Italian Hand Gestures

Colonel Mustard Image
01/08/2010 - 12:39

I've always been interested in the Italian use of hand gestures. To be able to say so much with a movement of the hand. I know there are many, but do they all mean the same thing in each area of Italy? Could the same gesture say in Liguria offend someone in Puglia?

Comment

The short answer is yes - hand gestures do have different meanings between the north and the south.  Naples is the capital of hand gestures - there it is possible to have a discussion at 200m using a sort of tictac.  There are subtle changes between hand gestures in Sicily and Naples too - you can buy a dictionary of hand gestures!  If I have time Ill scan some of them and post them here.

Yes, Thanks Ram. I am interested and would be grateful if you could. I wonder why Naples has become the" King" of hand gestures? I have a visit booked for Naples with my wife and will probably bring it forward to do more research.