Understanding and Using Italian Gestures: A Crash Course

Italian gestures are a rich form of non-verbal communication, deeply ingrained in the culture. Their prevalence is often attributed to historical periods when the Italian peninsula was divided, and various languages were spoken, making gestures a crucial ’lingua franca’ for inter-regional communication.

This guide explores common Italian gestures, explaining their meanings and how to use them. These movements often accompany speech, emphasizing thoughts and emotions.

Common Italian Gestures:

• “What do you want?” / “What is this?” Fingertips of one or both hands brought together and moved. This gesture expresses bewilderment or annoyance at something someone has said or done.

• “I don’t care.” The hand touches the chin and moves forward. This signifies indifference or a complete lack of interest.

• “I didn’t understand.” / “Excuse me?” An open palm is brought to the ear while looking at the speaker. This indicates that the speaker was not heard clearly and requests repetition.

• “I’m hungry.” The open hand, with fingers together and extended, rhythmically taps the side of the body near the stomach.

• “There’s nothing.” / “I have nothing.” The thumb and index finger form a “pistol” shape. The hand rotates at the wrist. This can mean that there are no resources available, such as food in the refrigerator, or metaphorically, a lack of money.

• Expressing Anger The hand clenches into a fist and moves towards the mouth, as if biting it. This gesture is used to show restrained anger or frustration, often stemming from personal error or the desire to avoid lashing out at others.

• “OK!” The thumb is pointed upwards with other fingers closed. An internationally recognized gesture. In Italy, an alternative involves touching the thumb and index finger to form a circle, with the other fingers extended upwards. This can also be used interrogatively, often accompanied by raised eyebrows.

• “How delicious!” The index finger is pointed and “screwed” into the cheek. While often used by children to express enjoyment of food, adults may use it on occasion.

• “Shall we have spaghetti?” The index and middle fingers rotate with a closed hand, mimicking the action of rolling spaghetti with a fork. This implies an invitation to eat spaghetti.

• “Be careful!” The index finger rests on the lower eyelid, signaling a need for caution.

• “Come here!” The hand is extended towards someone and then curled inward, beckoning them closer. Alternatively, the index finger can point to the desired location.

• “Together.” / “Are they a couple?” The index fingers of both hands are placed side-by-side. This can signify people coming together, a sense of unity, or specifically inquire if two individuals are in a relationship.

• “What a stench!” Waving the hand back and forth in front of the nose with an expression of disgust. This gesture is universally understood.

• “Let’s go.” / “Go away!” The hand, with fingers together, points in a direction, possibly supported by the other hand on the wrist, and accompanied by head and eye movements in the same direction. This can indicate departure, either for oneself or to prompt someone else to leave. A stern expression can transform it into a “Go away!” command.

• “How much does it cost?” The thumb and index finger are rubbed together, with the hand moving upward quickly, similar to brushing off crumbs. This gesture is used to inquire about the price of something or to indicate that it is expensive.