|
|
French Sign Language
If you've ever been to France or watched French movies, you've undoubtedly seen French people performing some familiar gestures as well as a few unfamiliar ones. Here are some of them:
- Baiser la main: A man kissing a woman's hand is a gesture of sophistication and refinement. The lips should not actually touch the hand, but simply hover above it.
- Silence!/Chut!: To let people know that they need to be quiet, raise your index finger in the air. In order to emphasize the importance of what you are about to say or to indicate that you are going to reprimand someone, wave your finger back and forth.
- J'ai du nez: To indicate that you are clever or that you realize the truth faster than anyone else, tap your nose with your index finger and say one of the following: J'ai du nez, J'ai le nez fin, J'ai du flair.
- Pardon!: To apologize or indicate that you've messed up, cover your mouth with both hands.
- Aoe, aoe !: To indicate that someone is in trouble, hold up your hand, palm facing your chest, with your fingers loose, and shake it up and down rapidly while saying, "Aoe, aoe, aoe, aoe!"
- Faire la bise: La bise or le bisou means kiss. French friends exchange kisses on alternating cheeks upon meeting and separating. Two people introduced by a mutual friend may also faire la bise, particularly kids and young adults.
- Ripitez: To ask someone to repeat something they said, a French speaker may hold up a slightly cupped hand behind the ear.
- Ça pue!: To indicate that something stinks or is repugnant, hold your nose.
- Bouche cousue: To say "mum's the word," "keep it under your hat," or "zip your lips," use the motus et bouche cousue gesture. Hold your thumb and forefinger together and move them across your lips.
- Du fric: To indicate that you need money or that something is expensive, hold out your hand with your fingers and thumb touching, and rub your thumb across your fingertips.
- Ferme-la!: When you want to say "shut it" or "shut your mouth," the ferme-la gesture will get the point across. Hold your hand out in the shape of a C and then squeeze the fingers and thumb together.