Hand gestures are a simple way to express feelings without speaking. We use our hands every day to wave, point, clap, or show signs like “thumbs up” or “peace.” These gestures are part of how we talk to others, and they can mean different things in different cultures. Learning the names of hand gestures in English helps us understand body language better and communicate more clearly. In this article, you will learn common hand gestures, their names, and clear pictures to help you recognize and remember them easily.
List of Hand Gestures names In English
- Wave
- Point
- Thumbs up
- Thumbs down
- Peace sign
- Fist bump
- High five
- Okay sign
- Finger snap
- Crossed fingers
- Victory sign
- Clenched fist
- Rock on sign
- Shaka sign
- Stop gesture
- Salute
- Air quotes
- Handshake
- Waving goodbye
- Pinching fingers
Hand Gestures names and Their Meaning:
- Wave:
Saying hello or goodbye by moving your hand back and forth.
- Point:
Indicating direction or drawing attention by extending your finger.
- Thumbs up:
Showing approval or agreement by raising your thumb.
- Thumbs down:
Expressing disapproval or disagreement by lowering your thumb.
- Peace sign:
Forming a V-shape with your fingers to signify peace or victory.
- Fist bump:
Tapping fists together as a friendly greeting or agreement.
- High five:
Slapping palms together above shoulder level to celebrate or show excitement.
- Okay sign:
Create a circle with your thumb and index finger to signal agreement or approval.
- Finger snap:
Make a snapping sound by quickly pressing your fingers together and releasing them.
- Crossed fingers:
Folding your fingers over each other to bring luck or hope for success.
- Victory sign:
Extending your index and middle fingers in a V-shape to signify success.
- Clenched fist:
Holding your hand tightly with all fingers curled inward, often showing determination or anger.
- Rock on sign:
Extending your index and pinky fingers while keeping the others folded, is often associated with rock music.
- Shako sign:
Make a gesture with your thumb and pinky finger to express friendship or relaxation.
- Stop gesture:
Holding your hand out with the palm facing forward to signal someone to halt or stop.
- Salute:
Raising your hand to your forehead is a sign of respect, typically in military or formal settings.
- Air quotes:
Use your fingers to gesture quotation marks while speaking to indicate quoted speech or irony.
- Handshake:
Gripping another person’s hand and shaking it up and down as a customary greeting or agreement.
- Waving goodbye:
Saying farewell by moving your hand back and forth.
- Pinching fingers:
Bringing your thumb and index finger together to form a pinching motion, often used to express smallness or a tiny amount.
Names of Hand Gestures names in English
- Raised index finger
- Begging gesture
- Nodding
- Shushing gesture
- Facepalm
- Raised hand
- Praying hands
- Tapping fingers
- Stroking chin
- Blowing a kiss
Different Hand Gestures With Their Images:
- Raised index finger:
Holding your index finger up to signal attention or make a point.
- Begging gesture:
Moving both hands up and down in front of your body, typically to ask for something.
- Nodding:
Moving your head up and down to show agreement or understanding.
- Shushing gesture:
Pressing a finger to your lips to signal silence or quiet.
- Facepalm:
Covering your face with your hand as a gesture of frustration, embarrassment, or disbelief.
- Raised hand:
Holding your hand up with the palm facing outward to indicate a desire to speak or ask a question.
- Praying hands:
Pressing your palms together in front of your chest as a gesture of prayer or supplication.
- Tapping fingers:
Lightly tapping your fingers on a surface or in the air, often indicating impatience or nervousness.
- Stroking chin:
Gently touching or rubbing your chin with your fingers, often done when thinking or
contemplating.
- Blowing a kiss:
Kissing your fingers and then blowing the gesture towards someone as an expression of affection or farewell.
20 Hand Gestures names in English
- Throat slash gesture
- Finger wag
- Money gesture
- Heart sign
- Devil horns
- Open palm
- Closed palm
- Fist shake
- Wrist flick
- Wrist twist
- Fist in palm
- Raised pinky finger
- Hook ’em horns
- Smoking gesture
- Phone gesture
- Writing gesture
- Throat slash gesture:
Drawing your hand across your throat in a slashing motion, typically to signal danger or death.
- Finger wag:
Shaking your index finger back and forth as a gesture of admonition or warning.
- Money gesture:
Rubbing your thumb against your fingertips to indicate money or wealth.
- Heart sign:
Forming a heart shape with your hands is often used to express love or affection.
- Devil horns:
Extending your index and pinky fingers upward while keeping the others folded, is often associated with rock music or as a playful gesture.
- Open palm:
Extending your hand with the palm facing upward, often used to indicate honesty or openness.
- Closed palm:
Curling your fingers inward to close your hand into a fist, often indicating secrecy or withholding.
- Fist shake:
Shaking a clenched fist in the air is often used to express anger or frustration.
- Wrist flick:
Quickly bending your wrist to flick your hand in a particular direction, is often used to dismiss or discard something.
- Wrist twist:
Rotating your wrist in a twisting motion, often used to demonstrate flexibility or agility.
- Fist in palm:
Placing a clenched fist into an open palm is often used to express determination or resolve.
- Raised pinky finger:
Extending your pinky finger while keeping the others folded, is often used as a gesture of refinement or delicacy.
- Hook ’em horns:
Extending your index and pinky fingers while keeping the others folded, is often used as a sign of support or encouragement, especially in sports.
- Smoking gesture:
Holding an imaginary cigarette between your fingers and bringing it to your mouth as if smoking.
- Phone gesture:
Holding an imaginary phone to your ear with your hand.
- Writing gesture:
Mimicking writing with your hand as if holding a pen or pencil.
Hand Gestures meaning with pictures:
- Guitar strumming
- Peace fingers behind the head
- Peace fingers behind the back
- Silence gesture
- Begging hands
- Namaste gesture
- Holding hands together
- Cupping gesture
- Throwing gesture
- Index finger to lips
- Finger to temple gesture
- Stretched hand
- Tensed fingers
- Clapping
- Flicking fingers
Hand gestures meaning with pictures
- Guitar strumming:
Make strumming motions with your fingers as if playing a guitar.
- Peace fingers behind head:
Placing both hands behind your head with the fingers forming a peace sign, is often used to express relaxation or nonchalance.
- Peace fingers behind back:
Crossing both hands behind your back with the fingers forming a peace sign, often used to indicate a desire for peace or harmony.
- Silence gesture:
Pressing a finger to your lips in a “shh” motion to signal silence or quiet.
- Begging hands:
Holding both hands together in front of your body and moving them up and down, typically to ask for something.
- Namaste gesture:
Pressing your palms together in front of your chest and bowing slightly, is often used as a greeting or farewell in yoga or spiritual contexts.
- Holding hands together:
Interlocking your fingers or clasping your hands together, often used to express unity, solidarity, or prayer.
- Cupping gesture:
Forming a cup shape with your hands, is often used to hold or contain something.
- Throwing gesture:
Extending your hand forward as if throwing an object.
- Index finger to lips:
Placing your index finger vertically against your lips in a “shh” motion to signal silence or quiet.
- Finger to temple gesture:
Tapping or pointing to your temple with your index finger, is often used to indicate thinking or intelligence.
- Stretched hand:
Extending your hand outward with your fingers spread wide, is often used to reach or grab something.
- Tensed fingers:
Clenching or tightening your fingers into a fist or tense position often indicates stress, anxiety, or readiness.
- Clapping: Bringing your palms together with force to create a clapping sound, often used to applaud or show appreciation.
- Flicking fingers:
Quickly moving your fingers in a flicking motion, often used to remove dirt or debris.
List of Hand signs names with meaning
- Beckoning gesture
- Flat hand
- Knuckle tap
- Spiderman gesture
- Rubbing hands
- Patting gesture
- Scratch gesture
- Hand on heart
- Face touching
- Ear grabbing
- Nose tapping
- Chin stroking
- Cheek pinching
- Neck rubbing
- Shoulder shrug
20 common Hand signs names with meaning
- Beckoning gesture:
Extending your hand with the palm facing upward and making a curling motion with your fingers, is often used to invite or beckon someone to come closer.
- Flat hand:
Extending your hand with the palm facing downward is often used to indicate a stop or to flatten something.
- Knuckle tap:
Tapping your knuckles against a surface or another person’s knuckles as a form of greeting or camaraderie.
- Spiderman gesture:
Extending your fingers outward with the palm facing forward in a gesture resembling Spiderman’s web-shooting pose.
- Rubbing hands:
Rubbing your palms together in a circular or back-and-forth motion is often used to generate warmth or anticipation.
- Patting gesture:
Lightly tapping or slapping the surface with the palm of your hand, is often used to express approval or encouragement.
- Scratch gesture:
Using your fingers to scratch an itch or rub a particular area of your body.
- Hand on heart:
Placing your hand over your heart as a gesture of sincerity, love, or respect.
- Face touching:
Touching or stroking your face with your hand, often done unconsciously or to express emotion.
- Ear grabbing:
Holding or tugging on your earlobe with your fingers is often used to express frustration, embarrassment, or contemplation.
- Nose tapping:
Tapping or touching your nose with your fingers is often used to indicate thoughtfulness or discretion.
- Chin stroking:
Stroking or rubbing your chin with your fingers is often used to indicate deep thought or contemplation.
- Cheek pinching:
Gently pinching or squeezing your cheek with your fingers, often done affectionately or playfully.
- Neck rubbing:
Rubbing or massaging your neck with your hand is often used to relieve tension or discomfort.
- Shoulder shrug:
Raising your shoulders upward and then dropping them, is often used to express uncertainty or indifference.
Basic Hand Gestures names list in English
- Elbow nudging
- Wrist rubbing
- Fingertip tapping
- Palm rubbing
- Thumb twiddling
- Finger drumming
- Wrist flicking
- Fist pounding
- Fingernail tapping
- Thumb pressing
- Finger circling
- Hand twisting
- Palm slapping
- Finger flicking
- Wrist bending
The Meanings of Hand Gesture Name
- Elbow nudging:
Lightly tapping or nudging someone with your elbow as a friendly gesture or to get their attention.
- Wrist rubbing:
Rubbing or massaging your wrist with your fingers is often used to relieve discomfort or pain.
- Fingertip tapping:
Tapping your fingertips against a surface rhythmically or nervously.
- Palm rubbing:
Rubbing your palms together in a circular motion is often used to generate heat or anticipation.
- Thumb twiddling:
Rotating or twirling your thumbs around each other, often done absentmindedly or when feeling nervous.
- Finger drumming:
Tapping your fingers on a surface in a rhythmic pattern is often done to pass the time or express impatience.
- Wrist flicking:
Quickly flicking your wrist to move your hand or fingers in a particular direction, is often used to dismiss or indicate disinterest.
- Fist pounding:
Banging or hitting your fist against a surface with force, often used to express frustration or anger.
- Fingernail tapping:
Tapping your fingernails against a surface lightly is often done out of habit or to create a rhythmic sound.
- Thumb pressing:
Pressing your thumb against a surface or object with force is often used to apply pressure or make a point.
- Finger circling:
Making circular motions with your fingers is often used to indicate rotation or repetition.
- Hand twisting:
Twisting or rotating your hand or wrist in a circular motion is often used to indicate flexibility or agility.
- Palm slapping:
Slapping the palm of your hand against a surface with force is often used as a form of applause or to get someone’s attention.
- Finger flicking:
Flicking one or more fingers against a surface or object lightly, often done playfully or to indicate movement.
- Wrist bending:
Bending or flexing your wrist in different directions, is often used to exercise or stretch the wrist muscles.
Useful Hand Gesture with Meanings in English
- Hand flexing
- Knuckle cracking
- Finger tracing
- Hand opening
- Hand closing
- Hand spreading
- Hand squeezing
- Hand rubbing
Commonly used Hand Gesture in daily life
- Hand flexing:
Flexing or contracting the muscles of your hand is often done to relieve stiffness or tension.
- Knuckle cracking:
Bending or stretching your fingers until the knuckles crack, is often done to relieve tension or as a nervous habit.
- Finger tracing:
Running your fingertips lightly over a surface or object is often done to explore or trace shapes.
- Hand opening:
Spreading your fingers apart and extending your hand outward, is often used to reach or grab something.
- Hand closing:
Bringing your fingers and thumb together to form a closed fist or grip, often used to grasp or hold onto something.
- Hand spreading:
Extending your fingers apart from each other is often used to indicate width or breadth.
- Hand squeezing:
Applying pressure to something by tightening the fingers or hand muscles, is often used to test firmness or resilience.
- Hand rubbing:
Rubbing your hands together in a circular motion is often used to generate warmth or to express anticipation.
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