Common gestures in Ukraine that differ from Western Europe
Communicating Without Words: A Guide to Ukrainian Body Language: Common gestures in Ukraine that differ from Western Europe
Common gestures in Ukraine that differ from those in Western Europe include:
- Thumbs up is a common approval gesture, similar to Western culture. However, pointing is done with the entire hand instead of just one finger, as using one finger can be perceived as rude in Ukraine.
- An offensive gesture in Ukraine is making a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers (known as the “fig” sign), which means “nothing” or “you will get nothing.” This gesture is not commonly used in Western Europe.
- The “V” sign for peace or number two is made with the palm facing outward in Ukraine for a positive meaning, but if the palm faces inward, it is considered rude and offensive, similar to the UK.
- Flicking one’s neck with a finger is a Ukrainian gesture signaling a desire to drink or pointing out that someone is drunk, a gesture not common in Western Europe.
- In greetings, Ukrainians use a strong handshake with direct eye contact and sometimes saying the full name, which can be more formal than typical Western greetings.
- Ukrainians tend to stand closer during conversations than Western Europeans and maintain less frequent physical touching.
- Crossing fingers behind the back in Ukraine may indicate lying, a meaning different from the Western use of crossed fingers as a wish for good luck.
These gestures reflect cultural differences where Ukrainian nonverbal communication has specific meanings that could differ substantially from Western European norms, especially regarding gestures considered offensive or polite. 1, 2, 3, 4