this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2025
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I count on my fingers using this method:

  1. No fingers = 0, assume all values are cumulative unless stated otherwise.

  2. Start with index finger on Right hand:

  • 1 = Index
  • 2 = Middle
  • 3 = Ring
  • 4 = Pinky
  • 5 = Thumb
  1. After five, clear hand and start from Thumb and go until 9 (Ring)
  • 6 = Thumb
  • 7 = Index ... etc
  1. Double digits are counted on Left hand*, following same process as 1-3.
  • For example: 13 would be:
    • Left Hand: Index
    • Right Hand: Index, Middle, Ring
  • For something like 47 would be:
    • Left Hand: Index, Middle, Ring, Pinky
    • Right Hand: Thumb, Index

Using this method, the highest you can count to is 109:

  • Left Hand: Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring, Pinky
  • Right Hand: Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring

You could also probably differentiate 5 and 10 by half-raising your thumb for 5, and full raise for 6-10.

top 19 comments
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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 8 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

I count in binary so that way I can count to 1023 on just my hands.

[–] pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Nice! I do, as well.

Plus it I'm angry someone, I can flip them the number four.

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 14 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 10 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
  1. Otherwise you'd have to stick out your tongue or something for the 1024ths place bit.
[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 6 points 6 hours ago (1 children)
[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

0 to 1023 is 1024 possible values, but the highest value you can display is still 1023.

When you count on your fingers in base 10, do you tell people you can "actually" count to 11? Of course not. Only if you, in fact, killed Inigo Montoya's father.

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 2 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

You simply add one to each count. No fingers up equalt 1 (0+1). Only left pinky up equals 2 (1+2). Only left ring finger up is 3 (2+1). Left pinky and ring finger up equals 4 (3+1). Continue up to all fingers up equals 1024 (1023+1),

[–] naught101@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

I can count to 11 on my fingers

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

I've been trying that Babylonian thing where you can count to twelve with each hand (so with both hand you can count up to 156), it's easy to count but it's quite hard to look at the fingers and figure out the number.

[–] Deebster 1 points 6 hours ago

I do that (but only for one hand), and I've also associated months with each segment.

I had to think how you got to 156 instead of 12² but not for too long.

[–] JayFonduh@lemmy.org 1 points 4 hours ago

I can count to about 32 and I get real bored real fast

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

I follow asl style for the right hand:

1- pointer; 2- pointer and middle; 3- pointer, middle, and thumb; 4- everything but thumb; all five up; 6- thumb touching pinky; 7- thumb touching ring; 8- thumb touching middle; 9- thumb touching pointer; 10- fist

Then I use the left hand for 10s. So i can get up to 100

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 10 points 8 hours ago

Bruh usually I just use 0-9 then use the "RAM" in my brain to store the tens-place digit lol

[–] SpicyTaint@lemmy.world 7 points 7 hours ago

Does American Sign Language count? I think 1000 is the first number that uses both hands. I haven't used it in a really long time, so I could be completely wrong.

[–] Jilanico@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago (2 children)
[–] kbal@fedia.io 2 points 5 hours ago

"It doesn't teach the basic number facts, only to count faster," says someone as quoted prominently on wikipedia.

I suppose it can be fast, but the main use I've got out of it over the years is to count automatically using only my fingers while my brain is busy doing other things.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 3 points 6 hours ago

This is what I use, I thought it was much older. Huh.

[–] lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 7 hours ago

There is a good robWords video about numbers and counting with fingers in different countries.

That said, I start with my left thumb which is my dominant hand. I'm left-handed

[–] Nosavingthrow@lemmy.world 2 points 8 hours ago

I can count to 26 on both hands. Each finger bone and both my thumbs.