Have you ever been to India? Yes? Or no? If yes you know that the people in India have a different gesture of agreeing than people in Western cultures have. They wobble their head to say "yes". For "no", the use a side to side motion of the head, which is quite difficult to understand for us. Whereas in the Philippines, saying "yes" is by raising the eyebrows - and guess what the gestures in Turkey is for saying "no"... raising the eyebrow, too! How confusing! This gesture here to the left means and expression of appreciation in Brazil. To be sure that you are understood correctly in other countries, Travel Itch gives you some practical lesson in international gestures.
You think, this means okay?
Well it does, at least in many countries. But in Southern and Middle European it is considered offensive. In Brazil, Turkey, Mexico and Venezuela it is a vulgar gesture and very insulting. In Portugal and Australia the sign means zero, in Japan it stands for zero money. Chinese use it as the number three. In underwater diving the gestures is used to ask if a diving partner is fine. The Arab World it is used as a threatening gesture, as in saying: "You'll see!"
You think this means come to me?
This beckoning sign, using all fingers or just the index finger curling inward, upward palm to drawn someone nearer - in many cultures means the exact opposite like in Korea, Japan and in Khmer. So instead of telling someone to please come closer this gesture tells him or her to go away. In Turkey this gesture is even extremely suggestive. Also in India to beckon, extend your arm, palm down and make a scratching motion with fingers kept together.
Thank you Winston!
Winston Churchill first started to use the 'V-sign' in 1941, as a gesture for 'victory'. Since then, it changed it's meaning in some countries into a sign for peace. In other countries, mostly in Asia like in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand the V-sign is used as an indication of cuteness when being photographed. Used with the palm inwards, this can be a serious insult like the "finger". Especially in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand you use this sign to show deepest disrespect.
Is Angie a Metal freak now?
Ouch, not knowing how to use this right, you can really get in trouble. It could mean an expression of love, as this gesture combines the letters 'I', 'L', and 'Y' from American Sign Language. It's also used by Metal fans... well, I'm not one of them. But if you turn your hand around, this might get you in trouble in the Baltics, Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Portugal and in Spain, as when shown to a man it means that his wife/girlfriend is cheating on him. In South America it’s thought that by doing this you can protect yourself from any bad influences.
My favorite Gesture ever
Until just recently I had never seen this gesture. But then, when my Italian colleague and I were sitting in Bari, having probably the best dinner of our entire lives, she did the following. She placed her thumb and forefinger against her cheek, and made a screwing motion, as if making a dimple, twisting the wrist. I was puzzled. She laughed so hard and explained that in her culture, this means either "That was very yummy" after eating or also "Wow, I see a pretty girl!" Since then I am using this gesture every time I had a good meal - nor I saw a good-looking man (seldom enough though!)...
Boy, I am smart-ass!
On the same evening, I learned about another funny Italian gesture. I was thanking my Italian colleague for her great work on that day and she did this: slightly smacking herself with her fist on the chin. Punishment? No way! This is the funniest way of expressing that you actually think you (yourself) are a very clever person! I fell in love with this gesture also right away and use it ever since (seldom enough though!)...
Clever or just immature?
A similar gesture at least in many western countries is done by slightly pilling the skin under your eye. This means again "Boy, I am or he is so smart"! But in France and Greece this gesture is a bit negative as it means "I am alert. I don't believe you. You can't fool me." In Japan, this gesture is considered an immature taunting gesture, like sticking one's tongue out.
Caught a light sneeze?
When I saw this gesture first, I thought the person doing it had caught a light sneeze. But in fact, it was a Chinese woman who wanted to express "it's me". That could have gotten her in trouble in Jordan as here it means, "I want a romantic exchange". If you are touching or tapping the side of the you nose with your index finger in the UK this could mean "we share a secret".
Hey yo, thumbs up!
Just because this gestures might look like an international sign of agreement, in fact it's not. In Thailand it is a sign of condemnation. Kids use it like western kids when sticking out their tongue. It's worse in some middle eastern counties and in West Africa, South America, Sardinia and Iran as this gesture here is absolutely insulting and means "Up yours!"
Don't talk just kiss?
Yes, in some countries, a kiss is just a kiss and if I would look at you pursing my lips, you would guess right that I am flirting. Therefore, in the US it's quite unusual for male friends to greet one another with kisses. Whereas French nationals don't wanna say hi to each other without lots of kisses. even male friends kiss. In Belgium, it is common to kiss when people meet, regardless of the gender and how good they know each other.
Yes, in some countries, a kiss is just a kiss and if I would look at you pursing my lips, you would guess right that I am flirting. Therefore, in the US it's quite unusual for male friends to greet one another with kisses. Whereas French nationals don't wanna say hi to each other without lots of kisses. even male friends kiss. In Belgium, it is common to kiss when people meet, regardless of the gender and how good they know each other.
