A friendly wave in one place can be a grave insult in another.
We often rely on hand gestures to bridge language gaps when traveling, thinking a simple thumbs-up or peace sign is universally understood. However, non-verbal communication is deeply tied to culture, and a gesture that is perfectly innocent in one country can be deeply offensive in another. Accidentally insulting someone is a terrible way to start a conversation or a trip.
Knowing which common gestures don’t translate well is a crucial part of being a respectful and savvy traveler. A little awareness can save you from an awkward misunderstanding or, in some cases, a genuinely hostile confrontation.
1. The thumbs-up sign is not always a sign of approval.
In North America and much of Europe, giving a thumbs-up is a universally positive gesture that means “okay,” “good job,” or “I agree.” It’s so common that we use it without a second thought to approve of something or to signal that everything is alright. You might use it to thank a driver who lets you cross the street or to signal you’re good to a scuba instructor.
However, you should avoid using this gesture in parts of the Middle East, such as Iran and Iraq, as well as in parts of West Africa and South America. In these regions, the thumbs-up is a highly offensive insult, equivalent to giving someone the middle finger, according to Reader’s Digest. Flashing it casually can quickly turn a friendly encounter into a very negative one.
2. Making an “a-ok” sign can be extremely offensive.
Forming a circle with your thumb and index finger is a common way to signal that everything is perfect or “A-OK” in the United States. Divers use it to communicate that they are safe underwater. It’s a simple, clear gesture that we generally associate with positive reinforcement and agreement, a harmless part of our non-verbal vocabulary.
Use this gesture in Brazil, however, and you are in for a nasty surprise. There, the “OK” sign is an obscene gesture that is comparable to the middle finger, as shared in Shermans Travel. It’s considered incredibly rude and insulting. In some other countries, like Turkey and Germany, it can also be interpreted as a vulgar reference to a person’s anatomy, so it’s best to keep this one in your pocket.
3. The v-sign is a peace sign only one way.
Flashing two fingers in a V-shape is recognized around the world as the peace sign, a gesture popularized by the counterculture movement of the 1960s. To be a peace sign, however, your palm must be facing outward, away from your body. It’s a gesture of goodwill and solidarity that is understood and accepted in almost any context, from protests to photos.
Simply reversing the direction of your hand, so that your palm faces inward toward you, completely changes the meaning in several countries. In the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa, this inward-facing V-sign is a defiant and obscene insult, as shared by Daily Passport. It carries the same weight as the middle finger, so be very mindful of which way your palm is facing.
4. You should never beckon someone with a curled finger.
In the United States, curling your index finger toward yourself to ask someone to “come here” is a casual and common gesture. You might use it to get a friend’s attention across a room or to call a child over. While it can sometimes be seen as a bit dismissive, it’s not generally considered a major offense and is used in everyday life without much thought.
This gesture is extremely rude in many Asian countries, especially the Philippines. There, it is used exclusively to call dogs. Using it to beckon a person is seen as demeaning and can even get you into serious trouble, including being arrested. Always use your whole hand with your palm facing down to beckon someone in this region.
5. Holding your palm out can mean more than just “stop.”
Showing an open palm to someone, with the fingers spread, is often used to mean “stop,” “talk to the hand,” or to indicate the number five. While it can be a bit abrupt depending on the context, it doesn’t carry a deeply insulting meaning in most Western cultures. It’s a fairly straightforward gesture to create distance or to halt an action or conversation.
In Greece, this gesture is a serious and ancient insult known as the moutza. It signifies disgust and shame and is said to date back to the Byzantine Empire, when the faces of criminals were smeared with black cinders using an open palm. Flashing it at someone is a way of telling them they are disgraced, so keep your palms to yourself.
6. Crossing your fingers is not a sign of good luck everywhere.
For many people, crossing the index and middle fingers is a superstitious gesture used when hoping for good luck or a positive outcome. Children often do it when making a promise they secretly don’t intend to keep. It’s a common and harmless quirk, deeply embedded in Western culture as a symbol of hope and playful deceit.
In Vietnam, however, this gesture has a completely different and vulgar meaning. The crossed fingers are thought to resemble female genitalia, and making the sign at another person is considered incredibly obscene and disrespectful. It’s a simple gesture that can cause profound offense, making it one to avoid when traveling in the country.
7. The rock-on horns gesture can be a personal insult.
Extending your pinky and index finger to form a “horns” gesture is synonymous with rock and roll and heavy metal music in the United States and many other parts of the world. It’s a sign of appreciation for a great concert or a way to signal your allegiance to a certain genre of music. It’s a gesture of fun and community.
In several Mediterranean and Latin countries, including Italy, Spain, and Brazil, this gesture, known as the corna, has a much older and more insulting meaning. It is used to suggest that a man’s wife is unfaithful to him, basically calling him a cuckold. Aiming this gesture at a man is a grave insult to his honor and masculinity.