Travel Corner
HAND GESTURES YOU SHOULD NEVER USE OVERSEAS
1. PEACE SIGN WITH PALM FACING INWARD
Trying to order two beers from the bartender or wish someone peace in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New
Zealand? Make sure that when you have your index and middle fingers pointed up in the V shape, your palm is facing
outward. Otherwise, you're giving the equivalent of the middle finger.
2. THUMBS-UP
The thumbs-up signals approval in the U.S. and on Facebook, but in Afghanistan, Iran, parts of Italy, and Greece, it
means "up yours." So next time you're trying to hitchhike in, say, Tuscany, you should reconsider before sticking out your
thumb.
3. THE OK
Turns out making a circle with your index finger and thumb is not OK in certain countries. In France, for example, it
means "zero" or "worthless." In Venezuela, Turkey, and Brazil, it's a vulgar slang that will offend pretty much anyone you
flash it at.
4. FINGER SUMMONING
Want someone to come over to you? Definitely don't use your curled index finger to summon them in the Philippines—
that's reserved for calling dogs and is considered very rude. And in Singapore and Japan, that motion signifies death, so
unless you are the icy hand of death yourself, don't employ it.
5. LEFT HAND
Sorry, southpaws. You'll need to become ambidextrous—or just accept the fact that you'll probably spill food all over
yourself while eating with your right hand—while in the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka, and Africa. In these countries, the
left hand is traditionally seen as unclean, because it is associated with cleaning yourself after using the bathroom.
6. STOP
Don't use the palm-out, fingers-up "stop" sign in Greece, or you may not be able to stop someone from punching you in
the face. This gesture is an insult to Greeks—a stigma that apparently dates back to Byzantine times, when shackled
criminals were paraded through the streets and gawkers were allowed to smear charcoal or excrement in their faces
using their open palms.
7. FINGERS CROSSED
Crossing your index and middle fingers won't bring you good luck in Vietnam. There, crossed fingers symbolize a part of
the female anatomy and can be considered very rude when flashed at another person.
8. DEVIL HORNS
Rocking out at a metal show or tossing up hook 'em horns (with your hand in a fist and index and pinky finger
extended) is a bad idea in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Colombia. In these countries, the University of Texas'
signature hand gesture can be used to indicate that someone's wife has been unfaithful.
9. ARM WAVE
Don't hail a cab or wave someone over to you with your palm facing up in South Korea. That's how Koreans summon
their dogs. The proper way to wave is to move your hand up and down vertically with your palm facing down.
10. PAT ON THE HEAD
The head is the most sacred part of the body in Thailand. In the Buddhist faith, it's where the spirit lives. Thus, touching
someone else's head or hair is a definite faux pas—so think twice before you ruffle a kid's hair or pat someone for a job
well done!
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