Russian · Hand Gestures · hand gesture
Фига / Кукиш
figa / kukish
You'll get nothing! / Up yours (mild) / no way
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
The gesture
"A fist with the thumb poked out between the index and middle fingers"
What your hand is actually doing.
How to use it
Make a fist and thrust your thumb between the first two fingers — the "figa" (also "kukish" or "shish"). It means "you'll get absolutely nothing." Cheeky more than obscene; kids do it, grandmothers do it. "Figu tebe!" (a figa to you!) is the verbal pairing. Roughly Russia's answer to "up yours," on the mild end.
Heard in the wild
Денег хочешь? А фигу не хочешь?
You want money? How about nothing instead?
Where it lands
Russia (universal)
Quick answers
- What does "Фига / Кукиш" mean?
- In Russian, "Фига / Кукиш" means "You'll get nothing! / Up yours (mild) / no way". Literally it's "A fist with the thumb poked out between the index and middle fingers". Make a fist and thrust your thumb between the first two fingers — the "figa" (also "kukish" or "shish"). It means "you'll get absolutely nothing." Cheeky more than obscene; kids do it, grandmothers do it. "Figu tebe!" (a figa to you!) is the verbal pairing. Roughly Russia's answer to "up yours," on the mild end.
- Is "Фига / Кукиш" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
- How do you pronounce "Фига / Кукиш"?
- This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. A fist with the thumb poked out between the index and middle fingers.
Related in Russian
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "No way".
- French Oh la vache ! Holy cow! / Wow! / Whoa!
- German Quatsch! Nonsense! / Rubbish! / No way!
- Greek έλα ρε Come on! / No way! / You're kidding — disbelief, protest, or delight depending on tone.
- Italian Dai! Come on! / Come off it! / Please!
- Japanese マジ Seriously / for real / no joke
- Korean 헐 Whoa / no way / I can't even — the all-purpose stunned noise.
- Polish no co ty! No way! / Come on! / You can't be serious.
- Portuguese Porra nenhuma! Bullshit! / Like hell! / Not a damn thing
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