Not dumb, just new. It's called "Presta" the big one with the pin in the middle is called "Schrader"
Take off the plastic cap, if there is one (and throw it away, it's a useless dust cover). There's a little threaded stem at the top of the valve, and a little knurled ring around it (near the end of the stem, not down at the bottom right next to the rim). That piece unscrews, but does not come off, it just unscrews out to the end of the stem. When unscrewed, you can push the stem in to let air out and in. If it's screwed down (as it normally is) it blocks the air flow, both in and out, so you can't pump it up.
You need a Presta pump, or an adaptor to go on your Schrader pump. Some pumps have two sides, other's have an internal adaptor, some work for only one kind. Most presta pumps will have a lever of some kind to lock the pump onto the valve stem, so you'll have to press the pump head onto the stem, then flip the lever.
Don't forget to screw the little ring back down when you're done inflating, or the air will leak out.
Aside:
There MAY be a little ring at the bottom of the stem by the rim, that just holds the tube in place, I never use it, some tubes come with it, others don't. If you have one, you have to take it off to replace the tube.