Italian · 8 phrases
Hand Gestures
Italy's true native tongue. The pinched fingers ("ma che vuoi?") that conquered the internet, the horns that insult one way and ward off the evil eye the other, the forearm "umbrella" that means vaffanculo without a word. Some are pure charm; a couple will get you in a fight. Direction and context are everything.
Fare le corna (scaramanzia) gesture Touch wood / knock on wood / ward off the evil eye Ma che dici?! gesture What on earth are you saying?! / I beg you, be reasonable! Ma che vuoi? gesture What do you want?! / What are you saying?! / Come on! Occhio! gesture Watch out / stay sharp / I'm onto you Il gesto del mento gesture I couldn't care less / get lost / nothing Il dito medio gesture Fuck you / flip the bird Le corna gesture Your partner's cheating on you / cuckold (as an insult) L'ombrello gesture Up yours! / Vaffanculo, in gesture form