Peruvian Hand Gestures

Most Peruvians speak more than one language, the national language is Spanish, but many also speak Quechua or another tribal language as well.  Very little English is spoken unless the people are professional with professional schooling; even then it is still rare.

Talking with your hands is commonplace in Peru, especially because Peruvians are very animated.  Behavior scientists say that during face-to-face conversation, 5% is verbal, 38% is vocal (including tone), and 55% in non-verbal and gestural.  You do have to be careful though.  Be aware that some familiar hand gestures can have very different meanings.  If you don’t know the language well, gestures are powerful communication tools, and are helpful in learning the language.  I have learned almost half of my Spanish words from just asking ‘que es’ (what is) and pointing to things. 

Gestures can get you into trouble, and although most Peruvians will assume that the foreigner just doesn’t understand, not everyone is understanding.

Come Here

In Peru you beckon someone or say ‘come here’ by turning your palm down while opening and closing your hand.  It is kind of like how you would shew someone away in the US.  Using a single finger like you would in the US is more or less lost in translation.

Nevermind

In the US, throwing your hand down palm to the ground and bending at the wrist means ‘nevermind’ or ‘whatever,’ in Peru it implies that someone is homosexual; this is highly offensive in a largely Catholic country.  This is a good way to start a fight.

Excellent

In Peru, making the ok sign, but rotating it 180 degrees (with the three fingers down) means ‘nice or excellent.’  Be careful though because it also implies that you yourself are homosexual or that the person you are talking to is homosexual.  Again this can start a fight, so it is best to avoid so as not to offend anyone.

Kill

The hand gesture of making a gun with your hand and pointing is very offensive and could actually provoke a fight.  I think it literally means ‘I am going to kill you.’

F-You

In Peru, when bending the pointer and ring fingers at the first knuckle, with the knuckles slightly ahead of the fingers - thus symbolizing genatalia, is the same as flicking someone off.

Secret

When someone taps the side of his nose with his forefinger, it signals a desire for confidentiality or secrecy in many cultures.

Pay Me

In Peru, the act of sweeping the hand and arm across a table means ‘pay me,’ although the same thing means that ‘someone is stealing’ in other Latin American countries.

Hungry

By extending the arm, bunching the fingers together and bringing your hand towards your mouth means that you are hungry

Packed

With your palm up, opening and closing the fingers and thumb (bunching the fingers) is slang for ‘it is packed.’

Cheeky

When tapping the cheek with fingers, palm facing towards or away from the face, means cheeky.

Watch

Pulling the bottom of the eyelid down means ‘I am watching you’

Blow/ Fight

The hand chopping sign usually means that there is violence or someone took a blow.

Hang Loose

The bullhorns gesture with your middle three fingers bent with the pinky and thumb out just means ‘hang loose’ in Peru