Arguably, you can explore Italy without speaking a word of Italian. You’re set to explore Il Bel Paese armed with only an outgoing personality, a warm smile, and Italian hand gestures. Or, are you?

Still, you are better off learning Italian before you go. To assist you, though, you can utilize these Italian hand signals.

Un momento!

In English, this means “one moment, please.” Just point your index finger upwards like the number one. This can also convey “may I speak, please?”, but it’ll be needed to learn Italian then.

Ho fame

” I’m hungry”, is what this conveys. Hit your stomach with the side of your flat hand to convey an obvious message to your hosts to feed you. If you are tired of pizza and pasta, learn to speak italian to learn the difference between pollo and polipo. You will be able to avoid allergies and understand Italian cuisine better.

Ehi tu, vieni qui

This is a hand gesture you will do well to apply with care. It means “Hey! Come here, you!”, which can look either rude or sexually inviting. Numerous Americans use a similar come hither gesture. You will be safer learning to say “Prego, potete aiutarli?” when you want someone to come and help you.

Silenzio

Just like its universal counterpart, the Italian “silence” gesture is done by pressing your index finger to your lips. But successfully communicating why you need quiet is another story. This proves that you still need to study Italian!

Idea!

Put your hand on your head and look happy, and you have effectively emphasized that you have an idea. But studying Italian will come in handy when you tell them all about this idea.

Perfetto

To praise someone with a perfect score, use the thumbs and index fingers of both hands to create a circle. This is very useful in your Italian travels as this does not require that you speak italian.

Scusi, devo andare al bagno

This is a very useful gesture that translates to “I must go to the rest room.” Just hold up your index and middle fingers, put on a pained expression, and you’ll be directed to the nearest rest room. Very important indeed for the diarrhea-prone traveler!

Indeed, learn italian hand gestures are sheer poetry. To read Italian street signs and speak with the locals, though, learning Italian is still useful. You can choose to have the best of both worlds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBUOVjd0kHI