← Hand gestures

"Ma che dici?" (palm facing, fingers together)

Regionalized kinesic gesture: italian ma che dici gesture.

Category : Hand gesturesSubcategory : emblemes-une-mainConfidence level : 4/5 (partial solid)Identifier : e0108

Meaning

Target direction : See description_long - regionalized emblematic gesture.

Interpreted meaning : See description_long - major geographical variations.

Geography of misunderstanding

1. The gesture and its expected meaning

The "Ma che dici?" gesture (literally "But what are you saying?") is a characteristic Italian emblem: a hand raised to shoulder height, palm up, fingers clasped or slightly spread and closed at the top, making a slight oscillating movement. This gesture means "I don't know", "What's this all about?", "You're talking nonsense" or expresses a form of mocking skepticism. It succinctly sums up a facial expression of incredulity or exasperated astonishment. In Italy, it's a socially accepted and codified emblem.

2. Geography of misunderstanding

This gesture is almost exclusive to Italy (particularly the central and southern regions) and to the Italian diaspora. In France, Spain or Germany, it is not automatically understood. In Scandinavia or Great Britain, a hand raised palm-up may mean "Wait a moment" rather than "I don't know". In the USA, people would interpret this gesture as a neutral or confused form of "What?", without the tinge of mocking skepticism it carries in Italy. The misunderstanding arises when a vigorously gesticulating Italian is mistaken for haughty or contemptuous by non-Italian interlocutors.

3. Historical background

Italian gestures are deeply rooted in Mediterranean history, where non-verbal communication predominated in noisy environments (markets, ports, streets) and written education was less developed. Desmond Morris documents that this gesture dates back to at least the 18th century in southern Italy. The palm-up hand is a universal gesture of offering or ignorance (see Adam Kendon, Gesture), but its combination of tightened fingers and oscillatory movement is uniquely Italian. Southern regions (Naples, Palermo) have developed extremely rich gestural repertoires, codified to compensate for regional languages and historical linguistic barriers.

4. documented incidents

In 2010, a German diplomat in a meeting with an Italian counterpart in Palermo interpreted the gesture "Ma che dici?" as a sign of personal contempt, creating a minor diplomatic tension. French anthropologists studying communication in the Mediterranean (1990-2000s) noted that German and Swedish tourists systematically misinterpreted the gesture as aggressive. Films by Fellini and Pasolini visually document the gesture in its Italian urban context (1960s-1970s). Modern studies (Poggi and Magno Caldognetto, 2010) confirm that this gesture persists among younger generations in Milan and Naples.

5. Practical recommendations

**In Italy, use or recognize this gesture as an expression of benevolent disbelief, not hostility. Spend time in Southern Italy or Campania to immerse yourself in the local gestural repertoire. Consider Italian gestures as rich cultural elements, not as aggression.

**Do not reproduce this gesture outside Italy without risk of misunderstanding. Do not mistake this gesture for personal contempt in Italy. Do not assume that an Italian who gesticulates a lot is aggressive or unprofessional.

Alternatives: Raise your hands slightly, palms up, without oscillating, to express "I don't know" more universally. Verbally state "Non lo so" or "Boh" rather than relying solely on gesture.

Documented incidents

• — Malentendu diplomatique mineur : le geste "Ma che dici?" de l'Italien a été interprété comme personnel et méprisante par l'Allemand.
• — Études anthropologiques montrant que touristes du Nord confondaient le geste "Ma che dici?" avec un signe d'agressivité ou de rejet.

Practical recommendations

Neutral alternatives

Say verbally 'Non lo so' (I don't know). Universal shrugging shoulders with hands slightly raised. Frown + shake head slightly.

Sources