to finger
fingern – fingerte – hat gefingert
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to fiddle with something
To play with or repeatedly move something with one's fingers, often out of nervousness or without any particular purpose.
Während des Gesprächs fingerte er nervös an seinem Hemdknopf.
During the conversation, he nervously fiddled with his shirt button.
to feel around for something
To search for something by feeling around with one's fingers.
Im Dunkeln fingerte sie nach dem Lichtschalter.
In the dark, she felt around for the light switch.
to fish something out with one's fingers
To remove something from a particular position or move it to a particular place using one's fingers, usually with some difficulty.
Sie fingerte eine Münze aus der engen Hosentasche.
She fished a coin out of her tight trouser pocket with her fingers.
to finger
To sexually stimulate a person with one's fingers in the genital area, especially by inserting one or more fingers into the vagina. This expression is colloquial.
Sie fingerte ihre Partnerin, bis diese zum Orgasmus kam.
She fingered her partner until she had an orgasm.
to finger
To steal something. This meaning is used regionally and colloquially.
Der Dieb hatte im Gedränge eine goldene Uhr gefingert.
In the crowd, the thief had fingered a gold watch.
| ich | fingere fingre |
|---|---|
| du | fingerst |
| er/sie/es | fingert |
| wir | fingern |
| ihr | fingert |
| sie | fingern |
| ich | fingerte |
|---|---|
| du | fingertest |
| er/sie/es | fingerte |
| wir | fingerten |
| ihr | fingertet |
| sie | fingerten |
| ich | habe gefingert |
|---|---|
| du | hast gefingert |
| er/sie/es | hat gefingert |
| wir | haben gefingert |
| ihr | habt gefingert |
| sie | haben gefingert |
| du | finger! fingere!, fingre! |
|---|---|
| ihr | fingert! |
| Sie | fingern Sie! |
| ich | hatte gefingert |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gefingert |
| er/sie/es | hatte gefingert |
| wir | hatten gefingert |
| ihr | hattet gefingert |
| sie | hatten gefingert |
| ich | werde fingern |
|---|---|
| du | wirst fingern |
| er/sie/es | wird fingern |
| wir | werden fingern |
| ihr | werdet fingern |
| sie | werden fingern |
| ich | fingere fingre |
|---|---|
| du | fingerst |
| er/sie/es | fingere fingre |
| wir | fingern |
| ihr | fingert |
| sie | fingern |
Used for reported speech.
| ich | fingerte |
|---|---|
| du | fingertest |
| er/sie/es | fingerte |
| wir | fingerten |
| ihr | fingertet |
| sie | fingerten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
| infinitive | fingern |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu fingern |
| present participle | fingernd |
| past participle | gefingert |
'Fingern' (to finger) is derived from the noun 'Finger' (finger) and usually describes an action in which the fingers are directly involved. The specific meaning depends on the object and the preposition used in the sentence.
Er fingerte unruhig an dem Etui.
He was fidgeting with the case.
In this meaning, 'fingern' (to fiddle with something) is often used with 'an' (at/with) and the dative. Adding 'herum' (around) often indicates that someone is manipulating something without a clear purpose.
Das Kind fingerte ständig an dem Reißverschluss.
The child was constantly fiddling with the zipper.
When searching by touch, 'fingern' (to feel around for something) is used with 'nach' (for) and the dative. The thing being sought is usually not visible or is difficult to reach.
Im Dunkeln fingerte er nach seinem Handy.
In the dark, he felt around for his phone.
When removing something with difficulty from a particular position, the thing being removed is in the accusative, and the starting point is usually introduced with 'aus' (out of) and the dative. This often concerns small objects or tight spaces.
Sie fingerte den Schlüssel aus der schmalen Ritze.
She fished the key out of the narrow gap with her fingers.
The sexual meaning of 'fingern' (to finger) is colloquial and should only be used in a clearly private or sexual context. In neutral factual texts, the word is very direct in this meaning.
In dem Roman wird beschrieben, wie sie ihre Partnerin fingerte.
The novel describes how she fingered her partner.
The meaning 'stehlen' (to steal) is regional and colloquial. A context involving theft, a crowd, or stolen objects points to this meaning.
Im vollen Bus hatte jemand seine Geldbörse gefingert.
Someone had fingered his wallet on the crowded bus.
