A device for grouping and/or separating of articles which are transported on a conveyor device (10) along a conveying plane in at least a row in an essentially closed stream and which are grouped by at least one separating finger (16) which is inserted into the stream from below, transverse to the conveying direction (t). The separating finger (16) is inserted in the stream in such a way that a targeted article and the articles following the targeted article are slightly delayed or accelerated during their forward movement in the conveying direction (t) whereby a gap is formed. The separating finger (16) engages with a lateral edge of an outer surface of the article includes a contact area (26) that at least partially contacts and/or at least partially encompasses the outer surface of the article.