When Gen Z officially came out against the thumbs-up emoji, it got us thinking about the thumbs-up gesture itself. Here in the United States, it remains an innocuous sign of affirmation. But it’s one of the most notoriously rude hand gestures around the world, according to Terri Morrison, a leading authority on international etiquette and the author of a bestselling book series on the topic, Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands. And that’s because what makes a hand gesture rude is the perspective of whoever is on the receiving end.

“Hand gestures can vary significantly in their meaning cross-culturally, with common ones in one country being considered offensive in others,” says etiquette expert Jan Goss. Of course, the reverse is also true. We’re not going to lie: This can be confusing!

Want to make sure you don’t find yourself making an accidentally insulting, inappropriate or even obscene hand gesture? You’re in the right place. We asked Morrison, Goss and business etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore to boil down the biggest potential missteps. Read on to find out what you shouldn’t be doing with your hands when traveling internationally or engaging with colleagues around the globe. Trust us—these little etiquette rules can make a big difference in how you’re perceived!

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more etiquette, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

The fig

The Fig AVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

The fig hand gesture consists of a fist with the thumb wedged between the index and middle fingers. If you spent your childhood in the United States, you might instantly recognize the fig as an integral part of the “I got your nose” game, Goss says. Cute, right? Not in some other countries, where this hand gesture is considered rude. If you use it in Japan, Russia or Indonesia, it’s considered obscene, while in Turkey, it might convey that you’re spoiling for a fight. In fact, the fig is sometimes referred to as the Turkish middle finger.

The thumbs-up

The Thumbs UpAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

Fans of the 1970s sitcom Happy Days may recall the Fonz flashing a thumbs-up as a sign of his deep, abiding approval. Gen X movie fans may associate it with the iconic film critics Siskel and Ebert, for whom “two thumbs-up” equaled the highest praise for a film. And, of course, there’s a very popular emoji that you might use numerous times a day. But elsewhere in the world—including Nigeria, Australia, Greece, Iran, Russia and Sardinia—it is essentially the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

The OK sign

The Ok Sign AVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

France and Germany are among the nations where the OK sign is a rude hand gesture—akin to “flipping the bird,” according to Morrison. The same is true in Brazil, where former U.S. president Richard M. Nixon once made the mistake of flashing the OK sign while deplaning. Spoiler alert: It was not received well.

Lately, however, this hand gesture has been falling out of favor even within the United States. That’s because certain fringe groups have co-opted it as a symbol of white supremacy, according to the Anti-Defamation League. To make sure you’re not accidentally saying something you certainly don’t mean, it might be best to stay away from this common gesture for the time being.

The peace sign

The Peace SignAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

Holding up the index and middle finger in a V formation is generally considered a gesture of peace in the United States. But it matters which way your palm is facing. With your palm facing forward, this hand gesture is easily understood by Americans as a peace sign. However, when the palm is facing you, some might believe you’re throwing a gang sign. And in the U.K., the palm-facing-inward version—or a “reverse peace sign,” as Morrison calls it—is known by some as the British middle finger.

“This is a great example of how hand gestures can have radically different meanings cross-culturally,” says Goss. Indeed, while flashing the middle finger is considered by most people around the globe as an offensive hand gesture, that’s not necessarily true in Arab countries. The so-called Arab middle finger is seen by many as a symbol of defiance and even a call to action.

Pointing

PointingAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

Yes, pointing at a person can be considered impolite, but pointing at objects simply indicates something you’re referring to, a thing you want or a direction you need to go in, right? Wrong. In many countries, pointing is a hand gesture that’s always considered rude, regardless of what you’re pointing at. “It’s not OK to point in any Arab country,” Morrison tells Reader’s Digest, “or in much of the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia.” Whitmore agrees, noting that in many parts of the world, pointing at someone is considered not merely rude but full-on aggressive—the equivalent of poking someone in the chest.

Beckoning with your index finger

14 Common Hand Gestures That Are Rude In Other Countries Beckoning With Your Index Finger GraphicAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

Here in the United States, beckoning someone using your index finger can seem playful or even flirtatious. But in Latin America and the Far East, it is a show of disrespect to the person being beckoned. The “come here” gesture, after all, is how you might call to a pet. As Goss explains, “beckoning someone to ‘come here’ with your index finger implies that you regard that person as an animal.” Just to be safe, when you want someone to come to you, you’d probably be better off using your words.

Touching another person’s head

Touching Another Persons HeadAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

“In the Jewish and Christian traditions, elders touch younger people’s heads to convey a blessing,” Goss tells Reader’s Digest. “But in some other cultures, touching the head of another person is seen as an invasion of their personal space and is, therefore, disrespectful.”

In Thailand and some other Southeast Asian countries, as well as anywhere that Buddhism is practiced, the head is regarded as a sacred space—one that houses a person’s spirit. As a result, touching someone else’s head may be viewed as not just impolite but also potentially sacrilegious.

Crossing your fingers

Crossing Your FingersAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

Keep your fingers crossed if you’re hoping something will happen or you want good luck to come your way … but not if you’re in Vietnam! There, crossed fingers are thought to resemble female genitalia, so this gesture is a no-no. “It’s like giving someone the middle finger,” Goss explains. “It’s considered vulgar and disrespectful and could even lead to conflict.”

Crossed fingers may have negative connotations in Western nations too, according to Morrison. In parts of Europe as well as in the United States, when someone crosses their fingers, especially behind their back, it might be a sign that they’re lying.

Making horns

Making Horns AVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

Throughout the world, the shaka sign—made by extending the thumb and pinkie finger while curling the other three fingers against the palm—is universally regarded as a positive hand gesture that means something along the lines of “all is good.” Problems arise, however, because some people might think they’re flashing a shaka when they’re actually making the horns sign. Made by extending the index finger instead of the thumb, the horns have many possible meanings, and some are considered offensive. Context also matters here.

For example, rock-concert attendees may flash horns to mean “rock on,” and no one would take offense. In Texas, from which Goss hails, fans of the University of Texas Longhorns make this sign to show support for the team. But here’s how things can get dicey: When University of Texas alum Jenna Bush (daughter of former president George W. Bush) flashed horns in support of her alma mater, some people in Norway and Denmark thought she was saluting Satan, Goss tells Reader’s Digest.

In Greece, Portugal, Spain and Brazil, on the other hand, the horns hand gesture is typically used as an insult. Specifically, it suggests the recipient’s spouse is unfaithful. The same is true in Italy—but only when the extended fingers are pointing up, Morrison clarifies. With the extended fingers pointing downward, the superstitious believe the horns can ward off bad luck.

The chin flick and the cutis

The Chin Flick And The CutisAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

Flick your fingers under your chin, and those fluent in American Sign Language may think you’re saying “thank you.” But in some countries, including Italy, Belgium, France and Tunisia, this hand gesture conveys disdain for the recipient. If you were to put it into words, it might translate to “get lost” or “go away,” although other interpretations include “I don’t care,” “never mind” and “forget about it.”

In Pakistan and India, the equivalent hand gesture is not a chin flick but a tooth flick. The cutis, as it’s known, involves flicking the thumb or thumbnail from behind the upper teeth. Although Goss notes that the cutis is an offensive hand gesture only in these two countries, she nevertheless suggests keeping your fingers out of your mouth when traveling abroad.

The moutza

The MoutzaAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

If there’s one surefire way to offend in Greece, it’s by flashing the moutza at just about anyone. Consisting of an open hand extended toward the recipient’s face, the moutza is an unequivocally offensive hand gesture that basically means you’re dismissing someone—in the rudest way possible. If you want to go big with the moutza, you can use both hands. And if you want to go even bigger, you can accompany it with the word na, which means “Take this!” And by “this,” they mean—how shall we put this?—a pile of dog poop, although any poop would suffice.

Interestingly, the moutza may be one of the oldest rude hand gestures around, dating as far back as the 4th century A.D. It’s so deeply ingrained in Greek culture, in fact, that Goss likes to remind her clients that “when in Greece, you shouldn’t even gesture ‘stop’ or ‘hold on’ with an open hand.”

Using your left hand

Using Your Left HandAVIRAL GUPTA/RD.COM

This may strike the lefties of the world as unfair, but there’s a whole litany of things you shouldn’t do with your left hand, even in the United States. But in Arab countries, using your left hand is a more serious offense. There, the left hand is considered “unclean,” according to Whitmore, because it’s the one associated with bathroom activities. Accordingly, using your left hand for any purpose is a no-no, but it’s particularly inappropriate when handling food. It doesn’t even matter which hand you actually use when maintaining your personal hygiene, nor how scrupulously you’ve scrubbed your hands afterward. Opt for the right hand in these countries unless you want to be given the side-eye or worse.

Additional reporting by Meghan Jones.

About the experts

  • Jan Goss is the founder of Show Up Well Consulting, which provides training in all areas of etiquette. She is a graduate of the Protocol School of Washington, D.C., and focuses on a commonsense approach that blends etiquette with kindness. She is also the author of Protocol Power.
  • Terri Morrison is an etiquette expert and the author of 10 books, including Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More than Sixty Countries, a No. 1 Amazon.com bestseller.
  • Jacqueline Whitmore is an internationally recognized expert in etiquette, particularly in the business arena. With more than two decades of experience in etiquette training, she is the founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, a coaching and training company that specializes in business etiquette.

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate. For this piece on hand gestures that are rude around the world, Lauren Cahn tapped her experience as an attorney and a journalist who covers knowledge and history for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Jan Goss, CEO and founder of Show Up Well Consulting and author of Protocol Power; email interview, Aug. 10, 2024
  • Terri Morrison, etiquette expert and author of the book series Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands; email interview, Aug. 4 and 6, 2024
  • Jacqueline Whitmore, etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach; email and phone interviews, Aug. 4 and Aug. 8, 2024
  • Chicago Tribune: “Hands Off”
  • Fork Union: “Gesture Gaffes: Avoiding Cultural Faux Pas with These 5 Hand Gestures”
  • BBC: “OK hand sign added to list of hate symbols”