Hand Gestures and their Meanings

June exclaimed in joy and her supporters cheered 'viva' 'viva' to her. In utter excitement she raised her hand and made the sign of 'V' with her fingers. And that was enough to proclaim her victory.

Yes, that was the actual essence of hand gestures. Hand gestures are the expressive actions which we display to communicate our messages. It is a non-verbal mode of communication, wherein we show up different types of facial expressions accompanied by movement of hands. Hand gestures have a wide range of meanings and they are also emblematic of different religious and cultural settings. Every individual movement has a meaning, symbolizing various forms of perceptions. We have explained you this in the next content.

Popular Hand Gestures

The significance of the gestures can differ from one country to another. Although people interpret in their own way, there are some generic ideas which are believed by everyone. To be precise, there are certain gestures that are universally acknowledged, and we have listed down over here.

The Victory or Viva

In the U.S., 'victory' symbol was first expressed by raising the index and middle finger in the form of the letter 'V' and bending the ring and little finger to touch the tip of the thumb. This symbol was popularized by Richard Nixon of America. Anti-Vietnam protesters used it during the 60s as a sign of peace and love. The 'V' sign is considered to be rude in Italy and if you are showing the back of your hand with your fingers forming 'V', then it is an insult. The same view is conceived in Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Okay or A-OK

OK is a positive symbol, wherein the tip of the thumb touches the tip of the index finger. You raise your hand and the remaining three fingers remain raised from the side of the index finger. This gesture means 'great', 'perfect' or 'absolutely fine' in the U.S. while in Europe it signifies an insulting overtone. The circle formed by curling the index finger into the thumb means that the person pointed at is 'zero' and insignificant. In Brazil and Germany it is a symbol of slang and a homosexual individual.

Stop or Stay
	In the United States, 'stop' is depicted by showing the palm with all the fingers pointing upward. This form of hand gesture also has other connotations like 'stay away' or 'talk to the hand'. In Malaysia raising the hand is explicitly done to summon waiters or someone for conveying a message.

Pointing Fingers

Pointing fingers normally mean indicating someone or some object. Extending the index finger to point something is probably the most common hand gesture. You will also find babies pointing their fingers at objects they want. People also believe that pointing fingers could also mean placing blame on someone. Western countries consider finger-pointing to be one of the most obscene hand gestures. Pointing the middle finger is a symbol of sexual disgrace.

Finger Curling

Extending the index find and curling its tip means beckoning someone. When you call someone or try to seek attention, then you usually follow this gesture. In the U.S. it is used to summon waiters or it could also be a gesture of seduction. Displaying such gestures is condemned to be rude in Japan while in Singapore curling index fingers represents death. Curling the index finger is popularly known as the 'dog call'.

Thumbs Up/Down
The thumb raised upward with other fingers curled inward is universally acknowledged as 'well done' or 'things are great'. In Western culture it is a symbol of optimism. In the Middle East, Latin America, Greece, Russia, and West Africa, thumbs-up means insulting others. Thumbs-down (the thumb pointing the ground) signifies non acceptance, failure and rejection.

Crossed Fingers
	Crossing fingers signifies anticipation and good luck. The index finger is crossed with the middle finger to symbolize fortune, hope and expectation for something. We keep our fingers crossed when we hope something good to happen. In Christianity, crossing fingers signify the 'sure-fire way of defeating demons'. In ancient folklore such symbols represent 'lies'.

I hope you have found the hand gestures and their meanings interesting enough. Always be sure of the underlying meaning before communicating anything through hand gestures. And I'm sure you are familiar with the 'horn' or 'corna' used exclusively by the musicians of rock, heavy metal bands, hip hop, etc.