Learn Italian Hand Gestures: 20 Gestures & Their Meanings
Italian isn’t just about words—hand gestures add emotion, emphasis, and nuance to every conversation. Teaching children these common gestures helps them connect with native speakers and express themselves more naturally.
- Mano a borsa (pinched fingers) – “What do you want?” Hold fingertips together and move hand up and down.
- Pollice in su (thumbs up) – “Great/OK!”
- Pollice verso (thumbs down) – “No/Bad.”
- Dito medio (middle finger) – strong insult (avoid using!).
- Ci sta (index finger flick under chin) – “I don’t care/Whatever.”
- Che fai? (wiping hand gesture) – “What are you doing?”
- Che dici? (hand near ear) – “What did you say?”
- Me ne frego (wrist twist) – “I couldn’t care less.”
- Dai! (open palm push) – “Come on!”
- Silenzio (finger to lips) – “Be quiet.”
- Aspetta (hand chop) – “Wait/hold on.”
- D’accordo (finger circle) – “Agreed/OK.”
- È un altro paio di maniche (hands shift) – “That’s a whole different story.”
- Dammelo (hand extended) – “Give it to me.”
- Sono stanco (hand on forehead) – “I’m tired.”
- Non rompere (cutting gesture) – “Stop bothering me.”
- Bravo! (pat on palm) – “Well done!”
- Vieni qui (beckoning finger) – “Come here.”
- Andiamo (forward sweep) – “Let’s go.”
- Mano sul cuore (hand on heart) – “Truly/with sincerity.”
Reinforce gestures with cultural video lessons in the Dinolingo Italian for Kids course, where native speakers demonstrate authentic nonverbal cues.
Final Thoughts
Learning Italian hand gestures enriches language skills and cultural awareness. Practice these gestures alongside vocabulary lessons to help children communicate confidently and connect more deeply with Italian speakers.
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