Ask Mehmet: Body language (2024)

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  • Published
  • By Mehmet Birbiri
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Ask Mehmet is a forum for people to ask questions of the local area, as well as the outer confines of the region and the country as a whole. To submit a question, send an e-mail with the subject "Ask Mehmet" to 39abw.pa@incirlik.af.mil. Then, look for an answer to the question on the 39th Air Base Wing's official website at www.incirlik.af.mil and Incirlik Air Base's Facebook page.

Question:
Mehmet, I am new here. I love traveling and after I receive my truck I plan to go to a new place every weekend. I am really good at communicating with people using hand signs and body language. My question is; are there any signs or gestures that I should avoid? What are the most common signs in Turkish body language?

Answer:
The article below I got from www.mymerhaba.com gives the exact answer to your question.

Turks like to communicate with their hands and arms and they can surely compete with Italians on this matter. Even if you don't know a word in Turkish it is possible for you to get along with a Turk. Bow your head for "yes" and raise your head backwards for, "no"; in addition to your head you may also half close your eyes and raise your eyebrows for, "no". If you raise your shoulders and open your arms it means, 'I don't know.' In order to show that you trust him or her you can tap his or her shoulders. Moreover, Turks like kissing each other. It is customary to kiss each other's cheeks upon greeting and leaving - men also do this, however it is presumed that there is some level of familiarity, otherwise, a simple handshake would suffice. Kissing is done only among the same sex in public. You hardly see a man kissing woman in public. I recommend you as a foreigner don't kiss anybody.

As a sign of respect Turks kiss the elder people's hands. In addition of kissing the hand, the kissed hand is raised and touched on the forehead of the kissing person. That means "I respect you, you have a place on top of my head." As retaliation for that gesture, the elder ones say some words praising the young one and/or kiss the young one on his/her cheeks or head.

Besides Turks generate strange sounds as, "hiiii", (without opening your mouth and it really sounds as if you are moaning) or, "hi hi" (again without opening your mouth).

If you unite all your fingers and swing your hand up and down, every body will understand that you loved the meal. Above all if you close your eyes and make, "mmmmm" sound they will even think you are a Turk.

If you rub your thumb on the side of your index finger while your hand is in a fist position, it means money. If a Turk put his right hand on his chest and slightly bow his head, it means greetings through the heart. The same sign also means agreement with your ideas.

There are some hand signs considered impolite by Turks. The first one is to put your thumb between your index and middle finger while your hand is in a fist position. The other is more international. It is the middle finger standing upright again when your hand is in a fist. They both symbolize the male sex organ. Another sign is meeting of your thumb and index finger forming a circle. While in most countries it means, "okay," in Turkey it means hom*osexual and is considered a big insult.

If you point to your head with your index finger, it means, "Are you an idiot?" Again if you put your index finger to your temple and move it like screwing it means, "Are you crazy?"

While you are driving if you raise your hand and wave it about, it will indicate the car following yours, "What's the matter?" and it is sure to anger most drivers.

A note of caution: Foreigners would be well advised to avoid using any offensive hand signals or any motions that could possibly be construed as being rude, insulting or aggressive. Such acts could lead to serious consequences. Avoid meaningless confrontations - better to just walk away from trouble.

Ask Mehmet: Body language (2024)

FAQs

What does "thumb between fingers" mean in Turkey? ›

The fig sign is a mildly obscene gesture that uses a thumb wedged in between two fingers. The gesture is most commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request. It has been used at least since the Roman Age in Southern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean region, including in Turkish culture.

How do you show respect to Turkish people? ›

When meeting locals in Turkey, greet them with a friendly handshake. A simple "Merhaba" (hello) or "Günaydın" (good morning) goes a long way. Politeness is valued, so use "Teşekkür ederim" (thank you) and "Lütfen" (please) when interacting with locals to show your respect.

What are hand gestures in communication? ›

Hand gestures can be a way to add more force to what you're saying. These are often known as "illustrative gestures." It can be used to convey intensity, confidence, and even be used to garner attention to a point you're trying to make.

What does winking mean in Turkey? ›

“The 'friendly wink' in Turkey is also bound to be misunderstood by foreign students like us,” he points out. According to Abdullah, winking always has the “I like you” implication between potential sexual partners.

Is it okay to kiss in public in Turkey? ›

Can you kiss in public in Turkey? Yes, Turkey is a secular country but just be careful in some neighborhoods it is not very welcome to have long French kisses! But hugging your loved one and a kiss on the cheek is always okay.

How to know if a Turkish man loves you? ›

There are a few key things to look for if you want to know if a Turkish man is serious in a relationship. First, he will always be on time for dates and appointments. Secondly, he will make an effort to get to know your family and friends. Finally, he will be honest with you about his feelings and intentions.

How to politely refuse in Turkish? ›

A widening of the eyes can also mean no. Headshaking is understood as a reaction but is not itself common among Turks. Another polite way of saying no is the Arabic maalesef, meaning “unfortunately.” A clear no is only used when someone wants to strongly deny something. And even then, sağol or “thanks” is often used.

How do Turks greet each other? ›

Turkish greetings (formal and informal)

“Selam!” – This is a standard way to say hi in Turkish. You could also say: “Merhaba!” – This is how to say hello in Turkish – and is a little more formal.

What does 🤟 mean? ›

What does 🤟 I Love You Gesture emoji mean? A universal emoji! Or … is it? The love-you gesture or I love you hand sign emoji is the American Sign Language gesture for “I love you,” showing a hand with a raised index finger and pinky (little) finger and an extended thumb.

What does 🤙 mean? ›

The 🤙 emoji officially means “call me” or “hit me up.” But this emoji is much more commonly used as the shaka emoji, which means “hang loose.” Use this friendly and ~super chill~ emoji to express some laid-back and lighthearted energy.

What does 👌 mean? ›

The OK gesture or OK sign or ring gesture (symbol/emoji: "👌") is performed by joining the thumb and index finger in a circle, and holding the other fingers straight or relaxed away from the palm. Commonly used by scuba divers, it signifies "I am OK" or "Are you OK?" when underwater.

What does middle finger with thumb mean? ›

In this gesture, the thumb sometimes touches the middle finger. The insult of this is equivalent to the finger. In Iranian culture, a similar gesture is used to represent "Dirt on your head", a verbal insult that is often used, suggesting the receiver is dirty, or unwashed.

Why do I tuck my thumb between my fingers? ›

You may not have noticed but when you feel strong and confident, the space between your fingers grows making your hands more territorial. When you feel insecure, that space disappears, in fact, you may find yourself tucking your thumbs under your fingers when under a lot of stress.

What is the meat between thumb and index finger? ›

The first dorsal interosseous muscle is the largest and originates from the 1st and 2nd hand bones. It forms the contour between the thumb and index finger when looking at the top of the hand and is often the first muscle to shrink in patients with severe cubital tunnel syndrome due to damage of the ulnar nerve.

What is the Turkish Nah gesture? ›

More commonly in Turkish or Slavic regions, the fig sign (also known as nah or shish) serves as the equivalent to the finger, meaning "you won't get it" or "in your dreams". The gesture is typically made with the hand and fingers curled and the thumb thrust between the middle and index fingers.

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