hand gestures
while speaking your native language? Body movement during conversation can give off social clues that are particular to a certain culture. But when people learn a language, they often forget to learn the words and expressions that we make with our hands. You may find that a hand gesture in your culture has a different meaning in English-speaking countries. In this lesson, I will teach you common hand gestures used when speaking English.
294 COMMENTS
Simply fascinating. Anyway, I’d like to give you a little suggestion: in my Country the gesture that you call “rock on” represents a heavy insult.
…Good thing to know!
Because of you Emma I finished this long video snap snap! such an interesting lesson!
Thanks a lot Emma.
Body language as well as hand gestures are an integral part of getting to know the target culture.
Kwowing perfectly well what they all mean can -in the short term- help you to understand much better the target culture. In the long run, by understanding their use, you can avoid hardships.
Excellent topic for an English lesson!
Emma :). V sign is a Victory sign. Many people misunderstand this.
http://ww2today.com/20th-july-1941-v-for-victory-widespread-across-europe
“Rock on” is a sign of the horns and has its origin in satan movement in the middle ages and then in the heavy matal and black sabbath music genre.
:D rock on vs cornuto ;P
Thanks for the lesson. It’s clear forme,
my teacher i am want to asky aquestion,my question is “i am want to lean by online and how to help me that ”
please contact me my gmail “mahadgbb333@gmail.com
In Italy we detest who quote
Yes..! the same in Argentine, here mostly teens do a lot of gestures while speaking and are regarded as obscene behaviour…By the way, it’s a nice and funny lesson…
sorry about that, but make some gestures is better English..
Does v sign mean victory also?
mean “up yours(f*c* you)
Thank You so much EMMA. I was confused some of these HAND GESTURES before I watch your video. But now you clear my mind.
GET THE BILL is totally unknown to women! And, anyway, tha last one is Mork’s way of sayng hello. Nano nano!
Saying…
I see that our modern culture inherited the most part of these gestures, but some of them are new for me. Thank you very much Emma!
Interesting! Thank you Emma :)
i got 10
Thanks Emma!!!Nice video!!!Thumbs up ;)
it’s great thanks Emma
I did not imagine so many manners to express myself by gestures.
But I also try to learn the Italian and the body movements are important and nice.
Thank you Emma.
Thank you Emma. your lesson is essential.
Thank you very much, you are the best teacher
Thanks for the AWESOME lesson Emma.. \m/(O_o) u ROck!
Emma, Thank you very much!!!!!!! Great lesson as always!
I do agree with you, Alessandro.
Thank you very much!))) Your explanation is very interesting and is’t so difficult)
Hi. Write me sometimes
Hi. Im from Tajikistan. Im watching ur videos. They are the best. They help me to improve my english. Thank You so much. Im ur fun!
hi Daria, if you want to train english language contact me on skype: CorradoGenoa
Thank you, but i have an account in skype. Actually i am busy with my studying and haven’t free time, but thank you) (Also i learn english for myself)
Thanks, maybe you have not an account… I am looking 4 someone to talk because that is the best way. Dasvidania ;)
Thank you, but i have an account in skype. Actually i am busy with my studying and haven’t free time, but thank you) (Also i learn english for myself)
hello
Emma ,Thank you very much in İstanbul… I am always watching your video ;)
Nice lesson. Most of these gestures have the same meaning in my country. Thanks!
Thank you!)
As far as I can tell you are good at languages.
I’m having a hard time trying to learn French on the Internet on my own.
But anyway, I want to know how far I can go.
Good luck with your English Assena.
Thank you Emma and what an interesting lesson. By the way in Spain to swear some people might do hand gesture by doing a cross with both of the forefingers,so we don’t use the hand over our head.
It is very interesting information. In my country most of these hand gestures have the same meaning like in western culture! thank you very much
Yes, it’s so interesting that in western countres all of this meanings could be expressed by gestures. And also it’s too lucky that so many countres could be decribed like western by their current culture))
Wow! The first brazilian here! \o/
By the way Emma, here in my country if you do the hand gesture of ‘OK’ upside down, then it will be an insult. Thanks a lot.
Thanks Emma :)
very useful lesson ,thanks a lot Emma for this lesson.
The lesson was very cultural, interesting and fun, teacher Emma. By the way, it´s weird that the okay hand gesture is not polite at all here in Brazil. Actually, it´s another Brazilian way to say something really as offensive as the middle finger. Strange!
the lesson is very nice, an emma describing very clearly to undestand. thnk emma
it`s great edu clip
thank you.
Nice Lesson~ Love It
Thank you Emma :)
http://www.kotoz658@gmail.com you’re truthful there’s no god but allah
Thanks EMMA. It was really great lesson …
Hi Emma,love your videos. I have a question. Why some teachers say Sports can’t be substitute with an Object Pronoun…example: Do you like basketball? Yes, I watch IT.
Yes, I watch basketball
I grew up in The U.S.A. when I was a kid and we commonly use it..
very interesting.. thank you..
Thank you EMMA..I like this lesson.
wonderful lesson Emma.Thanks.
There is no way I can make the last hand gesture, my fingers are too stiff for that, as though I’m playing the guitar for the first time. VERY USEFUL!
good teacher – cute woman ! always pleasure to watch your video-classes
Excellent class, excellent instructor, all gestures showed by you Emma was clearly and objective.
Thanks for your time and share your knowledge..
It’s the way for a better future.
9/10 item. Thank you for your lesson Emma. It is very interesting and very useful.
Someone knows does Emma (or another teacher) do a personal lessons via skype?
Thank you Emma.It is very interesting, informative and useful lesson .
Emma you are very expressive. Great class!
It’s good to hear you and James.
thanks Emma, I got 10 correct out of 10.
Thank you so much Emma, this is my topic in Classroom language lesson, but how can I dwonload this video
Great lesson Emma, Thanks a lot! Here, we got these kind of hand gestures but sometimes it means different things!
Brazil, Canada and US, most of them is the same!
Yeah it’s true! The same meaning.
Hello Larissa, how are you?
I am searching someone to talk with me in English, I need practice it rs
Would you like too?
If you want, send me a message in my email lucas.gomes.freitas@hotmail.com or answer here.
hello mate i wanna improve my language too leave your sky pe or send to me on
HI Kotoz
In the moment I can´t enter in my Skype :/
Pass your email here
There we could search some way to we talk together
I am waiting for your answer
Thanks for teaching. Most of these gestures have the same meaning in my country. I got 8 correct out of 10. THUMBS UP Lets go!..
The funny lesson. Thanks.
Thank you so much Emma
Thank you so much for this funny and educational video!
Just a question: i thought it was “touch the wood”.
When I was in London they used to say touching instead of knocking.
Does it sound the same?
Also I’d like to thank Emma for the clear explanation: I got 10/10.
Yes, “touch wood” means the same thing!
thank you so much
Thanks for the lesson. It’s clear for mi.
*me.
thanks Emma. Nice job. I enjoy a lot…
Interesting lesson. Thank you Emma
Thanks Emma! You are great.
fantastic i got correct ten out of ten thnk you teacher EMMA and engvid.com
great, I like this video.
it is great thing to know… you did well
Hello Emma. During your lesson I have discovered a new meaning of “to go”. Actually you used it each time you expressed that somebody is doing a hand gesture. See you.
nice lesson Emma, very funny! lol
Hello joselyn, how are you?
I am searching someone to talk with me in English, I need practice it rs
Would you like too?
If you want, send me a message in my email
sonerakbyk680@gmail.com
Hi Joselyn!
I want someone to practice English and Spanish with me. I am engineering studant like you :)
Would you like to pratice? Thank u, best wishes
Thanks for the great lesson !
Thanks Emma! Thumbs up!!
I liked this lesson so much, it was very practical , thanks a lot Emma.
Thank you
Good lesson. I learned a lot about the hand gestures. ???
good job!
I’d like to practice my English ! I you want , add me on Skype : krloz095
Nice! We have almost the same signs in latinamerica.
very useful.Thank you, Emma
I like to much you class
Thanks a lot but the gesture that u call rock on it means corone of satan
thank you :)
This two finger gesture isn’t a peace sign. It’s a Victory (V) sign. Many people misunderstand it.
Sign V means peace and victory as well.I think the hands gestures are seeing in italian culture the most visibile.They cannot speak without heands and I love it!This is very useful lesson.thx:)
I should write down on my back and on my chest:
“Officer, please, Don’t Shoot!I am disarmed!”
:))
Hy Emma, I’m happy because in my first lesson, my score was 90.
good job
Thanks a lot, dear Emma! You are one of the best English teachers in the world!!!
Thank you Emma ?
thank you emma..
Hello Emma,
It was a great lesson, at the same time very interesting one. Body language and gestures are important for every language and culture. They help to communication a lot. In Azerbaijan, these hand gestures are mainly the same, except we don’t use “Rock on” or “Devil’s horn.”
Best Regards,
Roya.
Good , good
Good , good lesson
I got 10 :)
Emma you re the best!!!!!!
You’re amazing in explanation ^^ thaaaanks so much ♥
this website is good
thanks very much engvid
I got 10 thanks
Thank you Emma.The last quiz gave me new hand gesture although I was wrong.
You doing some gestures were funny, we are accustomed with Ronnie, lol
Great lesson!
very interesting, thanks
Emma where do you teach French? because I want you as my french teacher
Thanks a lot Emma!!
Thanks
Hi Emma, could you explain me all and whole?
Thanks for an amazing lesson.
Thanks for your lesson.
thanks
thanks for the course
Great lesson, Emma. I gave it the THUMBS UP. Here in Brazil, the “rock on” hand gesture can also mean “cuckold”. Bye!
Thank you so much, Emma! This lesson is very interesting. Usually I don’t watch such long lessons, but this video is so curious :)
thank you EMMA. it was very interest lesson
very fascinating topic :D ı have 9 correct answers in this quiz :) thank you very much Emma..love you <3
each other gestures is using in Turkey and using same meanings,too
Thank you Emma!
Very nice!!! I had too much fun!!!
Thanks Emma!!!
Thanks Emma! You are great.
‘v sign’ here we use for victory
I just loved this video, it is really clear and interesting. Got 100 :3
Hi Emma
I had 100. Your test is easy. About gestures, I advice to see on youtube body gestures. You will learn that a gesture can be rude. So when I talk to a foreign. I only use my voice and my smile. Kind regards love XXX Francis
Thanks Emma
Thanks emma i like this lesson very much.
Thanks Emma. I got 100 score .
Thanks, you are Great!
thanks dear teacher really good lesson
oh yeah
10/10
Thank you
by the by :Emma means mother in Hebrew
have a wonderful day
You make the lesson is easy
Thanks a lot emma, now I know more about hand gesture in westen culture. :)
Thanks
Thanks to Emma and all the EngVid teachers, the project is awesome.
Having watched this video, I can’t get why you need a gesture to show that you’re lying. Is it addressed to whom you’re speaking to or to an observer (maybe your friend in a company)?
thank you Emma
I like very much your lessons Emma ! thanks a lot !
its Excellent
I am from Ukraine and most of gestures have the same meaning here but some of them vary. I just felt like sharing them here.
Quotes are very rarely used here.
Crazy is somewhat similar but we usually swirl our forefinger near the temple. And the one you showed usually means a person’s thinking really hard at the moment and not to be distracted.
Never saw anyone use Okay gesture, we usually use thumbs up to say we’re pleased with something.
When we want to ”get someone” we typically just bump our fist agaist the palm and stare at a person you’re showing it to. Means someone is about to get hurt.
Never saw anyone use ”let’s drink” one here. Some people click their neck a couple of times to show that. This move is typically asociated with alcoholics. For example in a conversation someone says ”Oh, don’t mind him. This old man is just (and then then they like clank their neck a couple of times with their finger). Means they think the guy is just an alcoholic.
We don’t use our fist like that when we’re to trying to catch a ride. Usually just a regular palm.
And holy shit, I could never make that StarTrek gesture, how can people do that?! It just seems to hard to keep my fingers like that.
Anyway, this lesson was fun to watch, I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you so much, Emma.
I have the same problem with the StarTrek gesture :-) Im also not able to hold my fingers like that :)
I loved the video! Thanks.
best way to learn English for me
I love it
I like your lesson Emma thank you very much
hello i am new between you
Nice class. I would like to ask something. In Spanish, when we say somenthing and do quotes, we also remark it saying that the expression or the word is “between quotation marks”. For example: Fue, entre comillas, el mejor trabajo de mi vida.
Do you also say it in English or it is just a hands gesture?
Thanks.
I got 8 thanks
Hi Cindy We can be friends?
Thank you Emma. I love it, I do it for my first time and I got 8 of 10.
You cracked it.. Thanks for making it so simple to understand..
The best teacher… I liked your lesson Emma
Thanks Emma!
Pretty the same meanings in Brazil, for these hand gestures you teached.
Rubbing my hands for your next lesson!
taught (not “teached”)
Hello Emma.I´m a new member, so i´d like to let you knowing that I´m really enjoying yours lessons.
Previously when I saw somebody showing V sign with their palm inwards, I didn’t realize that that hand gesture was really offensive, and I guess even that guy wasn’t aware of that simply because they are certain about there being one kind of V sign in the world whatever the palm is inward or outward.
The gesture “OK” it isn’t very commom in Brazil.
“OK” has two meanings in Brazil.
“OK” is the same thing in this video, something positive.
Or “OK” upside down, it can be an insult as “fuck off”, “asshole”.
Thank you for these information, I’ll Vist Brazil for the fest time in tow weeks .
if you ask me i never use gestures while speaking )
but it`s quite useful lesson anyway.
Hi, i’m from Thailand the almost your hand gestures are same in my country. Especially “Knock on wood” We used when talking about bad things of others and prevent those thing happened to us.
Thank you very much for these important information, specifically the “L” one ,which means loser , I’ll use it specifically while I’m driving, hope no one saw this video
Excellent video. Thanks
Thank You Emma :)
All of the gestures showing in the video are the same here in brazil. But is nice to know. Thank you.
Thank you for teaching me hand gestures. thank’s a lot Emma. <3 :D
It is a funny lesson, but there are so many gestures in this lesson ,I cannot get it all at once ,so I watch this lesson twice,Now I can get it all.thank you Emma!
Thank you Emma, I’m learning a lot with your videos. This class was particulary fun
Hi Emma, thank you so much!
Thanks a lot
Thanks a lot
I got 100!! Thank you, Emma
THANK ^_^
Hi
good lecture…
but what is the meaning of touch wood ???
thanks
prateek
Thanks Ema ! I saw this lesson with my daughter, and we learned good gestures and bad words :O
Thanks Emma!!! This is an amazing video!! And my score was 10/10!! I´m so happy!!
thanks Emma,it was a fantastic lesson
We almost use the same in Kenya
SENSATIONAL … TOTALLY AWESOME
Excellent lesson!! Thanks Emma for your help..
interesting lesson I have ever heard. Thanks, EMMA~~!
Thank you so much miss emma for the lesson it’s really helpfull.
Thanks, Emma. You’re a fantastic teacher and you speak clearly. Your way to teach makes the topics easy to understand. Thank you very much!
Emma, everyday in the morning, I used to try watching and listening your videos at least 30 minutes. In the video I really surprise meaning of “up yours” and ” V sign”. Sometimes, in daily life, we can make the mistake if you don’t understand the meaning of hand gestures. Thank you so much
Thanks!!
pretty interesting
thank you a billion
It was amazing…
in my country some gestures hand that many people not understanding
Thank you! What a interesting lesson.
Thanks for this video.
These gestures are very closed to what we use in Egypt
Thanks very much for this lesson.
I have a question, once I noticed a gesture in a film, it looks like the money gesture but only two fingers used. I want to make sure what is its meaning. I think that it means (your wards like a violin). Is this true ?
So good but the last quiz wasn,t in the video..
Thanks Emma
good for me & for emma
Thank you very much Emma, it really helpful
…
thanks a lot emma madam.
Thank you Emma! You are amazing teacher!
thak you very much emma,
your lesson is awesome .
amazing,i think sometime my little hand action would be more useful in daily coversation than talking, do you think so ?,thanks you a lot
I have a question…
can we use this gestures in exams like IELTS or TOFEL????
Great lesson; thanks for new stuff, you’re very pretty with all respect
Great
It’s fantastic
u r my favorite teacher ..
Thank you so much, Emma, the lesson was really helpful. Thanks
Fingers crossed!!
Thanks Emma I really got enjoy with that lesson …BR
thanks but i can’t understand the lesson
9/10 thanks a lot Emma I love you
Very cool lesson Emma!?
Thank you very much Emma you are so beautifull for me
Hi Emma
If I`d to say to go toilet .
EMMA IS GOOD TEACHER..
I’m really grateful Emma, if I didn’t watch your video maybe I don’t understand what is the differences between v sign and peace sign
Thanks Emma very interest and useful
thaks emma for everything you are the best english teacher in the world i have ever seen
thanxxx very useful :D
Thanks a lot. You’re a great teacher ;)
threat, fist, clasp (lobster clasp), insult (humiliate), rub
Wonderful lesson?????
Wow, they’re very similar to the Italian gestures :)
In Chinese culture the V sign usually means cute,girls put their hand on face with V sign when they take pictures.
I got 100% :D
I’m pretty glad, thanks for so useful videos and i’ll wait impatiently for the next one.
Nice to meet you here, buddy. I’ll look forward to next video too.
But i’m to be honest almost didn’t appear here for a long time.
Now i’m just looking at youtube-channels of teachers.
It’s certainly an useful experience.
p.s.: Pal, it’s so stupid, you know? I mean, you know what exactly i mean )
Thank You so much EMMA. I was confused some of these HAND GESTURES before I watch your video. But now you clear my mind
Is there native english speakers who wants to talk with me to help me improve my english?
OMG! i got 10 je3. thank you, teacher!
I want you to know also that here in the Philippines “knock on wood” has the same meaning as yours. GB
I got 10/10. Thank you Emma.
i like this lesson
I confused all everything!
I will be try to learning
Thank you so much:D
Very good! Thanks Emma.
I got 9/10! Thanks very much!!
Excellent teachers.
Thank you very much.
Very good! Thanks Emma
Thank you, Emma. Not just for the great lesson, but for smiling all the time!!
Charming as always Emma..
thanks
Nice class and your hair also beautifill
Thankyou for your gesture lesson, I am enjoyed a lot. May God bless you to teach more in languages. TC.
Thank you Emma :)
You got 9 correct out of 10
really i enjoyed, thanks Emma
I’m very happy with these lessons.Thank you very much
Thank you one more time, Emma! Pretty the same in Brazil, but we don’t have some, like “the loser”, for example. I did 10 out of 10 this time.
Thanks, Emma!
in our believe raising up point finger and put them in front of body it refers to God.
10/10 thanks, Emma
wonderful teacher
useful lesson
I Got 7, it’s enough for the first time
Yeah i got 10 :)
Thanks Emma
Thanks Emma rather interesting!
very useful one ! Thankyou Emma . you are very good and polite teacher .
thanks Emma it was a interesting lecture
great!! 10 of 10 before Ive watched the video.
very important lesson, I learn the meaning of many gestures from different cultures.
Thanks Mrs. Emma!
Finally, I cleared my confusion related with crazy hand Gestures :)
Thank you ,Emma!
thank you v match
Western Hand gestures diffrent in Korea.
So, It is not easy. but interesting lesson.
Thank you Emma.
Thank you Emma, it’s very useful lesson for me.
The ok gesture in brazil means ”f…. you”, funny, does’n it?
Thanks
Thank you Emma
if i,bangladeshi, make my thumbs up , it will be terrible.
10/10. Wonderful ! Hand gestures are the interesting things. Every country have different means in the same gesture.
Thanks a lot
Thank you so much,i get 80%
Thanks Emma! I enjoyed this lesson!
Thamk you so much.
Thank’s Emma.
today a was loser. 7/10
I can’t believe. 90% of them we use in our country ?
can u join in ur classes please
TY Emma, it was so helpful, :D
9/10 thanks for you
90/100 Thanks Emma i love you classes
like it
100/100.
Really “i” am a genius!
Hahaha!😊 Any doubts?
Participating in the quiz…Great experience.
Thanks Emma many of this had gestures we do have in our culture though.
Thanks a lot, Emma. You are amazing! (Azores Islands, 05Sept2024);