulation, contributing to grip strength and to fine motor tasks, particularly when opposed with the thumb.

In everyday language, lillefinger functions as the standard term for this finger in the Scandinavian languages. Outside medical or educational contexts, English speakers typically use “pinky” or “little finger.” The concept of the lillefinger is universal across human hands, though cultural references and idioms vary by language.

See also: Pinky finger; fifth digit.