Italians don't just express themselves in words, but they use hand gestures as well. Sometimes they can tell you what they mean with hand gestures alone. For Italians, using these gestures is entirely normalized, but people who aren't from Italy are often at a loss. Are you interested in learning Italian? Then it's a good idea to learn more about hand gestures. To help you on your way, we've listed 25 hand gestures below that you should know.
What are you talking about?/What do you want?
We're going to start this overview with perhaps the single most well-known gesture: the moving right hand where the fingers and thumb touch, creating a little bowl of sorts. An Italian can use this gesture to ask you what you're talking about or what you want. It's primarily used to express irritation or disbelief. This particular hand gesture even has its own emoji: 🤌.
Clever and crazy or stupid
In some countries, tapping your index finger against your forehead means that someone is crazy or stupid. However, in Italian this gesture actually means you're very clever. Do you want to use your hands to gesture that someone is crazy or stupid? Then softly tap your index finger against your temple.
Impossible
Once you start learning about the Italian language and culture, you will eventually encounter the gesture whereby both palms of the hand are pressed together. In most countries this means something like asking or begging someone for something, but it has a different meaning in Italian. Is an Italian pressing the palms of their hands together? Then they're saying it's impossible for them to do a particular thing.
Wishing
An Italian can also press their palms together if they want to wish for something. As a result, this gesture can be a little confusing. Thankfully you can tell these meanings apart because Italians will keep their arms and hands still against their chest if they're wishing for something.
I can't believe what I'm hearing
Instead of pressing their palms together, Italians can also form them into a little bowl. If they do so while shaking their hands, they're telling you they can't believe what they're hearing. In addition to expressing disbelief, Italians can also use this gesture to express disagreement or disappointment.
I don't care
Have you ever seen someone wipe the back of their hand along the underside of their chin? In many cultures this gesture is meant as an insult, but once again Italian is an exception. If an Italian does this, it means they don't (really) care about something. They might appear to just have an itch, but it means something else entirely.
I don't know
Is an Italian trying to convey they don't know what happened? Or are they not up to speed on a certain topic? Then they will spread both arms and show you the palms of their hands. Showing the palms of your hands is often taken to mean innocence in some way. It's a way to show that you have nothing to hide. Italians will often shrug their shoulders as well.
You're on your own!
An Italian driver will stretch out his arm to signify he doesn't like something. He'll stretch it out slightly to the side, rather than in front. The palm will be facing up. Some Italians keep their arms still when making this gesture, but sometimes they will turn it clockwise 45 or 90 degrees. In that case, the hand will be nearly above the head.
Go away
In English we have a multitude of ways to tell someone we want them to go away. Among others, we will use the ‘throw away gesture’. They have the same gesture in Italy, but it's used differently. The palm of the hand will face backwards rather than forwards. Is an Italian trying to tell you to go away? Then they will wave their hand away from themselves.
Come here
Italians will often use a hand gesture to ask someone to come to them. They do this differently than most of us are used to, however. Instead of keeping their hand up, they will point it down. The back of the hand is facing forward. They will then move then hand in the direction of their body. In principle, this gesture is the opposite of the one used for ‘go away’.
I can't stand you
Italians can use their hands to let you know how they feel about you. If someone can't stand to be around you, they will have their forearm and hand in a horizontal line and keep it flush against their stomach. Think of it as them telling you they can't ‘stomach’ you. Hence the position of their hand and arm.
Fear
If an Italian is afraid, they will touch the fingers of their hand together to create a bowl. This may look similar to the first gesture listed on this page, but there is an important difference. Instead of keeping the fingers together, Italians will repeatedly open and close this gesture to signify that they're scared. You can also use this gesture to ask someone else whether or not they're afraid.
Perfect!
Does an Italian want to thank you or show their appreciation? Then they will use the gesture that means ‘perfect’. You might think of the gesture where the index and thumb create a circle, but in Italy they use a different gesture. The index and thumb are pressed together more, creating a sort of bill or beak rather than a circle.
Be mindful/careful
Italians often look out for each other. As a result, they also use hand gestures to warn other people. Is an Italian using their index to pull down their lower eyelid? Then they're advising you to be careful or cautious.
This is good (food)
If you're eating at a restaurant in Italy, chances are a waiter will ask you if everything is in order. You can simply say ‘si’, but there's a hand gesture you can use as well. Form a ‘pistol’ with your thumb and index, press them against your cheek and make a spinning motion. This is a way to tell them you like the food without having to speak with your mouth full.
I insist
It can be difficult to change an Italian's mind about something. You can try, but don't do it when they're tapping the palm of their hand with their index. Italians will use this gesture to tell you they're not planning on changing their mind about something.
Stay calm
Italians generally aren't prone to being overly worried. If they're talking to someone who is stressed, they will move one or both hands down with their fingers spread. This is their way of telling someone to remain calm.
Cheating on someone
Sticking out your pinky and index is known as the ‘rock-'n-roll’ gesture in many countries, but it means something different in Italy. If you stick out these fingers at someone, you're insinuating that you suspect their partner of ‘having horns’. This means you're accusing them of cheating on their partner.
Wishing someone the best
Instead of pointing your fingers up, you can point them down. Contrary to the horns gesture, this one is a lot friendlier. Italians believe they can chase away back luck by making this gesture at someone. This generally means they wish someone else the best.
Very hungry
If an Italian is keeping their right hand stretched at midriff height, with their palm down and acting like they're sawing themselves in half? Then it means they've got quite the appetite.
It's beautiful/delicious/amazing
If an Italian believes something is beautiful, delicious or amazing, they will use a hand gesture instead of words to express it. They will fold the tips of their fingers together, creating a sort of bowl in their hands. They will then move their hand to their mouth and kiss the tips of their fingers. Next they will open their hand again and move it away from their mouth.
See you (later)
Italians will sometimes twirl their hand twice, whilst keeping their index in the air. This means ‘see you’ or ‘see you later’. Usually accompanied by the words ‘a dopo’.
I'm sorry, but no
Did you ask an Italian to do something for you, but they can't help you? Then they will stick up their thumb with their index pointing out. This isn't limited to the ‘pistol’ gesture, because they will move the thumb in and out repeatedly. This gesture can be made with one hand or both hands.
Enough!
If an Italian has had enough of something, they will say ‘basta’. This isn't limited to words alone, because they will audibly rub their hands on top of each other. After two or three repetitions they will keep their hands together for a little while. Then the left hand moves left and the right hand moves to the right, to create a sort of imaginary line.
Nothing
If an Italian asks you what's wrong, they might twist their hand suddenly. They will keep their upper and lower arm at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, stick up their thumb, bend their index slightly and the rest of their fingers a lot, turning them toward themselves. This is used to signify that nothing is wrong.
Hand gestures can vary from one region to the next
Wherever you go in Italy, communicating with Italians always happens with hand gestures. The gestures on this page are fairly general, meaning you will encounter them all throughout Italy. Do you use these gestures yourself, for example when on holiday in Italy? Chances are Italians will know exactly what you mean. In addition to these general gestures, there are a number of gestures that are specific to particular regions. For example, someone from Naples will use different gestures to express themselves than someone from Verona.
Facial expressions and hand gestures
Just like falsi amici (false friends), hand gestures can also cause issues in communication. This is primarily because some hand gestures have a variety of meanings. To prevent Italians from misunderstanding you when you try to say something, it's important to make the right facial expression. Italians don't just look at the hand gesture, but they also look at your face to make sure they're understanding you correctly. Are you conveying something different with your face versus your hands? Then you might accidentally insult an Italian.
Communicating with Italians
If you aren't used to communicating with Italians, you might run into some issues here and there. The people of this country make extensive use of hand gestures when talking. In business contexts, communication usually works a little differently than you might be used to as well. Curious to learn what you need to take into account when writing an Italian email? Or do you want to learn what to do or what not to do when communicating with Italians in a business context? Find out on this page!