Gestures that should not be shown in different countries. Gestures in different countries of the world - how to avoid getting into an awkward situation? Gestures in France
Offensive gestures in different countries
Gesticulation is an essential part of communication, but the peculiarity is that in different countries the same gestures can mean completely different things. Therefore, you can easily offend a person without even knowing it.
So, 8 common gestures that can be misunderstood in different countries of the world.
1. Scratch your chin.
Scratching your chin from bottom to top with your fingers together is a rather rude gesture in France, Belgium and northern Italy. It's like showing the middle finger. Focusing on the beard area in these countries is considered a sign of excessive aggression.
2. Thumb up
In the Middle East, this is the way they send people to where their legs grow. Children often indulge in this gesture, for whom raising their thumb up is like sticking out their tongue.
3. Show “pis” (peace) or “victory” (victory)
In England and Australia, two fingers raised in the shape of a V are perceived as a peace-loving sign in only one form - if the palm is turned away from you. Otherwise, “piss” is an insult equivalent in strength to a raised middle finger. Churchill himself was guilty of this “wrong” gesture.
4. “Everything is ok” sign
Showing the “everything is okay” gesture, when the tips of the thumb and index fingers are closed and the other fingers are raised up, does not always mean that everything is okay. So, in Turkey and Venezuela this is how homosexuals are identified, in France it means “not worth attention” or “total zero”, and in Brazil it’s like scratching your chin in northern Italy.
5. High five with fingers outstretched
In Greece, such a gesture with the palm facing away from you is considered offensive. It comes from the times when criminals were led through the streets, and onlookers threw all sorts of nasty things at them with outstretched fingers.
6. Show the “goat”
This gesture, shown with someone's back in Spain or Italy, means that the spouse is cuckolding him/her, and the person himself is a complete loser. “Goat” in these countries has nothing in common with rock music.
7. Pass things with one hand
In China and Japan, you need to pass objects with both hands, be it a business card, a camera or something else. This is a sign of respect, openness and consideration.
8. Cross your fingers for luck
Indeed, crossed index and middle fingers in Europe are a symbol of wishing good luck. But not in Vietnam, where this gesture means female genitalia.
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The meaning and meaning of gestures in different countries is an entertaining and useful science. Especially if you do not sit at home, but travel a lot. After all, gestures are always more eloquent than words. And our “non-verbal behavior”, that is, our movements, gestures, can put a traveler in an awkward position in a foreign country.
Indeed, the same expressive gesture among different peoples can have completely different meaning. The gesture with which a Russian sadly demonstrates loss or failure, for a Croatian means a sign of success and pleasure.
If in Holland you point your index finger at your temple, implying some kind of stupidity, then they will not understand you. There, this gesture means that someone said a very witty phrase. When talking about himself, a European points to his chest, and a Japanese points to his nose. In some African countries, laughter is an indicator of amazement and even confusion, and not at all a manifestation of fun.
It rarely happens that we speak without accompanying the words with some kind of action, in which the hands invariably play the main role. Different gestures have different meanings in different countries. Italians and French are known for relying on their hands when it comes to emphatically confirming words or making conversations more casual. The danger is that hand gestures are perceived differently depending on what country we are in at the moment.
So, in the USA, and in many other countries, the “zero” formed by the thumb and forefinger “says” that “everything is fine,” “excellent,” or simply “OK.” In Japan its traditional meaning is “money”, in France it is “zero”. In Portugal and some other countries it will be perceived as indecent.
This gesture was popularized in America at the beginning of the 19th century, mainly by the press, which at that time began a campaign to reduce words and common phrases to their initial letters. There are different opinions as to what the abbreviation "O.K." stands for.
Some believe that they meant “all correct” - “everything is correct”, but then, as a result of a spelling error, they turned into “Oll - Korrect”.
Others say that it is the antonym of the word "knockout", which in English is denoted by the letters O.K. There is another theory according to which this abbreviation is from the name "all Kinderhoor", the birthplace of the American president who used these initials (O.K.) in as a slogan in the election campaign.
It is well known that the British are very stingy with gestures. They try not to touch each other and carefully maintain an “arm’s length” distance when talking. Apparently, a wealthy colonial forced them to place the following warning on the brochures of airlines operating overseas flights: “Be careful - your gestures may put you in an ambiguous position.”
If an Englishman can be let down by his restrained gestures, then what should we do? To hide it in your pockets out of sin? But this, it turns out, can also create a problem: in Argentina, a police officer can point out indecent behavior to a person who puts it in his trouser pockets!
In Germany, when speaking, the arm's length distance is too small. The German will retreat another half step. In Italy, on the contrary, an Italian will approach you half a step, and a Saudi will try to communicate in such a way as to breathe right into your face.
When a Frenchman, German or Italian thinks an idea is stupid, he emphatically taps himself on the head, and if a German slaps himself on the forehead with an open palm, then this is the equivalent of exclaiming: “You're crazy!” In addition, the Germans, as well as the Americans, the French and the Italians, are in the habit of drawing a spiral with their index finger at the head, which means: “Crazy idea...” And on the contrary, when an Englishman or a Spaniard taps his forehead, it is clear to everyone that he is pleased, and not by anyone, but by yourself. Despite the fact that there is some self-irony in this gesture, he still praises himself for his intelligence: “What intelligence!” If a Dutchman, tapping his forehead, extends his index finger upward, this means that he appreciated the intelligence of his interlocutor. But if he points to the side, it means that his brain is on one side.
Germans often raise their eyebrows as a sign of admiration for someone's idea. The same behavior in England would be regarded as an expression of skepticism.
It is believed that the French have the most expressive sign language. When a Frenchman wants to say that something is the height of sophistication and sophistication, he, connecting the tips of three fingers, brings them to his lips and, raising his chin high, blows a kiss, and if a Frenchman rubs the base of his nose with his index finger, he warns “there’s something here.” unclean”, “be careful”, “these people cannot be trusted.” This gesture is very close to the Italian tapping of the nose with the index finger, no matter whether it is on the right or the left; it means: “watch out”, “there is danger ahead”, “it looks like they are up to something.” In Holland, the same gesture has a different meaning - “I’m drunk” or “you’re drunk”, and in England it means “conspiracy and secrecy”.
Moving your fingers from side to side has many different meanings. In the US, Italy, France and Finland, this can mean mild judgment, a threat, or a call to listen to what is being said. In Holland and France, such a gesture simply means refusal. If a gesture needs to accompany a reprimand, then the index finger is moved from side to side near the head.
The Greek, the Turk and the Bulgarian, when saying “yes,” shake their heads from side to side, which for most Europeans means “no.” And North American Indians accompany their speech with special smooth gestures, which can enrich what is said with additional meaning or give words the exact opposite meaning. Let's put it this way: an Indian with his hands tied will generally find it difficult to express his thoughts.
Americans count on their fingers, bending them away from the fist, and not bending them like we do. But if it is most often customary for us to bend our fingers, starting with the little finger, then the Japanese first bend their finger, and after five they begin the reverse process.
In most Western civilizations, when the question arises about the role of the right and left hands, neither of them is given preference (unless, of course, you take into account the traditional handshake right hand). But be careful in the Middle East, as in other Islamic countries such as Indonesia or Malaysia. You cannot give food, money or a gift to someone with your left hand. There she is known as an unclean hand and has a bad reputation.
By touching his eyelid with his finger, the Italian will express his goodwill: “I see you are a nice guy.” In Spain, this gesture means doubt about the veracity of your words, but for a Frenchman it means “You blabber, brother!”...
If an Englishman intends to teach someone a lesson, he raises two fingers clasped together, which means “Well, I’ll show you!” And in the USA, the same gesture will be perceived as “You and I are a good team” or “You and I can’t be spilled with water!”
A typical Italian gesture - a boat-shaped palm - means a question, a call for explanation. And a similar gesture in Mexico is a call to pay for information: “I won’t tell you anything for free.”
“Horns”, formed from the index finger and little finger, serve the Italians in order to “ward off the evil eye.” Try to gesture like that in front of a Frenchman - and he will think that they want to call him a cuckold.
A completely indecent gesture (the middle hand extended upward) became known thanks to cinema on almost all continents. But in France, our domestic “fig” has the same meaning. And in Japan and Thailand it will be perceived as offering a full range of sexual services...
This short list of fairly standard gestures shows how easy it is to unintentionally offend your business partners who are representatives of a different national culture. If you can consciously predict the reactions of your interlocutors by observing their non-verbal language, this will help you avoid many misunderstandings.
When going on a trip to another country, people try to get to know its language, culture and customs better. But for comfortable communication, knowledge of the language is sometimes not enough, and then people remember about gestures!
Gestures are actively used for communication in every country. We reinforce the meaning of words with facial expressions, hand waves, and head movements.
Gestures in some parts of the world play a huge role in communication. Before traveling to another country, it is important to find out how they treat gestures and, especially, tactile contacts. After all, what is accepted in the UK can put you in an awkward position or even offend your interlocutor.
It is impossible to list all the gestures and their meanings in one article, but we decided to make an overview post about the main differences. If you are interested, we will write separately for each country.
Italy
In this country, they have long wanted to make sign language the state language. Italians love to gesture; there are about 250 different movements in their everyday life. In addition, Italians often reduce the distance between interlocutors and love tactile contact. There are even two groups of gestures - one can mean entire words and expressions, and the second - the emotional state of a person.
France
In this country, as in, sign language is also widespread, but not as actively. The French also love to gesture, and they differ from the accepted norms. For example, a ring of the index finger and thumb, which is recognized throughout the world as OK, is understood in France as “absolute zero”. And by pulling back the lower eyelid, the Frenchman shows that he does not believe his interlocutor.
Great Britain
The British are a reserved people, especially when it comes to tactile contacts. It should not be surprising that the inhabitants of this country do not wave their arms and, in general, stay at arm's length (about 50-60 cm). It is normal for British people not to express their emotions through facial expressions and gestures. However, there are some. For example, to indicate your skepticism about a situation, it is enough to raise your eyebrows.
USA
Progressive Americans have established an even greater distance - they communicate with each other at a distance of 90 cm. Although in non-verbal communication they do not skimp on gestures and actively use facial expressions. Unlike the British, they gesture more during conversations and smile constantly. For any reason, you can be hugged and patted on the shoulder, and your hand is shaken at every meeting.
Greece
This state, like Italy, loves active waving of its arms. Greeks are an emotional people, so their conversation from the outside may seem like the beginning of a fight. But no, it’s the people of Greece who express their emotions this way. However, before the trip, it is worth remembering that gestures here have their own meanings. For example, the same OK sign made from the index finger and thumb in Greece is considered offensive and hints at a man’s gay orientation.
Germany
The Germans, like the British, do not particularly like tactile contact, so they try to keep their distance from the interlocutor. In general, you can simply behave with restraint, without being distracted by facial expressions and gestures. For residents of this country, such behavior is absolutely normal. It is interesting that as a sign of gratitude, the Germans do not applaud, but knock on some surface with their clenched fist.
China
The Chinese are stingy with gestures compared to Italians or Greeks, especially in business communication. They respect maintaining distance and do not violate personal boundaries. Nevertheless, they are happy to shake hands with foreign guests, thereby showing respect for them. In return, you can greet the Chinese with their traditional gestures, such as shaking hands with yourself.
Japan
The Japanese also do not particularly welcome tactile contacts, so it is better not to actively express your emotions with them. Like the Chinese, they have their own set of etiquette rules, so it’s better to know them before your trip. For example, to indicate direction, just clench your fist and show your middle finger. For the Japanese this does not carry any insult. But to offend, it’s enough to show “don’t care.”
Türkiye
Facial expressions are actively used for communication. However, it is better for a tourist to first find out which body movement means what. The Turks have adopted their own system, which, if not known, can put a foreigner in an awkward position. For example, a thumbs up, which is usually used to catch a car in Europe, in Turkey means a hint of intimate relationships. And if you clench your fist and extend your little finger with your palm down, the interlocutor will understand that you are offended by him and do not want to communicate.
The meaning of the same gestures in different countries
- OK. This sign, made from the index finger and thumb, in Europe means either “everything is in order” or “no problem.” But, in France and some Latin American countries, this is regarded as an indecent gesture. And in Turkey and Greece, “OK” towards a man can serve as an open accusation of gayness.
- V. The index and middle finger signify victory in many countries. But in Ireland, Australia, Scotland, this sign is regarded as an insult, especially if the palm is turned towards oneself.
- Handshake. Such a banal and simple gesture, widely used in greeting, is not used everywhere in the world. For example, in China and Japan it is not customary to greet in this way, unless foreign guests. It is customary to kiss on the cheek when meeting, and the number of kisses depends on the region of the country.
- Nodding head. In most European countries and in Russia, nodding your head means agreement, but in Greece, Bulgaria and Albania, on the contrary, it means denial. Accordingly, shaking from side to side indicates agreement.
- Thumbs up. This sign in many countries shows that everything is fine, everything is fine. On the road you can use your thumb to stop a car, but this sign should not be used everywhere. In Turkey, Arab countries and Greece this gesture is indecent and offensive.
Thus, before you start gesturing in a foreign country, you should first study the customs. At first, it is better not to resort to non-verbal methods of communication if you are not sure. After some time, local residents will help you get comfortable and understand the meaning of certain gestures.
Interesting? Should we make such articles for each country separately? We are waiting for your feedback in the comments!
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In communication, we use gestures that seem familiar to us and quite unambiguous in meaning. Meanwhile, different nations have their own system of communication, and often it is radically different from ours. Without any malicious intent, you can destroy the fine line of trust and understanding with one gesture. It is useful to know about this when planning to travel to distant countries.
Sign language
Thus, a simple shake of the head from side to side, which means “no” in Russia and most European countries, in Bulgaria, Greece and India means approval, while a nod of the head means disagreement. Neapolitans have an unusual gesture of denial - an upturned head with a disapproving protruding lower lip. In Japan, the word “no” is expressed by shaking the palms from side to side. In Malta, disagreement is expressed by touching the chin with the tips of the fingers, while turning the hand forward. But in Italy and France, the same gesture indicates that a person is in some kind of pain.
The “okay” gesture, already familiar to most Russians, also evokes an ambiguous attitude. Surprisingly, this sign is more than 2500 years old. Among the Greeks, it was a symbol of love - an image of kissing lips, as well as praise to the speaker for an accurate statement or a subtle aphorism. Later, this gesture became a thing of the past and became popular again in America at the beginning of the 19th century. The press at that time was campaigning to reduce words and common phrases to their initial letters. The circle representing the letter "o" in the word "okay" became a symbol that "all good,” and today in Western countries this gesture is clearly perceived as an approving, positive gesture.
However, in some countries this sign has a completely different meaning. In Brazil, this gesture is considered offensive and symbolizes the fifth point. In Japan it means money, in Syria it means “go to hell,” and in Tunisia it means “I’ll kill you.” In several countries of the Mediterranean basin, this gesture is used to designate homosexuals. In France and Germany, this gesture will also offend and will be interpreted as a zero, “they say, you are an absolute dummy.”
There was even a precedent in the German court related to this seemingly harmless gesture. A certain driver casually insulted a policeman by showing him his thumb and forefinger, closed in a ring, from the car window. But the German policeman was offended and filed a lawsuit. The judge, having thoroughly studied the relevant literature and questioned psychologists, came to the conclusion that in Germany both meanings of this signal are accepted, and how to understand it is a personal matter for everyone. The driver was acquitted.
Such a common gesture as a thumbs up, which means “everything is fine” among Russians, is also interpreted differently. So, in Greece this gesture means “shut up”, and in Muslim countries it is considered indecent. Moreover, in Saudi Arabia This gesture, with a rotating movement of the thumb, means “get out of here.”
It is worth paying close attention to the impulse to put your hands in your trouser pockets when abroad. So, in Argentina, a police officer can point out indecent behavior to a person who puts his hands in his trouser pockets. And in Japan you shouldn't tighten your belt in public. This may be perceived as the beginning of hara-kiri.
It is interesting that a hand extended in the form of a request for alms in Italy means a call to explain something, as well as a question mark. The “money” gesture in the Middle East is a signal of danger or a call to take your time. But the “horns” gesture, which is offensive in Russia, is considered by Italians to be a remedy for the evil eye.
The fig, familiar to everyone from childhood, also has a very ancient origin. For example, in Japan, in the old days, this intricate figure was used by street ladies, expressing their readiness to serve a client. But among the Slavs, on the contrary, it was revered and used as a talisman against evil spirits. Our ancestors used the fig to ward off the evil eye and damage, and also identify demons. To protect yourself or a child from the evil eye, you had to quietly fold the fig. It was believed that a sorcerer or a witch could not calmly walk past a person who had put two figs in his pockets, and would definitely give himself away in some way.
Over time, the fig changed its meaning and turned into an indecent, offensive gesture that is not allowed in etiquette communication. Only in folk medicine fig is still a magical remedy for the treatment of certain diseases, for example, stye on the eyelid. And in the language of truck drivers, it simply means a stone stuck between adjacent tires of one wheel.
It is worth noting that for a Spaniard it is considered offensive to touch the earlobe. The fact is that in Spain such a gesture means “there is a gay among us.” Simply scratching your eyebrows has a similar meaning in Lebanon.
Putting the index finger to the temple in France, as in Russia, indicates the stupidity of the interlocutor. But in Holland it means a fairly intelligent person, and an Englishman will regard this gesture as the phrase “live by your wits.” By touching your eyelid with your finger, in Italy you can express your friendly attitude towards your interlocutor, as if telling him: “I see you are a good person.”
In Spain, this same gesture is understood as doubt about the veracity of the words spoken, and in France it is similar to the phrase “your words are an empty phrase.” Even the usual call for Russian people to drink in the form of a click on the neck in Italy is regarded as a health problem and a sore throat. It is interesting that among the French, an unambiguous proposal to figure out “for three” is expressed in the form of a simple scratching of the nose with the thumb and forefinger.
They even say goodbye differently in different countries. Thus, Italians rarely offer their hand, but they will happily slap a person on the back when parting. But among the French, such a gesture means “Get out and never appear here again!”
In Latin America, they also say goodbye in an unusual way for Russians: they wave their palms the way we do when we call someone to our place. Europeans, saying goodbye, wave their palm, raising it up and moving their fingers. And the residents of the Andaman Islands, when saying goodbye, raise the palm of a friend to their lips and gently blow on it.
When meeting people in many countries, including China and Japan, it is customary to say the surname first. In Japan, the name is practically not used, even in informal meetings, and a formal bow is a necessary ritual when meeting.
In addition to gestures, when you are in an unfamiliar country, you should also pay close attention to the choice of phrases. So, in the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and North America, everything you say will be understood literally by your interlocutor. In France, Japan, Spain, Greece, Italy, Saudi Arabia, China, South Korea- vice versa. Much more important is the subtext, usually indicated by an accompanying gesture.
It is worth noting that the British, stingy with gestures, try not to touch each other and carefully maintain an “arm’s length” distance when talking. Even on the brochures of airlines operating international flights, they placed the following warning: “Be careful - your gestures may put you in an ambiguous position.”
When traveling to different countries, it is important to remember that not only what you say, but how and when you say it matters. It is also important what gestures you use. What is considered normal or even a friendly gesture in one culture may seem offensive and offensive in another. Therefore, if you are planning a trip to explore new countries, be prepared to encounter their unusual traditions.
Thumbs up!
One of the most popular gestures among travelers is the thumbs up. In America, for example, this sign has a very positive meaning - "ok, well done". It is often used by hitchhikers. It appeared back in Roman times, when at the end of gladiator fights the audience raised a finger up, which meant a desire to save the life of the gladiator, or vice versa - down, which meant a fatal outcome of the competition. But do not use this gesture in some parts of the Middle East, Mediterranean countries and South East Asia. This gesture in these countries may be perceived as somewhat rude "Up yours"(go away).
V-sign
The most seemingly peaceful sign can also cause some problems if used in the wrong place at the wrong time. Typically, people use it to mean "victory"(victory) or "peace"(world), or simply to indicate the number “two”. It was also used by Winston Churchill, speaking about the victory over fascism, and hippies made it their symbol, denoting world peace. But it's not that simple. If you arrive in one of English speaking countries such as Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia or Ireland, use this gesture correctly, i.e. the palm should be turned towards the interlocutor. If you turn it the other way - towards you, then this sign will take on the opposite meaning - "screw you"(fuck off, got it, fuck you), which naturally can cause an appropriate reaction from the interlocutor.
Devil Horns
This gesture has different names. It is also called "heavy metal" for the addiction of hard rock lovers to this gesture or "Texas Longhorn", since it is also a symbol of the state of Texas. But in some countries, such as Cuba, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Brazil and Colombia, this gesture is shown to a man, meaning that he is a "cuckold" or, as they say in English, "cuckold", i.e. his wife is not faithful to him. Often, irritated drivers exchange such gestures in addition to expressive expressions showing their dissatisfaction. Although, remember that this gesture is very, very ambiguous. If, in addition to your index finger and little finger, you also raise your thumb, then this sign in the United States of America can mean words that do not require translation "I love you". The main thing is, don’t forget about your thumb, so that instead of a reciprocal declaration of love, you don’t run into rudeness.
Come here
Often people in different countries use the index finger gesture when calling someone to them. Of course, depending on the specific situation, this may be perceived as a romantic proposal, or it may also be somewhat humiliating. But who would have thought that this gesture could turn out to be criminal! If you decide to call a person to you in this way in the Philippines, you can easily end up in jail, since the legislation of the islands stipulates that this way can only be addressed to dogs, but not to people.
Everything's OK
If you like to emphasize words with gestures, and, when saying that everything is in order, you form the letter “o” with your index finger and thumb, then others will not always understand this gesture as "OK". This is acceptable in the United States, but it has other meanings in other countries. For example, in Brazil, Turkey and some Mediterranean countries, this gesture is perceived as “you are homosexual,” which can be very offensive to a person who is not. And in France and Belgium this gesture means that you perceive your interlocutor no more and no less than "zero", i.e. zero, which, you see, is also not very pleasant.
Stop!
Very often in the vast expanses of post-Soviet countries, people use a gesture with the entire palm with five fingers raised up to indicate the word “stop, stop.” You can even find old posters calling for a sober lifestyle depicting this gesture. But it cannot be called international, since in Greece, for example, this gesture calls not to stop, but, on the contrary, to go, but not in a very pleasant direction: "go to hell"(go to hell).
Tongue
Sticking out your tongue can sometimes lead to unpleasant consequences. If in some countries this may be perceived simply as tomfoolery, in others it can be perceived as outright rudeness or even a violation of order. For example, in New Zealand, sticking out your tongue can mean a serious insult and threat. Well, in Australia you can get into a fight for this. In Italy, a few years ago, a farmer was convicted of sticking his tongue out at his neighbor and had to pay him compensation. If you show such a gesture to another driver on the roads in Germany, you can also get a fine.
It’s interesting how people in different countries perceive sign language. Therefore, be extremely careful when choosing them. Sometimes it's better to say what you want in words. To do this, take an English course for travel with us. He will certainly never let you down.
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