Yokamon! Good afternoon dear readers, today I decided to touch on a very interesting topic on my blog. Let's talk about what the gesture “Thumb and little finger protruding in different directions” means. Do you believe in the existence of sign language? How often do movements of the hands and the formation of certain figures replace familiar vocabulary? Do you know what the thumbs up and pinky sign means and when it is appropriate to use it?
Are you aware that this gesture should not be done in the Caribbean? Read on, the most interesting things will come next.
One gesture on many continents
This strange gesture, called "Shaka", is often used by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes and grappling wrestlers.
The gesture, when the thumb and little finger are protruded and the rest are pressed against the palm, can be seen not only among wrestlers, but also among people from the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Today it is often used by ordinary people, and on different continents it can be deciphered and understood differently. For example,
- if we take the American sign system as a basis, this means the letter U,
- in China - number 6,
- and in our country this gesture symbolizes a telephone call, if a person puts his thumb to his ear,
- or an offer to take drugs if you put it to your lips,
- if your hands are located at stomach level, the interlocutor is offering you alcohol.
According to many sources, this sign is most often used when greeting, along with it, they mainly pronounce the words “Shaka, brah!” The islanders seem to be asking people to relax, take their time, and remember that life is wonderful and everything will always be fine. In Hawaii, everyone uses this gesture: athletes and even politicians. Apart from greeting, "Shaka" is also used to express your gratitude and if you want to say goodbye.
By the way, the “Shaka” gesture is used in the film “Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”. The film was shot this year. If you can uncritically experience the heroism of the American soldier and can watch Hollywood portray the East in film, I see no reason why you wouldn't like Michael Bay's new film.
Putting aside the electronic world, the director, with identical pomp, shot a much better project, and we must admit that he did it very well. If you don’t have anything to do in the evening, watch this movie and write in the comments what this gesture meant in the last minutes.
Where did the gesture come from?
After viewing the picture, I became curious, how did this sign come into use? Who started showing it first? Why don't they use the index finger instead of the little finger? According to the first two versions that I was able to find, "Shaka" is associated with an ordinary guy Kalil Haman, who worked in the last century in Hawaii.
One day he had an accident, as a result he lost all the fingers on his hand except the thumb and little finger. Many people believe that the guy always said hello with his right hand, and people only saw two fingers. This gesture was liked by the local guys, who began to greet in the same way. A few years later, the gesture spread throughout the island; by the way, almost all local residents are confident that this version is the most truthful.
Second version
The gesture became popular after Haman got a job guarding trains that carried sugar. An accident happened to him at his previous job. He had to inspect the trains and drop off the children who were constantly trying to ride them. After the inspection, the guy raised his hand, thereby showing the driver that he could move on and everything was fine.
Another version of "Shaka" is associated with
According to legend, a shark attacked a surfer, but he managed to escape, losing three of his fingers. The guy never gave up surfing and greeted his friends with his right hand, using this particular gesture.
There are sources where it is written that “Shaka” was used by labor immigrants as an invitation to drink a glass of beer or something stronger after a hard day of work.
It’s interesting how meaningful a simple sign can be; many people probably don’t even think about what they are showing when they simply randomly cross two fingers. After reading the forums, I realized that our people perceive “Shaka” differently.
What does protruding thumb and little finger mean?
- I'm a rocker
- Goat, gore, gore.
- Sexual act. By the way, this is why I wrote earlier that it is better not to show it on the Caribbean Islands unless you are specifically talking about intimacy. If you point your little finger at a girl with your thumb sticking out, she may take it as an insult and file a police complaint against you for harassment.
- Hard bass dance.
- Nike brand.
- Relax, take it easy.
- Among the mercenaries it means "Jumbo" - in other words, this is their Code.
Do you know what this or other gestures mean? Well, for example, a two-finger gesture in the form of the letter B? Or, for example, what does the tongue gesture between two fingers mean? Share your guesses in the comments.
Two finger gesture in the form of the letter B
From historical articles it became known that during the Hundred Years Wars, the French had a couple of fingers cut off, which they used to draw a bow. And those who had all their fingers in place mocked their enemies and showed “V”.
Even today this gesture is prohibited in France. And also almost all of Europe and England do not recognize it. For example, approximately 7 years ago, Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor were excluded from their football teams for displaying "V".
The second meaning of this sign is “Victory”. It was used by Winston Churchill himself during World War II. He made the "V" sign popular and in his understanding it meant victory, but in this case the palm had to be turned back to the public. Many countries perceive this sign as a simple demonstration of the number "2".
Gesture "Goat"
In Russia, this gesture is called “horns”, “raspaltsovka” or “korn” and everyone interprets it in their own way. In Central Europe in medieval times it was used to protect against the evil eye (as if you had a bullet in your pocket). This sign can be found mentioned in many books, it is even depicted in paintings. The frontman of the Black Sabbath band made this gesture the most important in his life: now at a concert of various musical genres, he shows “Horns” as if approving the group. But there is no need to show this gesture to an Italian man or woman. In this country it means someone who has been cuckolded. So try not to show Heavy Metal in this country.
Do I use gestures when communicating with friends? Probably more often no than yes. We are all different, and everyone has their own perception of the world, I may offend someone, on the contrary, I will flirt with someone, although I did not even intend to do this. It's better to use words instead of gestures. But I’m sure that at a Korn concert the “Shaka” or “Goat” gesture will be more than appropriate.
Share your thoughts in the comments. It will be very interesting to read. And don't forget to subscribe to. All the best and see you soon!
Text— Agent Q.
In contact with
Any gesture or action should be assessed only in the context of a specific event; the meanings of the same act can vary greatly depending on the characters, the situation and the cultural environment. But you can at least try to understand what the raised index finger means, and what is the meaning of this action.
Subtext of gestures
The main differences in the perception of nonverbal signs are associated precisely with the environment in which they are used. The subtext can be of almost any nature:
- Religious.
- Political.
- National.
- Regional.
- Subcultural.
Therefore, before dealing with the gesture itself, it is better to take a closer look at who the sign itself is coming from. Labeling is not the noblest thing to do, but at the moment it is a necessary evil to fully understand the situation.
It is worth noting that most gestures express strong emotions that the interlocutor sometimes finds it difficult to convey in words. So, when you find yourself in a different linguistic or cultural environment, you should as quickly as possible become familiar with at least the minimum set of signs and gestures that are used in it. A warning or even a threat not understood in time can lead to dire consequences.
The meaning of the index finger in Islam
In our country, the gesture is used by the majority of the population in order to draw the attention of the interlocutor or interrupt someone’s speech. Lately, this sign is not used so often, but if in the middle of a conversation a person raised his index finger up:
- The opponent has something to object to.
- The interlocutor does not want to interrupt you and is ready to wait for you to speak out.
- Once you finish your speech, be prepared to listen to objections.
If at the same time a person moves his index finger from side to side, this can only mean one thing - they categorically disagree with your ideas and are not even ready to seriously discuss them. In such cases, it is better to stop talking. What’s interesting is that in almost all cultures this sign is interpreted in the same way.
But more often you can see photographs of natives of the Caucasus, in which representatives of different nationalities raise their index finger upward. One could think about some kind of national issue, but this is what representatives of almost all nationalities and nationalities from this region do.
What do they all have in common? Islam. And the raised index finger symbolizes monotheism and faith in their one god - Allah. With every prayer, a Muslim must raise his index finger to the sky, so in this way Muslims demonstrate their piety. Or they simply follow an old habit, imitating the older generation.
Europeans and thumbs up
You can encounter a demonstration of this gesture even far from your native land. For example, in the same Germany. One would think that the wave of migration from the Middle East had finally overwhelmed the region and that its people now boasted of their piety. But that's not the point at all:
- The raised index finger is an old German gesture.
- Information about it goes back at least 3-4 centuries.
- The sign can be literally translated as: “everything is fine with me.”
While the whole world, like the Romans, raised its thumb up, the Germans decided to go their own way. The initiative may be commendable, but it is perceived as quite unusual.
The Dutch also have a somewhat similar gesture, only the interlocutor adds tapping himself on the forehead to the raised index finger. In this context, the gesture is interpreted unambiguously - the interlocutor appreciated your intellectual abilities.
It’s true that this gesture is not used very often in the Netherlands. Not because local residents consider few people to be truly smart, it’s just that it’s outdated, like many other nonverbal signs. All languages of the world have shown a tendency towards simplification in the last 20 years, so that now even a complex thought can be expressed with a couple of words or a simple set of abbreviations.
Index finger in fine art
You can also see the raised index finger in many works of art. Including works dedicated to Christianity. For two thousand years now, this gesture in art has not had a single interpretation:
- Satan is almost always depicted with his index finger or index and middle fingers raised upward.
- Many Christian saints on canvases stretch their index finger to the sky, which symbolizes their connection with something magical and beyond comprehension.
- The finger rising to the sky also shows the desire of the depicted person to understand the secrets of the world around him.
It turns out that the main themes are secrets, mysticism, magic and knowledge of the world around us. Thus, in the paintings, with the help of this gesture, a person’s desire for something more is symbolized, which is not always useful for the immortal soul.
Perhaps sculptors and artists put some other hidden text into their works. But not even all the paintings, sculptures and bas-reliefs have reached us. What can we say about some notes and explanations. Especially when you consider that in most cases they simply did not exist in the first place. People of art prefer to leave at least some semblance of a mystery.
What does a raised index finger mean?
If the interlocutor suddenly raised his index finger to the sky:
- He wants to interrupt you to object and interject his argument.
- He is not interested in your idea and does not want to discuss it.
- The Muslim suddenly remembered the unity of Allah and decided to remind about it.
- The German says that everything is fine with him.
- The Dutchman admires your intelligence.
- Dagestani says
To understand which of the five options is suitable for a given situation, all you have to do is take a closer look at your interlocutor. However, sometimes very funny coincidences happen. If you see a thumbs up in a photograph, and the photo was taken somewhere in the forest, and everyone posing in military uniform and with beards, the gesture is of a religious nature.
The problem of terrorism in some regions has not yet been fully resolved, but the life expectancy of members of illegal armed groups has sharply decreased in recent years. So, most likely, there will be fewer and fewer such photographs every year.
It is worth knowing all the meanings of a new word or gesture before using it. By finding out what a raised index finger means, you can save yourself from getting into sticky situations.
Video about gestures
In this video, Muslim will tell you what the gesture of a raised index finger can mean, and what it has to do with Islam:
On Wahhabi resources you can often read demagoguery about the “Shiite idol-alama,” that is, the symbol of the hand that is used in Shiite ceremonies, especially in everything related to mourning for Imam Hussein (A).
"Alam" looks like this:
That is, it is a hand with an open palm, which symbolizes the severed hands of Abulfazl Abbas - the hero of Karbala and brother of Imam Hussein (A). According to another interpretation, five fingers of the hand mean five " ashabi l-kisa" - "people under the cloak", purified by complete purification (Muhammad, Fatima, Ali, Hasan and Hussein, peace be upon them).
In one of the Wahhabi articles we read the following: “The word “alam” is derived from the Turkic al (əl) - “hand”. Alam became widespread among Azerbaijani Turks during the reign of the Shiite Safavid dynasty. Some Shiite preachers present the name alam as a derivative of the Arabic علامة “alamyat”, which means “symbol” or “sign”. Based on the fact that Alam is used as a symbol in Shiism, this version at first glance looks plausible, but this is not true, since among the Shiite Arabs themselves, Alam is not called “Alamyat”, but is called the “Palm of Abbas” or “Hand of Fatima” “As for the word (ألم) “alaam” itself, in Arabic it does not mean “symbol” or “sign”, but means “pain” or “suffering.”
In fact, “Alam” comes from the Arabic “Alam” (علم) with “Ayn”, which means “flag”, “banner” (in Farsi it will be the same). This origin of the name is obvious, since the alam is used as a banner in mourning ceremonies.
“The origin of the alam is connected both with the ancient lunar goddess of the Phoenicians Tanit, whom the ancient Phoenicians considered the patroness of the city of Carthage, her symbol was the image of an open right palm, and with Buddhism, where the alam is a universal sign of protection. Alam is used by Buddhists as a symbol and a protective amulet, which they resort to against the evil eye and damage, is called the “Hand of Buddha”. It occupies a special place in the Dharmachakra - the Buddha's mudra of teaching and protection. In addition, Alam is widely used in Judaism, although it is known that the Jews borrowed it from the ancient Phoenicians. It is worth noting that in Judaism alam is called “khamsa” (in Hebrew חמסה), and “khamsa”, in turn, in the languages of the Semitic group means “five”, in modern Hebrew - “hamisha”.
Thanks to the Wahhabis for the excursion into the history of religions: along with the “lunar goddess of the Phoenicians Tanit” and “Dharmachakra” they could also mention the Aztecs and Incas, who also had a similar symbol, despite being separated from the Shiites by thousands of kilometers of ocean.
In fact, everything here is much more prosaic: people in all places and at all times tend to use approximately similar symbols, the set of which is quite limited. Since the palm, as they say, is “always at hand,” many religions used it in their symbolism, and this does not say anything about any borrowing.
Otherwise, we would have to accuse the “Salafis” themselves of idolatry because of their beloved finger, which is demonstrated in all forms and angles. However, the index finger extended upward is one of the main symbols of Freemasonry, which, in turn, borrowed it from ancient pagan religions, where this finger symbolized a person’s connection with “higher powers.” Also, in black magic rituals, Satan is often depicted with his finger raised up, as can be seen in the photo below.
From a book on Masonic symbols - an extended index finger:
Statue of George Washington - the first American Freemason President:
Position of the statue figure in the Satan pose:
Worship of Satan, sitting with his index finger raised up:
Raised Buddha finger:
Plato's raised finger in Raphael's painting. Symbolizes pagan wisdom and magical connection with higher powers :
Raised finger in the Papal Sinkstine Chapel:
Isn't it similar?
Of course, “Salafis” will say that the raised finger only symbolizes monotheism (that God is one) and has only an external resemblance to Masonic and other fingers. But in the same way we will say that the alam symbolizes the hands of Abbas and has a purely formal similarity with the symbols of the palms used in other religions.
Or let's take another common symbol, which many consider inextricably linked with Islam - crescent . The crescent moon is not used by Shiites and occurs only among Ahlu Sunna wal Jama'a, who borrowed it from Christians, who, in turn, from pagan religions. There are no hadiths about the crescent symbol, nor evidence of its use in the first centuries of Islam.
So, “bidaat”, “idol”, “pagan sign”? Call it what you want, if you want, like the Wahhabis, to practice demagoguery:
The crescent was printed on the coins of the pagan Turkic Khaganate, then it was a symbol of the Persian Sassanid Empire and the coat of arms of the city of Constantinople, the capital of the Christian empire. Most likely, it was after the conquest of Constantinople by the Sunni Turks that the crescent entered Sunni Islam and became its symbol.
Crescent on the royal winged crown of the Sassanids:
And if you want to show off your erudition, you can mention the crescent moon in the iconography of Hinduism - Shiva wears it in his hair:
In Egypt, the solar disk with the horned Moon, or located between the horns of a bull (cow), meant the divine unity of two in one, common solar-lunar gods and the secret marriage of divine couples.
Among the ancient Sumerians, the crescent moon was an attribute of the Babylonian moon god Sin - the ship on which he sailed across the vast expanses of space.
Crescent on an ancient Sumerian coin:
Here the king dedicates his daughter to the goddess. The crescent symbolizes the god Sin, the sun symbolizes the sun god Shamash:
What is this thumbs up symbol?
It is clear that the meaning of the symbol depends on which country and which finger is used. And here there are a great many options: from greetings and approval to indecent analogies.
- For Muslims, the index finger of the right hand raised up is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism, that is, translated into Russian it means: “There is no God but Allah!”
- In Germany, this gesture says: “Everything is fine.”
- In Slavic countries, a raised index finger means a call for attention from others, and in American schools, students thus ask the teacher for permission to answer a question.
- If during a conversation you raise your index finger up and shake it from side to side, then the interlocutor of almost any nationality will understand this as a refusal of what was proposed or an unwillingness to discuss the topic.
What are we talking about when we raise our thumbs up?
The symbol - the index and thumb connected with the rest raised up, means in America and most European countries: “Everything is fine!” But in Brazil and Turkey such a gesture will be perceived as an insult.
A resident of Holland, inviting you to a friendly drinking session, will raise his little finger up and his thumb to the side. This is where you probably want to respond to him with the gesture described above. Still: “Everything is great”! And a Frenchman can raise his little finger in response, which will mean: “Leave me alone!”
If someone raises their thumb up, the symbol hardly needs any special decoding - it is a sign of wishes for good luck, recognition that everything is going as it should, agreement with the proposed program of action, etc.
True, in Turkey and Arab countries such a gesture is a phallic symbol, and in Greece it is a demand: “Shut up!”
Most common symbol
Thumbs up in other cases too. The truth is not one, but two: we are talking about the V-shaped sign with the index and middle fingers, known in European countries.
It was introduced during the Second World War by Winston Churchill to signify victory, and since then the gesture has become very popular. True, for the English, one nuance is important in it: which side is the palm facing the speaker at that moment. If it is from the back, then it is: “victory”, but if it is with the palm, then its interpretation becomes offensive.
Another gesture is no less popular: “goat”. We are talking about the index finger and little finger raised up. In the CIS this is a notorious “rocker” symbol. A thumbs up is raised in a similar way as a sign of superiority over someone, a desire to humiliate him. Although in mystical rituals this sign is protection from dark forces.
Why do Muslims always show their index finger up? What does this gesture mean?
Alla ㋛ ♠♣♦
The raised finger of the right hand is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism among Muslims) by the way, for those who profess Islam, the left hand is considered “unclean”. Therefore, if you offer a gift or money with your left hand, you may offend a Muslim.)
Evgeny Ardynsky, is your god Jesus? You don’t even know who your God is, how can you call everything else evil!?
The central figure for Christian worship is the Son of God - Jesus
Christ (hence the name “Christians”).
It is through him that Christians come
to God the Father. God the Father is the one image of God for Christians, Jews and Muslims.
They heard a ringing, but they don’t know where it came from! Among Wahhabis, a common sign is the index finger extended upward. According to the naive ideas of the “Salafis”, this sign should demonstrate their commitment to monotheism - after all, God is one, like a finger. Wahhabis love to pose in photos with such a “finger,” thereby wanting to show their “monotheism.” However, there are no hadiths that speak of such a finger as a symbol of Islam or monotheism.
Where did this gesture come from?
The fact is that the index finger extended upward is one of the main symbols of Freemasonry, which, in turn, borrowed it from ancient pagan religions, where this finger symbolized a person’s connection with “higher powers” (that is, Satan).
Also, in black magic rituals, Satan himself is usually depicted with his finger raised up, as can be seen in the photo below.
Thus, since Wahhabism was an invention of the English Freemasonry, someone introduced this sign into it so that the “Salafis” would bear the satanic mark on themselves.
What does it mean ☝☝☝ this index finger up?
A raised index finger in Germany means “wonderful”; a French waitress will take this gesture as an order for one glass of wine.
There are differences in the gestures of different peoples.
A raised index finger in Germany means “wonderful”; a French waitress will take this gesture as an order for one glass of wine.
Two fingers raised up means:
in Germany - victory
peace in France
in the UK - 2
in Greece - go to hell, damn it.
Five fingers raised up have the meaning:
in Western countries – 5
everywhere - stop!
in Turkey - go away
in other countries - believe me, I'm telling the truth!
Raised little finger and index finger:
in the Mediterranean - your wife is cheating on you
in Malta and Italy - a sign that protects against danger and the evil eye
Raised index finger and thumb:
in Europe – 2
in the UK – 1
in the USA - please serve me, bring the bill
in Japan it is an insult.
Raised little finger:
in France - leave me alone!
in Japan - woman
in Mediterranean countries - sexual innuendo
Thumbs up:
in Europe – 1
in Greece - swear word
in Japan – man, 5
in other countries - beautifully done, good, a sign to stop traffic on the road.
The index finger and thumb are connected; the other fingers are raised up:
in Europe and North America - good, great
in the Mediterranean, Russia, Brazil, Turkey - swearing, sexual insult,
in Tunisia, France – 0
The little finger raised up and the finger pointed to the side:
in Holland - how about having a drink?
in Hawaii - no panic! Calm down!
Index finger up on the right hand. What does this mean?
★ஐ✽ นңңα ✽ஐ★
Gestures made from combinations of fingers in different cultures have very different meanings. So, for example, the “thumbs up” symbol can speak both of a decision to pardon the vanquished (a famous gesture during the fight of Roman gladiators), and of a common request for a ride, to take a fellow traveler (hitchhiking), if we are talking about a thumb raised up by the road somewhere in America. The index finger carries other information. Let's take a closer look.
What is this thumbs up symbol?
It is clear that the meaning of the symbol depends on which country and which finger is used. And here there are a great many options: from greetings and approval to indecent analogies.
1. For Muslims, the index finger of the right hand raised up is a symbol of the proclamation of monotheism, that is, translated into Russian it means: “There is no God but Allah!”
2. In Germany, this gesture says: “Everything is fine.”
3. In Slavic countries, the index finger raised up means a call for the attention of others, and in American schools, students thus ask the teacher for permission to answer a question.
4. If during a conversation you raise your index finger up and shake it from side to side, then the interlocutor of almost any nationality will understand this as a refusal of what was proposed or an unwillingness to discuss the topic. 
What does the thumbs up symbol mean?
It is generally believed that when we give someone a thumbs up as a sign of praise, we are repeating another gesture of the ancient Romans - a thumbs up meant “to spare.” But this opinion is not true.
D. Morris in the book “Gestures” explains that the Romans supported the vanquished not by sticking out their thumb, but by covering it with their hand. When the spectators wanted the victorious gladiator to finish off his opponent, they waved their hands at him with their thumbs out (Morris believes that this was supposed to represent a blow with a dagger).
And, indeed, a thumb bent in any direction meant death for the vanquished, symbolizing a drawn sword. And to save life, the war spectators showed a clenched fist, which meant a sword hidden in a sheath.
artist Jean-Leon Gerome
If the thumbs-up gesture actually originated in Rome, one would expect it to remain popular in the Mediterranean today. But, as it turned out, it is in Italy and Greece, unlike other European countries, that this gesture is extremely rarely used in an approving sense. In many areas of Greece and Southern Italy, sticking out a finger is generally perceived as an obscene insult.In Australia and Nigeria it means “get out of here!” In this case, the direction of intended care is indicated with the thumb.In Europe it means “excellent!” or used by hitchhikers to stop the car.
Most likely, the birthplace of this gesture is in completely different places.
Tracing its origins is not easy - however, the history of gestures is in principle difficult to study, since the sources are unclear and contradictory. One can only refer to Morris and other authoritative experts. They believe that Western culture in general tends to associate bottom-up movement with positive feelings and optimism, and top-down movement with negative feelings and pessimism. The finger, protruding upward, is directed towards the sky. In the 1970s, the index finger extended upward became a symbol of fundamentalist Christians. For them, this gesture not only means “There is only one God” or “there are no other paths to salvation except ours,” but also reminds us where God lives and where good Christians will someday go.
Perhaps we stick out our thumb as a sign of approval simply because it is physically easier to do. Try sticking out some other finger, bending all the others.
