12 Common French Gestures

Learn common French gestures, so you can avoid mistakes and communicate more clearly with French people.

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In this French lesson, we'll explore some common French gestures that you may come across in everyday situations in France. By learning and using these common French gestures, you can save yourself from mistakes and awkward situations -- and even appear more French, even to the French!

Find the free EXTENDED LESSON and ask me questions about this French lesson on the Comme une Française blog. It includes a full written lesson, with all the French expressions, more specific vocabulary you can use, and extra resources.

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=== ABOUT GÉRALDINE ===

Bonjour ! I’m Géraldine Lepère, the founder of Comme une Française (= “Like a French woman”) and your new French best friend. :)

Each Tuesday, I share a fun, fresh and bite-sized lesson on French language and French culture–from how to avoid embarrassing mistakes to must-know pop-cultural references!

Since 2012, with more than 7 million views from students in more than 56 countries, I’ve been helping people just like you gain the confidence to really talk in French. I help you go way beyond your “textbook” French from high school, and learn to speak real, practical everyday French.

[cmlazar]

You might want to teach them how to order “1” drink or “1” of anything with a gesture. In English we hold up the index finger but in France we hold up the thumb for “1.” If you hold up your index finger, you’ll get “2” of whatever you’re ordering. You always start counting using your thumb.

[lunoire]

Bonjour! Je me permets de rajouter quelques petits gestes qu'en tant que français, moi et mes proches utilisons couramment:
To any English viewer of this channel, I suggest some additional gestures:

-Jouer de la flûte/du pipeau (= lying) : pretend to play the flute with your hands to show that you don't believe what your interlocutor is saying

-J'en sais rien (=I have no idea): puff out your cheeks and do a "Prr!" sound like a deflated balloon (yeah, it's hard to describe...)

-ça vaut rien (=it's worth nothing): puff out ONE cheek and poke it with your finger, letting the air come out of your mouth going "Pr!" "Pr!" "Pr!"  

-Laisse tomber (=forget it/it doesn't matter): pretend to throw something over your shoulder with one hand

-Boire un coup (=drink alcohol; either go have a drink or talk about someone drunk): position your hand in the telephone gesture and place your thumb in front of your mouth with your pinkie in the air.

Hope I've been helpful! Bonne journée à tous et encore bravo Géraldine :D

[edgarmrts]

Also, when counting from 1 to 3, we use our thumb. It's important when for example you order 1 or 2 drinks in a loud place, a thumb up means you only want 1 drink, and a thumb and index means 2.

[mudbone]

On peut voir beaucoup plus des joli gestures en conduisant les rues de Paris!

[tinafanzo]

I love that you explain in English and French firstly but secondly your content is fabulous, so different than other types of teachings. Thank You

[luuchoo]

This is really interesting. I come from Argentina and we have many of these gestures in common: 1 (more or less), 4 (won't say a word), 8 (great), 11 (I didn't do it)..

Gesture nº 7 in Argentina doesn't mean "I don't believe you", but "Be careful with what you're going to do because I'm watching"

[AnneMXCVII]

I am French, and to be honest most of these are not used at all. Especially the ones about being drunk or "cassé", if you do that to people now, they would just look at you very weirdly. It wouldn't feel normal at all. :P

The ones to keep in mind for me, are  "more or less", "to leave", "great !" or "it's not me ! I didn't do this". The other ones are either bizarre or old-fashioned. :)

[kamr]

you forgot the most used gesture in france ... the middle finger XD

[jenbourdeau]

Your're  missing the most french gesture of all! When the French relax their lips and blow a puff of air out, as if to say boring, ugh, bof, etc.

[bernadettemendoza]

You a good teacher. Thank you. I knew some of the gestures. Merci

[genisay]

I was surprised at how many of these I know and use in the US. The one for 'zero' can mean 'zero' here or 'okay' depending on context, and facial expression usually gives clues. The only ones I don't see here that oven are the one for 'drunk', touching the nose (sometimes in older movies or used by older people), and casse. All of the others I knew.

[williambunter]

You get a thumbs up from me. That's my gesture to you today (and always)!

[justingreen]

Bonjour!

Je suis un prof de français au lycée. On apprécie beaucoup vos vidéos!

Justin

[Da_Big_G]

I love the Gallic shrug: - shoulders raised, palms raised and facing outwards, bottom lip pouting out and saying "bof".

[Jiji-slove]

omg thank you, i 've seen this a lot in France but never had the time to google it. that's so helpful ^^

[louis-philippecomeau]

Je suis Québécois et sauf pour mon oeil, les autres gestes m'étais inconnus. J'enseigne le FLE dans un lycée anglophone (High school) en Ontario et j'invites mes élèves à vous suivre. Merci bien et continue!

[BorselinoThadchack]

Wow ...8 years ago! How time flies. You changed as well. Now you;re married and a mother! Awesome Geraldine!

[Valkyrie_]

In english (Canadian) the closed thumb and index finger "o" with three fingers up means "okay", or with a little shake, and sometimes a slow eye blink and biting inside lips, means "perfect". Closed index and thumb with all other fingers down or closed means "zero". Other than that, many of the other gestures I find are also used in english, or very similar.

[Zamalandre]

C'est super, je trouve ça très intéressant même quand on est français ! ;)

[mauricedebrosse]

Très bonne idée cette video. En fait, cela nous renvoie à nous. Mais bien sûr qu, on a tous ces on ne se voie pas, on ne se rend compte de