W hand sign meaning1/12/2024 ![]() ![]() Instead of waving at the waiter and telling him that you would like the bill, you can easily signal to him that you would like to pay. In India, this is also usually done non-verbally. This gesture is very useful when you are asked for change by the conductor on the bus or when you want to refuse the hundredth refill at a wedding dinner. How practical that in India there is a gesture of negation! This is done by extending your hand palm down and then shaking it side to side as if to say, "Mmm, I'm not so sure about that!" or "it’s so lala". To our understanding, this may seem like a condescending beckoning, but it is by no means impolite in India. Nevertheless, the fingers indicate just as much the direction in which one wants to direct the other person - namely towards oneself. While in Germany the palm of the hand points upwards and the fingers are moved back and forth towards us, in India the palm of the hand points downwards. Our gesture to beckon someone is reversed in India. But watch out: This gesture for drinking is sometimes used for drinking alcohol, which is generally not very well received in India. To drink, bring your fist to your mouth with your thumb and little finger extended and your thumb pointing towards your mouth. Imagine trying to pick up grains of rice with your right hand and then bringing them to your mouth. To symbolise eating, place your fingers on your thumb and bring them to your mouth. Equally easy gestures to understand are those for eating and drinking. If you also wiggle your head from left to right, the compliment is perfect. So if you want to praise food, you should use this gesture, which you may already know from diving. Very often it is used in the context of food. ![]() This Indian gesture is easy to understand: Forming a circle with thumb and index finger and spreading the other fingers means "everything is great!". Your counterpart will come back after five minutes. So don't be surprised if you are left standing with this gesture. This is usually done completely non-verbally. This gesture is also used when someone asks you to wait for five minutes. If someone wants to ask you to pay five rupees, they will not hold up their entire hand, but tap their thumb with the four fingers (similar to our gesture for speaking). However, there is a special feature here. The thumb then represents the number five. One is indicated by the index finger, followed by the middle finger, then the ring finger and the little finger. In India, people count with their hands differently than in Germany. ![]() A clear shake of the head, however, means "no", just as it does with us. The head wobble can sometimes just mean that the other person understands you and does not necessarily agree. Sometimes it is shortened to a barely perceptible head twitch - especially among rickshaw drivers - when they agree to the destination and want you to hop in. The longer you travel in India, the finer your antennae will become to understand what is meant by the head wobble. For them, wiggling from left to right often seems indecisive. The famous head wiggle causes problems for many newcomers to India. If you are in a professional context, shaking hands is also common. This greeting is understood and often used throughout India. Probably the most famous Indian gesture is the folding of the hands in front of the chest to form a Namaste. Therefore, we have created this guide to Indian gestures and their meanings for you.ĭo you want to travel through India? Then be sure to check out our article on Dos and Don'ts when travelling in India! Namaste Indian gestures are not always intuitively understandable. Countless gestures are used for communication, which underline or even completely replace verbal communication. The saying "communicate with hands and feet" can be taken literally in India. And not only for travellers and foreigners, but sometimes even for Indians who do not speak regional Indian languages. Communication in India is sometimes not easy. ![]()
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