# Das ist der Daumen

"Das ist der Daumen" is a traditional German finger rhyme that names the five fingers one by one — the thumb shakes the plums, the others gather and carry them, and the littlest finger eats them all up.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Sung in | German |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | documented by 1891 (Kasseler Kinderliedchen) |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/das-ist-der-daumen/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (de)

Das ist der Daumen,
der schüttelt die Pflaumen,
der hebt sie auf,
der trägt sie nach Haus,
und der Kleine isst sie alle auf.

### English translation (en)

This is the thumb,
that shakes down the plums,
this one picks them up,
this one carries them home,
and the little one eats them all up.

## Common questions

**How do you play "Das ist der Daumen"?**

You take the child's hand and touch each finger in turn as you name it: the thumb shakes the plums off the tree, the next finger picks them up, the next carries them home — and the little finger eats them all up. It is a way of teaching a young child their five fingers through a tiny story.

**How old is "Das ist der Daumen"?**

It is a traditional rhyme with no known author, passed on by word of mouth (especially in Thuringia). A version was already printed in the "Kasseler Kinderliedchen" in 1891, so it has been in circulation since at least the 19th century.

**Is "Das ist der Daumen" like an English rhyme?**

Yes — it is the German counterpart of "This Little Piggy", the English toe-counting game. Both name the digits one by one and give the smallest a comic ending, though the German version is about plums rather than a trip to market.

## Sources

- [Volksliederarchiv — Das ist der Daumen](https://www.volksliederarchiv.de/alte-kinderspiele/das-ist-der-daumen/)