Are you about to travel somewhere exotic this summer? Some body language gestures are different across the globe! Although body language is mostly universal, there are certain aspects that are culture-based.
Gestures, especially, are a tricky area. Make sure you don’t use the following hand gestures abroad if you’re not 100% sure what they mean!
What Are Offensive Hand Gestures?
Hand gestures are movements made with hands and fingers to convey meaning.
But while some are universal, like a wave hello, others can spark serious cultural misunderstandings. That friendly thumbs-up might get you a smile in America but could land you in hot water in the Middle East. And don’t even think about making the “OK” sign in Brazil unless you’re looking to start trouble!
Let’s explore 18 hand gestures that could accidentally turn you from a charming tourist into an international incident!
Since you are replacing some gestures…why not add a few good ones? Check out our master guide to hand gestures:
60 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using and Their Meaning
18 Offensive Hand Gestures to Avoid Abroad
The Middle Finger
Offensive in: Almost everywhere
Dating back to ancient Greece, “flipping the bird” is one of history’s oldest and most widespread insults. According to historians, the philosopher Diogenes pioneered this gesture in the 4th century BCE, reportedly flipping off his rival orator Demosthenes.
Today, it’s become so ubiquitous that even world leaders and celebrities have been caught using it, from Johnny Cash’s infamous 1969 San Quentin Prison photo to Stone Cold Steve Austin making it his signature wrestling taunt. The gesture has even landed in court, with a U.S. federal court ruling it as protected speech under the First Amendment!
Think twice before even using your middle finger to point or push up your glasses—in many cultures, even accidental use can cause offense. And despite its Western origins, this gesture is now recognized and reviled pretty much everywhere, making it perhaps the world’s most universal insult.
The V-Sign (Peace Sign Reversed)
Offensive in: United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland
Flash this gesture palm-outward, and you’re spreading peace and love.
But flip that palm inward, and you’ve just dropped the British equivalent of the middle finger! While a popular but unverified story claims this gesture originated at the Battle of Agincourt (1415) with English archers taunting French soldiers, what’s definitely true is its offensive power in modern Britain and its former colonies.
Just ask George H.W. Bush—during a 1992 visit to Australia, he accidentally gave the backwards peace sign to a crowd of angry protesters, inadvertently adding fuel to their fire.
The A-OK Sign
Offensive in: Brazil, Greece, Turkey, Middle Eastern countries, increasingly controversial in Western countries
What’s an innocent “OK” gesture in America can land you in hot water abroad. In Brazil, it’s as offensive as giving someone the middle finger. Flash it in Greece or Turkey and you’ve just made a homophobic slur. In the Middle East, you might be cursing someone with the “evil eye.”
Perhaps the most famous victim of this cultural mishap was Richard Nixon, who once unknowingly insulted an entire crowd of Brazilians by flashing this gesture from his plane.
But even in Western countries, the A-OK sign has taken on controversial new meanings. What started as a 4chan hoax in 2017 to “troll the media” has evolved into something more serious, with the gesture being appropriated by certain white supremacist extremist groups.
So, when in doubt, a simple thumbs up might be safer… except when it isn’t (but more on that next!).
The Thumbs Up
Offensive in: Parts of the Middle East and West Africa
The thumbs up—considered an innocuous sign of affirmation in the West—became globally recognized during WWII when American pilots used it to signal they were ready for takeoff. Before that, it was used in Ancient Rome by crowds to signal if a gladiator should live or die.
Today, it’s taken on some rather different meanings across the globe. In many parts of the Middle East and West Africa, the thumbs-up is equivalent to saying “up yours!”
The Fig
Offensive in: Turkey, Indonesia, Russia
Here’s an ironic one: despite being the world’s largest producer of figs, Turkey takes serious offense at the “fig” hand gesture.
Image via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Made by pushing your thumb between your first two fingers in a fist, this gesture carries some heavy historical baggage. In ancient Rome, it was actually a good luck symbol representing, ahem, fertility. But somewhere along the way, it evolved into something far more offensive.
In Turkey, it’s as bad as the middle finger, while in Indonesia and the Netherlands, it’s seen as a vulgar sexual invitation.
The Horn Fingers
Offensive in: Italy, Spain, Colombia, Brazil, Mediterranean countries
Rock fans and Texas Longhorns supporters, you might want to sit down for this one.
That devil horns gesture beloved at concerts worldwide? In many countries, you’re essentially telling someone they’re being cheated on by their spouse. The origin of this insult allegedly dates back around 2,500 years, to when bulls were castrated to calm them down.
The Cutis
Offensive in: India, Pakistan
Ever had so much contempt for someone that insulting just that person wasn’t enough?
Enter the cutis. This gesture, common in India and Pakistan, involves putting your thumb in your mouth and flicking it out while saying “Cutta!”
This one’s particularly obscene because it’s not only an “f-you” to the person it’s directed at, but their entire family!
The Palm-Forward Hand
Offensive in: Greece
Imagine “talk to the hand,” but way worse.
Known as the “moutza” in Greece, this gesture dates back to Byzantine times when people would rub ashes or excrement on criminals’ faces. In modern times, it’s like flipping someone off—only much ruder.
To take it to the next level, you can put both hands together in a double moutza. For educational purposes, of course.
The Finger Tap
Offensive in: France
Tapping your index finger against your head near the temple—a gesture Americans might use to say “think about it”—is a way of calling someone crazy or stupid in France.
That guy-tapping-his-head meme just took on whole new meaning for you, didn’t it?
Avoiding offence is a brilliant start if you’re looking to build relationships—but what comes next? If you’re looking to level up your people skills, check out:
Crack The Code on Facial Expressions
The human face is constantly sending signals, and we use it to understand the person’s intentions when we speak to them.
In Decode, we dive deep into these microexpressions to teach you how to instantly pick up on them and understand the meaning behind what is said to you.
Learn how to decode emotions in our advanced communication course, People School.
The Finger Purse
Offensive in: Italy
The Italian language is well-known for being accompanied by expressive hand gestures. Not all of them are pleasant, however.
Image via Wikpedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
When Italians pinch their fingers together pointing upward, they’re not complimenting the chef. This gesture means “What do you want?” or “What are you saying?” and is considered quite rude when used in an argument.
The Five Fathers
Offensive in: Arab countries, some Caribbean countries
Possibly the most inflammatory insult in the Arab world, the “Five Fathers” gesture involves pointing your left index finger at all of your fingers on your right hand clumped together. This implies that you have five fathers—in other words, that your mother wasn’t faithful.
Definitely not a gesture to use while haggling in the souk!
The Forearm Jerk
Offensive in: Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, parts of Latin America and Eastern Europe
If you’re a fan of Japanese video games or anime, be particularly wary: you might’ve seen this gesture as a symbol of determination or courage in Japanese culture, but it has a very different meaning elsewhere in the world.
Image via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Called the “bras d’honneur” (arm of honor) in France, the forearm jerk involves slapping your bicep while raising your forearm. It’s essentially a massive “up yours” or “f-you” for those times when a single middle finger just doesn’t cut it.
The Crossed Fingers
Offensive in: Vietnam
While it means good luck in the West, crossed fingers are an extremely vulgar gesture in Vietnam, representing female genitalia. When directed at someone, it’s equivalent to flipping them off.
Best to find another way to wish for luck when you’re in Hanoi!
The Chin Flick
Offensive in: Italy, France, Belgium, Tunisia
A flick under the chin means “get lost” or “I couldn’t care less.” In France, where it’s known as la barbe (“the beard”), it can also signal extreme boredom—not something you want to do during your French colleague’s presentation!
The gesture takes on varying levels of rudeness depending on where you are and how you do it. In Northern Italy, for instance, a forceful chin flick is particularly aggressive, while in other parts of Italy it’s a non-verbal way of saying “no.”
Either way, best to keep your hands away from your chin unless you’re actually stroking a real beard!
The Dog Call
Offensive in: Philippines, many East/Southeast Asian countries
Think twice before curling your index finger to beckon someone in Asia.
This gesture is strictly reserved for calling dogs, and using it with humans is seen as deeply demeaning. It’s especially taboo in the Philippines, where it’s so offensive it can (allegedly) actually get you arrested. Instead, use an open palm facing downward with a gentle scooping motion.
The Left Hand
Offensive in: Islamic countries
Using your left hand for gestures, eating, or greeting is considered unclean. This stems from historical hygiene practices where the left hand was used for… well, bathroom duties. Even left-handed people should try to use their right hand in these regions.
The Hand in Pocket
Offensive in: Japan
In Japan, keeping hands in pockets is considered deeply disrespectful and shows poor manners in most social situations.
Just how serious is this cultural faux pas? In 2019, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike faced intense public backlash for briefly putting her hands in her pockets during a Tokyo Marathon award ceremony—despite the temperature being a chilly 6 degrees Celsius! She was forced to make a public apology, with critics suggesting this simple gesture revealed her “true character.”
The Head Pat
Offensive in: Thailand, many Buddhist countries
The head is considered the most sacred part of the body in Thai culture, making a casual head touch about as welcome as a poke in the eye. Even ruffling a child’s hair—a common gesture of affection in the West—can raise eyebrows unless you’re extremely close to the family.
Cultural Considerations for Greetings
Greetings are often tricky when meeting someone from another culture. Do you shake hands or kiss? Do you hug or nod? Observing two people from different “incompatible” cultures greet each other can be quite funny to observe.
Here are some general rules of thumb:
Handshakes
Handshakes are done in most Western countries, including the U.S., Britain, Australia and Germany. The number of pumps varies per country. Americans usually give a handshake with up to seven pumps, which is considered a very long handshake in Germany where they only give you one or two firm pumps. Some Asian cultures hold your hand for a short while after you’ve shaken hands. This is generally a sign of trust.
Kissing
Kissing is another area where you can get into trouble. How many kisses do you give? Again, this depends on the nationality of the person you’re greeting. Someone from one of the Scandinavian countries will give you only one kiss, while the Dutch and the Arabs go for three kisses. The British usually either avoid kissing altogether or do a double kiss. When you’re in an unfamiliar country it’s often best to follow along with what the locals are doing.
Hugging
Hugging isn’t as common as the handshake, but it is used in some countries. In Mexico, the abrazo is their form of a hug—a standard greeting. Similarly, the Greek and the Italians hug on a first meeting. Hugs are also quite common among friends in various cultures. Again, it’s best to observe what and how the locals do it and then to follow suit. It may be uncomfortable at first, but it’s an interesting way to experience a different culture.
Bowing
Bowing is used mostly in Asian cultures to greet each other. The amount of respect given is measured by how deep the bow is. The deeper the bow the more respect given. Fortunately, most Japanese don’t expect foreigners to understand bowing etiquette. They will generally also accept a handshake or a nod, but being familiar with the bowing etiquette before going to Japan will definitely help you make a good first impression.
Personal Space Around the World
Personal space is another issue to keep in mind while traveling. In the Western world, it’s common to be talking to someone at a distance of about 18-20 inches, but this spacing varies throughout the world.
Mediterranean cultures often stand much closer while talking, which can make you uncomfortable if you’re not used to it. It may be intimidating to have a stranger in your personal space, but often they don’t mean to harm or insult you. Southern Europeans are known to have a personal space of only 8-11 inches.
The same cultural differences can be found in touching. Even within the U.S., there are differences between when it’s okay to touch someone. Globally, this is even more so: in countries like India, Italy, Greece, Spain and the Middle East, it’s considered normal and appropriate to frequently touch other people. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself making much more physical contact with other people than you normally would if you’re visiting these countries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rude Hand Gestures
Hand gestures can carry very different meanings across cultures due to historical, social, and religious factors unique to each region. Many gestures we consider casual or positive may be viewed as disrespectful or offensive elsewhere.
Researching the local customs and common gestures before traveling is a good start. When in doubt, follow the locals’ cues and use neutral body language, like a simple nod or smile, to avoid misunderstandings.
When in doubt, observe the locals or wait for your host or counterpart to initiate the greeting. If you’re unsure, a simple smile and nod is usually safe.
Cultural norms and interpretations vary widely, so a gesture that is offensive in one country may be neutral or even positive in another. However, showing the middle finger is almost universally understood to be rude and offensive.
“When in Rome”
The saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” holds very true whenever traveling. You’ll encounter cultural body language traits that you’re unfamiliar with. Instead of clinging to your own values and culture, why not try to blend in?
Start by observing how the locals act with each other. What gestures do they make? How close do they stand together? Do they touch each other a lot or do they avoid contact? How fast do they talk? By observing these things and then trying them yourself, you will be more readily accepted in this other culture, even if you’re just visiting. Moreover, people will highly appreciate it if you try to learn their language and respect their culture. This will help build rapport and possibly new relationships.
Speaking of observing and blending in, did you know that mirroring others’ body language is one of the most important aspects of building rapport? For some tips on how to mirror, check out our article: Mirroring Body Language: 4 Steps To Successfully Mirror Others