17 Must-Know Italian Hand Gestures: The Ultimate Guide 🤌 (2025)

Table of Contents

Non-offensive gestures Hand Gesture No. 1 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 2 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 3 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 4 – Part I What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 4 – Part II What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 5 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 6 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 7 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 8 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 9 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 10 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 11 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Rude and Offensive Gestures Hand Gesture No. 12 Name What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 13 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 14 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 15 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 16 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Hand Gesture No. 17 What it’s called What it means When to use it How to do it Cultural notes Conclusion Are you a beginner or an intermediate Italian learner? Got a trip coming up or want to communicate with your Italian partner or relatives in Italian? Learn Italian with my unique 80/20 method Learning Italian? Check out these Italian language guides Like it? Pin it for later! Over to you! FAQs

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When it comes to body language, nobody does it better than Italians! Hand gestures, facial expressions, and posture play an essential role in Italy. They are the essence of conversation as much as punctuation is to writing.

Hand gestures constitute a vital part of Italian communication – in fact, one could say that most conversations are incomplete without them! Did you know that there are at least 250 Italian hand gestures that locals use on a daily basis?

What you probably don’t know is that the need to find a common non-verbal code to communicate traces back to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, when the arrival of new immigrants and colonizers from other regions of the world forced people to find new ways of communicating to overcome language barriers.

Over time, several ethnic groups and populations imposed their languages, cultures and mannerisms in the current territory that is Italy: the Carolingians, the Visigoths, the Normans, the Saracens, the Germanic tribes (Vandals, Ostrogoths and Lombards), the Spaniards, the French and the Austrians. Until 1861, that is, when Italy was officially “reunited” to become the state we know nowadays.

In the beginning, however, most people still used the dialect of their own region to communicate, which meant Italian was the official language on paper but not in real life. It took some time, and mostly thanks to school and television (yes, television!), to make Italian the primary language used in daily communication. Nowadays, despite the majority of the Italian population speaking standardised Italian, hand gestures have stuck out as a method of expression to accompany verbal communication in Italy.

That is why gestures still play such an important role to Italians! It helps them better understand each other, it adds emphasis to their speech, it gives them that theatrical and dramatic tone when they speak that everybody around the world loves so much. It’s simply part of the culture and it is acquired unconsciously by children imitating their parents and peers’ behaviours, meaning they develop gesticulating as an involuntary and natural habit.

Gestures give us an insight into Italian culture and knowing how to “handle” them will surely make your life in Italy much easier, whether you just moved there to work or study or travel and visit friends or family.

Here are 17 of the most common Italian hand gestures Italians use every day including; what they mean, when to use them, and most importantly, how to do them!

Non-offensive gestures

Hand Gesture No. 1

This is perhaps the most classical and well-known among Italian gestures. Although it is widely used among Italians and fits in a variety of situations, its use around the world is sometimes mistaken. If you’re wondering, what does this actually mean? Well, here is everything you need to know about this famous Italian gesture!

What it’s called	The “pinecone hand” or the “finger purse”
What it means	Ma che fai? (But what are you doing?!); Ma che vuoi? (But what do you want?)!; Ma dove vai? (But where are you going?!); Ma perché? (But why?!); and basically, any other question.
When to use it	You use it when: someone says something a bit silly; you’re annoyed, exasperated or confused about someone’s actions.
How to do it	Gather your fingertips to one imaginary point keeping your fingers stretched out and hold your hand upwards.
Cultural notes	It’s very sarcastic and it’s often accompanied by a confused or disagreeing look.

Attenzione! (Careful!)This gesture is mostly funny and ironic but it can also be quite aggressive if your facial expression is livid and accompanied by more colourful expressions stating that someone is saying/doing something stupid and nonsense, as in “Che ca**o stai dicendo/facendo?” (What the f**k are you talking about/doing?).

Hand Gesture No. 2

If you’re really craving something to eat, here’s something to suit you!

What it’s called	The “spaghetti” gesture
What it means	Che ne dite di una spaghettata? (How about a round of spaghetti?)
When to use it	You use it when you’re hungry and craving spaghetti so you suggest to your group of friends to make a “spaghettata” (a round of spaghetti).
How to do it	Using your index and middle finger, imitate a fork picking up spaghetti while pointing your elbow sidewards.
Cultural notes	No matter what time it is – spaghetti is always a great idea! (Ok, maybe not for breakfast…)

Hand Gesture No. 3

Hand Gesture No. 4 – Part I

This Italian gesture can be quite confusing because it can have two meanings depending on… the facial expression! If you do it with a serious expression, then it means, “watch out” and can be quite intimidating:

What it’s called	The “occhio” gesture (the “eye” gesture)
What it means	Stai attento… (Careful/ Watch out…)
When to use it	You use it when you want to warn someone.
How to do it	Using your index finger, gently tug at your bottom eyelid.
Cultural notes	Use it carefully, particularly in Sicily, because it recalls the Mafia communication code.

The meaning of this gesture changes completely if, when you perform it, you have a cheeky smile!

Hand Gesture No. 4 – Part II

What it’s called	The “occhio” gesture (the “eye” gesture)
What it means	Furbo/ Furbetto! (Sly/ Clever guy!)
When to use it	You use it to talk about someone sly, clever or someone who did something tricky and sneaky.
How to do it	Using your index finger, gently tug at your bottom eyelid and smile.
Cultural notes	It doesn’t mean “intelligent” in the sense of “smart” or “righteous”, it’s more about being in the right place at the right time, chasing the opportunity and taking advantage of someone/something.

Hand Gesture No. 5

The next gesture is used when a drastic (and unexpected) change occurs.

What it’s called	The “from riches to rags” gesture
What it means	Da così a così! (Literally: “From this to that!”)
When to use it	You use this hand gesture in Italy to express that something or someone has drastically changed, such as a situation or a person’s behaviour.
How to do it	Place one hand with your palm facing downwards, and then flip it over with the palm facing upwards while speaking.
Cultural notes	This gesture carries a note of sadness or disappointment for the change that happened.

Hand Gesture No. 6

When you’ve had enough of something or someone, this gesture will come in handy!

What it’s called	The “basta” gesture (the “enough” gesture)
What it means	(Ora) basta! (Enough!)
When to use it	Use this Italian gesture to say that you’ve reached the limit, you can’t do it anymore, you’ve had enough. Basta!
How to do it	Cross hands over one another and draw an imaginary horizontal line level with your chest.
Cultural notes	This gesture can be in between the offensive and non-offensive gestures, depending on your audience, the tone you use and your facial expression.

Hand Gesture No. 7

The next hand gesture has to do with… superstition!

What it’s called	The “horns” gesture
What it means	Facciamo le corna / Tiè (Literally: “Let’s do the horns”)
When to use it	This Italian gesture is used to protect yourself from the Evil Eye, or against anyone who’s bad-mouthing you.
How to do it	Outstretch your pinkie and index fingers with your hand facing downwards to look like horns.
Cultural notes	Make sure your fingers point downwards because pointing them upwards means that someone is cheating on their partner! It’s not unusual in Italy to find little horns that look like a chilli pepper as a lucky charm. In Italian, it’s called “cornicello” (meaning little horn, or hornlet), you can also say “cornetto,” or “corno.” People, especially in Naples and Southern Italy, like to carry them, hang them in their car or around the home for protection because of their supposed magic properties. The origin of this object dates back to Neolithic times when the horn was believed to be an auspicious sign of fertility (and therefore power) because of its phallic shape. People began to make these small amulets themselves. They could be made of wood, clay or coral and had to be strictly handmade to acquire the benefits from the maker. Attenzione! According to custom, you cannot buy a “cornicello” for yourself, it must be gifted to you, otherwise, it would lose its protective function. Learn more about this Italian superstition in my guide.

Hand Gesture No. 8

If you need to find a way out of an uncomfortable situation, this gesture is perfect for the occasion!

What it’s called	The “andiamo” gesture (the “let’s go” gesture)
What it means	Andiamo! (Let’s go!)
When to use it	You use this gesture in Italy to say that it’s time to go.
How to do it	Flatten your fingers except for your thumb and then move your hand several times with an up-and-down or diagonal movement.
Cultural notes	Depending on the situation, it can be used: to express annoyance, boredom; to get out of an uncomfortable situation; to tell someone you want to leave or you should leave together.

Attenzione! If you’re addressing someone while making this gesture and using your other hand to smack the back of the hand that moves, you’re basically telling them in a rude way to disappear from the picture, as in vattene! (go away!).

Hand Gesture No. 9

The next Italian hand gesture is quite ironic and is often used to mock someone for not being brave.

What it’s called	The “paura” gesture (the “fear” gesture)
What it means	Hai paura? (Are you scared?)
When to use it	You use this gesture with mockery to ask someone if they’re scared.
How to do it	Turn your palms upwards, open and close all five fingers at the same time as a repeated action; as if you’re pinching something.
Cultural notes	This gesture often implies that your interlocutor is a coward.

Hand Gesture No. 10

Hand Gesture No. 11

Caught someone doing something suspicious? The next gesture will describe it perfectly!

What it’s called	The “aumm, aumm” gesture
What it means	“aumm, aumm”
When to use it	You use this hand gesture when a person is doing something they’re not supposed to be doing, to describe a situation that seems a bit shady or even illegal.
How to do it	With your fingers pointing downwards, move four fingers (not the thumb) together harmoniously in a continuous circle.
Cultural notes	This gesture is accompanied by raising eyebrows and the sound “aumm, aumm” in perfect synchrony.

Rude and Offensive Gestures

Hand Gesture No. 12

To express your indignation, here’s an Italian hand gesture for you to learn.

Name	The “ma guarda te” gesture (the “look at that” gesture)
What it means	Ma guarda te! (Look at that!) (Literally: But look at you!)
When to use it	You use this Italian hand gesture when you’re upset/annoyed by someone’s behaviour and want to criticize them, as in “That idiot!” / “What the heck is he/she doing?”
How to do it	Raise one arm with your hand open and palm facing sideways or upwards. Bend your elbow pointing to someone who’s bothered you.
Cultural notes	This simple gesture often goes with a long exasperation sigh and an indignant look on your face.

Hand Gesture No. 13

Fed up with someone’s behaviour? Can’t stand them? There’s a very expressive gesture to express that in Italian!

What it’s called	The “mi stai qua” gesture (the “I can’t stand you” gesture)
What it means	Mi stai qui/qua. (I can’t stand you.) (Literally: ‘You’re here on me’)
When to use it	This gesture is offensive and a very direct way to tell someone they’re unbearable and you can’t stand them, either for their behaviour or personality.
How to do it	Hold your forearm horizontally against the stomach, with your thumbs and first three fingers touching each other and pointing downwards. The pinky finger stays outstretched.
Cultural notes	Don’t confuse this gesture with a food-related one! This time touching your stomach carries a negative meaning, almost as if you’re saying “I can’t digest you”.

Hand Gesture No. 14

The next hand gesture is also rude and cheeky:

What it’s called	The “chin flick” gesture
What it means	Chissenefrega! (Who cares!)
When to use it	This hand gesture is used to convey one simple and direct meaning: “I don’t care”, “I don’t give a ****”.
How to do it	Do this gesture by flicking your fingers out from under your chin and tipping your head slightly while making a ‘ntze’ noise with the mouth.
Cultural notes	To be more expressive, make a careless, almost contemptuous look while performing this gesture.

Hand Gesture No. 15

This gesture is among the most offensive of all:

What it’s called	The “umbrella” gesture
What it means	*Ma vaffanclo! (F* off!)
When to use it	This is a common substitute for the F-bomb to sell someone to “get lost” or “go to hell”, in the most offensive way possible.
How to do it	Place one hand in the middle of the opposite arm and bend that arm vertically.
Cultural notes	Its name comes from the fact that the arm resembles the handle of an umbrella while doing this gesture. Avoid using it if you don’t want to meddle in unpleasant situations!

Hand Gesture No. 16

Is somebody messing with you? This gesture will probably scare them away!

What it’s called	The “hand biting” gesture
What it means	Si t’anacagliu! [in Sicilian dialect] Se ti prendo! (If I catch you!)
When to use it	You can use it: to refrain from saying something you’ll regret later; to make the other person know they’re making you angry; to show that you’re losing your temper.
How to do it	Bite the side of your hand with the palm open facing downwards.
Cultural notes	It can be more or less rude depending on the seriousness of the context.

Hand Gesture No. 17

The next gesture is not used to indicate the size of a pizza – in fact, it’s a threatening and offensive gesture used to say “I can really hurt you!!”

What it’s called	The “buttocks” gesture
What it means	*Ti faccio un clo così** (I’ll make your ass this big)
When to use it	You use this Italian hand gesture as a threat to let someone know they’ve crossed the line and you are seriously thinking about hurting them, as in “I’ll kick you so hard your bum cheeks will end up this far apart.”
How to do it	Extend just your thumb and index finger of both hands and open them to the size of a… pizza (depending on how “big” the threat is)!
Cultural notes	This gesture can be used in a different context with a completely different meaning. If you refer to yourself and accompany the gesture with the phrase *“Mi sono fatto/a un clo così” or “Mi sono spaccato/a il culo”** (“I worked my ass off”), you want to stress how much effort you put into achieving something.

Conclusion

As we said at the beginning, there are hundreds of Italian gestures used in Italy on a daily basis, but if you manage to learn the (good) ones shown in this article, you’ll be well on your way. :)

The good thing about gestures is that you don’t really need to be fluent in Italian to use them. They’re a parallel (and often alternative) way to say things in a colloquial manner. Hand gestures and facial expressions will improve your ability to communicate effectively with native Italian speakers. After all, a journey into the language is not complete without learning about the culture as well! So, keep it up and before you know it, you’ll find yourself moving your hands like never before and speaking like an Italian!

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17 Must-Know Italian Hand Gestures: The Ultimate Guide 🤌 (2025)

FAQs

What does the 🤌 hand gesture mean in Italian? ›

Che vuoi? - Finger purse/pinched fingers/🤌 (various meanings, often "what do you want/what do you mean"). Keep your fingers together, with tips touching and pointing upward. Arm is about a foot distance away from the body. Hands can move up and down at the wrist or be held.

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What is the most famous Italian hand gesture? ›

"what do you want?"), alternatively described as ma che vuoi?, ma che dici?/ma che stai dicendo? ("what are you talking about?"), or simply che? ("what?"), is one of the best known hand gestures of Italy. In English, it is sometimes referred to as "pinched fingers" or "finger purse" (Italian: mano a borsa).

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What is the Italian finger kiss? ›

Finger Kiss

Touch your lips with your fingers. This translates as 'excellent! ', or 'you deserve a kiss'.

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What is the Italian hand gesture for money? ›

“Money” Rub your thumb, index, and middle finger together to symbolize wealth. Italians bring a hand up to their face and make this gesture when discussing "soldi" or money. To make this gesture: Press your index and middle finger into the top of your thumb and rub them back and forth.

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What does 🤘 mean in Italy? ›

For example, the corna gesture, formed by extending the index and pinky fingers while keeping the others folded (🤘), may be mistaken for a peace sign, but it actually carries a very different message. It is used to imply that the person being talked about has been cheated on by their partner.

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What does the 👌 emoji mean? ›

The OK gesture or OK sign or ring gesture (symbol/emoji: "👌") is performed by joining the thumb and index finger in a circle, and holding the other fingers straight or relaxed away from the palm. Commonly used by scuba divers, it signifies "I am OK" or "Are you OK?" when underwater.

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What does the mean in India? ›

In Nigeria, the gesture represents a gbas gbos (a back-and-forth argument). One exception to this is in India, where pinched fingers mean “Are you hungry?”

How do Italian men kiss? ›

In Italy, it is a common practice to greet someone with a light kiss on both their cheeks.

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What is the difference between 🤘 and 🤟? ›

While both emojis involve a hand gesture with extended index and pinky fingers, the contexts in which they are used and their associated meanings are different. The 🤟 emoji is often associated with love and positivity, while the 🤘 emoji is linked to rock and music culture.

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What is the Italian hand gesture for perfect? ›

Perfetto! Sometimes, there can be true poetry behind a gesture, which is the case with the gesture used to communicate perfetto! (“perfect!”). The thumb and index finger form a ring, with the other three fingers fanned out.

What does "thumbs up" mean in Italy? ›

The thumbs-up signals approval in the United States and on Facebook, but in Afghanistan, Iran, parts of Italy, and Greece, it means “up yours. '' So next time you're trying to hitchhike in, say, Tuscany, you should reconsider before sticking out your thumb. Avoid using in: Afghanistan, Iran, parts of Italy, and Greece.

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What does the mean? ›

Things You Should Know. The emoji mostly means “What do you want?” in Italian hand gestures, but it's often used to represent Italian things or Italy in general. also illustrates a “chef's kiss” motion that someone might do when they make something delicious or are really impressed by something.

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What does the Italian fingers charm mean? ›

Worn as a necklace the cornicello necklaces and hand charms are symbols of good luck. The hand gesture can also be used by people in Italy as a superstitious sign to repel misfortune. The hand worn or made as a gesture must always be directed downwards to direct negative energy away and downwards.

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What is the Italian gesture for perfect? ›

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What it’s called	The “yum” gesture
What it means	Mmm… che buono! (Mmm… Yummy!)
When to use it	You use this Italian hand sign to say that a meal is molto buono (delicious), for example, to compliment your friend’s mum’s cooking.
How to do it	Poke your cheek with one index finger and twist the finger back and forth.
Cultural notes	This gesture is very emphatic and is usually used with kids.

What it’s called	The “perfetto” gesture (the “perfect” gesture)
What it means	Perfetto! (Perfect!)
When to use it	You use it when you think something’s perfect.
How to do it	Gather your fingertips like in the “pinecone hand” gesture (or use just the thumb and the index finger together) and softly touch your lips with your fingertips while sending out an imaginary kiss.
Cultural notes	This traditional hand gesture can be replaced by the more international gesture of “okay”.