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Italian Hand Gestures & Meanings

29 cards · 🇮🇹 Italiano → 🇺🇸 English

Iconic Italian hand gestures and what they really mean.

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Ma che vuoi?

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  1. 1Ma che vuoi?
    Fingers together pointing up, hand moving up and down — "What do you want?" / "What are you saying?" (the most iconic Italian gesture)
  2. 2Non me ne frega niente
    Brushing fingers under the chin forward — "I don't care" / "I couldn't care less"
  3. 3Perfetto (chef's kiss)
    Fingertips together, kiss them and open the hand — "perfect", "delicious", "excellent"
  4. 4Furbo
    Index finger pulling down the lower eyelid — "watch out", "be careful", or someone is cunning/sly
  5. 5Che palle
    Fist with wrist rotating — "what a pain", "how boring", annoyance or frustration
  6. 6Tapping the side of the head
    Indicates someone is crazy or foolish; sometimes "use your head" (context-dependent)
  7. 7Venire via
    Hand waving towards oneself — "come here" / "come on, let's go"
  8. 8Zitto
    Finger to lips or hand cutting the air horizontally — "be quiet", "shut up", "silence"
  9. 9Guarda / Scusa
    Palm up, slight shoulder shrug — "look", "I don't know", "sorry", "what can I do?"
  10. 10Ma sei matto?
    Hand at temple, twisting back and forth — "are you crazy?" / "that's crazy"
  11. 11Fame
    Hand to stomach, sometimes rotating — "I'm hungry" / referring to food
  12. 12Stroking the chin
    Indicates thinking, pondering, "let me think about it"
  13. 13Tagliare la corda
    Chopping motion with the hand — "let's get out of here", "let's leave", "cut it out"
  14. 14Pinching the cheek
    Expression of affection, cuteness, or sarcastic "oh how sweet"
  15. 15Denaro
    Thumb rubbing against fingers — "money" / "expensive"
  16. 16Corna (horns)
    Index and pinky extended — can mean "good luck" (superstition) or an insult suggesting infidelity
  17. 17Fear / scared gesture
    Hands shaking or trembling near the body — fear, nervousness, being scared
  18. 18Combined fingers
    All five fingertips pressed together firmly — emphatic version of "ma che vuoi"
  19. 19Stronzo (insult)
    Forearm raised with fist — vulgar insult, equivalent to giving the finger
  20. 20Tapping two index fingers together
    Indicates two things or people are the same, alike, or related
  21. 21Piano piano
    Flat hands moving slowly downward — "slowly", "calm down", "take it easy"
  22. 22Crossing fingers
    Wishing for good luck or hoping something works out
  23. 23Stealing gesture
    Hand swiping/grabbing motion — someone stole something or is a thief
  24. 24Smettila
    Horizontal hand cutting motion — "stop it", "cut it out", "enough"
  25. 25So-so (mah)
    Hand flat, tilting side to side — "so-so", "maybe", "not sure", doubt
  26. 26Touching/tapping the nose
    "Mind your own business" or indicates a secret/something suspicious
  27. 27Delicious (alternative gesture)
    Finger in cheek, twisting — something tastes really good or is excellent
  28. 28Long nose (thumb on nose)
    Mocking or teasing gesture, similar to "nyah nyah" — used playfully
  29. 29Palm slap on forehead
    Expression of frustration or realization — "Oh no!" / "I can't believe it"

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