![]() ![]() In Germany, do this by pressing your index finger into your forehead. More often than not, you’ll only do this among friends! When you’re chatting with someone, you might want to (jokingly) make it known that you think what they’re saying is completely stupid. It should look like you’re giving a “thumbs up,” but your thumb is actually in the fist that you make. So rather than telling someone that you’re crossing your fingers for them, you would say “Ich drücke dir die Daumen.” (“I’ll press my thumbs for you.”) This is often accompanied by pressing the thumb into the palm of the hand and wrapping all the other fingers around it. Rather than cross their fingers, the Germans press their thumbs. That’s because they have a completely different hand gesture that they use to wish others luck. But if you try to do this in Germany, people might struggle to understand you (and look at you a little funny). In the U.S., it’s super easy to show that you’re hoping for luck-all you need to do is cross your fingers. Here are some of the most important German gestures that you need to know about and a couple of familiar gestures to make sure you avoid while in the land of bratwurst, Prinzregententorte (a Bavarian torte with chocolate and buttercream) and some of the best beer in the world! 7 Important German Gestures with Body Language Tips 1. Some scientific studies of nonverbal communication show that we use body language and gestures to help us stick to a natural rhythm of speech.Īlso, many body language experts believe that gesturing while we talk can help our brain find words and phrases, something that second language learners struggle with! After all, we’ve all been in a conversation where we can’t remember the correct vocabulary to get our opinion across. Not only that, but you’ll find that incorporating as many of these German gestures as possible into your communication will really help your fluency. You don’t want to unwittingly offend anyone! Germans might not be known for emphatic hand gestures, but they do use them! Be sure to practice those on this list whenever you get a chance. (Download) Why It’s Important to Be Aware of German Gestures and How They Differ This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy. You won’t have a problem with some, but others might unintentionally offend the listener. But we are going to ask you to be careful when you use common gestures in Germany. Maybe you have noticed just how much you like to talk with your hands and you’re wondering if we’re going to tell you to stop.ĭon’t worry, we’re not going to scold you. (Pay attention the next time you’re counting, and you might be surprised!)Įver shown someone that you think everything is okay by making a circle out of your thumb and index finger? You probably don’t even realize how often you give the thumbs-up sign, shrug your shoulders or wave your hands around. The information may still be subject to change at a later date.Ap7 Important German Gestures and Body Language Tips to Keep You Out of TroubleĮven think about how often you use gestures when you speak? Despite that, the sign is still very rarely used by native Greeks for its positive meaning (and never for the pejorative). Any perceived pejorative meaning of the past is lost in contemporary use. In practice, most Greeks nowadays recognize the positive connotation of the sign due to international exposure. Axtell's book Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World. The sign has a pejorative meaning in parts of West Africa, Iran, and Greece according to Roger E. Though it states that it may be offensive in Israel I haven't found this to be the case.Īs per the latest edit to the quoted Wiki page: Axtell's book Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World." In southern Sardinia, where this gesture is noted for being particularly obscene, a hitchhiker would be well advised not to wave his thumb in the air expecting a car to pick him up, or he may find himself under the wheels of a large truck. ![]() The sign has a similarly pejorative meaning in parts of West Africa, South America, Iran and Sardinia, according to Roger E. In these places, it roughly means "Sit on my phallus" and carries the same stigma as does raising the middle finger in the west. In Afghanistan, Iran and parts of Italy, the gesture is regarded as an obscene insult equivalent to what the middle finger signifies in most of Europe, especially when combined with a sweep of the arms. You can probably use Wikipedia to determine the exact implications of the gesture. ![]()
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