Across cultures, subcultures and contexts—from entertainment, political movements, religious ceremonies, and even at the dinner table— humans communicate with their bodies, especially their hands.
A theory of language development speculates that the earliest forms of language arose from simple gestures. One of the oldest and most common gestures is the outstretched hand with the palm up, a universal signal of begging or requesting. This gesture is so deeply ingrained that it is recognized not only by humans but also by nonhuman primates, like chimpanzees.
However, despite similarities in actions and movements, gestures often carry vastly different meanings depending on the speaker’s culture and country of origin. Misinterpreting these gestures can lead to confusion—or even unintended offense.
Do you know how to interpret your client’s or witness’s gestures?
Your interpreter does.
Here are some common hand gestures that can be misinterpreted depending on who is on the receiving end:
Okay (A-Okay)
Most of Europe and North America: Okay (approval/agreement)
Brazil, Germany: Offensive gesture
Turkey, Tunisia, Greece: Vulgar expression, threat or obscenity
France, Belgium: Zero or worthless
Japan: Money
American Sign Language (chest level): Profanity
Middle East: Represents the evil eye, a curse
Buddhism: Represents discussion and communication
Horn Sign
India: Classical dance gesture in Hinduism
Mediterranean Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Peru, Italy, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay (directed at someone): An insult indicating someone’s wife has been unfaithful
Italy and Malta (fingers pointing down): Corna – protection against the evil eye
USA: University of Texas, Texas Longhorn Football Team
Metal & Rock culture: Adopted by the Rock and Metal communities to signal approval
Buddhism: Used to turn away evil influences such as demons, sickness, and negative thoughts
Thumbs Up
Germany, France, Hungary: One (1)
Finland: Good luck!
West Africa, Iran, Greece: Pejorative meaning, expresses disapproval
China: “You’re number 1.”
American Sign Language (wiggled): Ten (10)
Ancient Rome: Passing judgment on a gladiator (death sentence)
Britain, USA, Australia, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, Russia: “Good/okay” or to indicate the desire to hitchhike
Shaka Sign
Hawaii: Aloha Spirit meaning friendship, understanding, compassion, and solidarity
Holland (thumb touching mouth): Indicating one wants a drink or asking someone else if they would like a drink
China: Six (6)
Russia and Australia (thumb touching mouth): An invitation to smoke marijuana
New Zealand: Recognized gang sign
Surf culture: Greeting and expression of thanks
Interpreting gestures correctly can be just as important as translating spoken words. Without an understanding of cultural context, even well-meaning professionals can inadvertently misinterpret critical nonverbal cues.
Your interpreter is trained not only to parse out your client’s words but also to use their in-depth cultural knowledge to convey meaning, taking into account body language and gestures. Their expertise goes beyond being bilingual or taking a few language classes—they apply extensive cultural insights to examine every detail and ensure the correct meaning is conveyed.
Written by Alicja Zyzdryn