American reacts to German Gestures that Scare Americans

[@officerstan1225]

tap yourself on the forhead means "are you stupid" , tap yourself on the side on the head it means "think about"

[@klarasee806]

Exactly. And you usually tap at least three or more times on the forehead, whereas it’s usually two (but not mor than three!) times on the side of your head, followed by lifting the index finger in they air.

[@Nico6th]

@@klarasee806And tapping on the forehead is a bit faster than the one on the side^^

[@LemmyD_from_Germany]

Jemanden den Vogel zeigen. Show somebody the bird. By tapping your finger at the forehead. When yoe ask atthe Same time doing this :Du hast wohl einen Vogel?! Means You are stupid... Greetings from northern Germany❤

[@MaasharuKuri]

A foreigner standing slap-bang in the middle of a walkway, gesticulating like an Italian ... "OMG! They are all staring at him!" ... go figure.

[@teetotalitarist8369]

The knocking on wood is more a university thing. For example when a lecture ends, students knock on their (often wooden) tables. At concerts or other cultural events you praise the artists/musicians... by clapping.

[@haggihug3162]

Not only in Unsiversity. At work its also typical to knock on the table after a presentation, not to clap your hands.

[@marellius2868]

you would also knock on a table to say hi or bye to a group of ppl in a restaurant for example

[@annalena_r5916]

this apparently started because students didn't have both hands to clap while writing down notes, so they began to knock

[@chrisrudolf9839]

The knocking is often referred to as academic applause. It is used at universities, but also for other professional presentations or for political speaches and contributions in podium debates. As a rule of thumb, you can use the knocking at any occasion where you want to tell the speaker / performer that you found his contribution interesting or that you agree with them, whereas clapping is what you do if you want to express that the performer entertained you well or did something impressive (namely any kind of artistic performance - acting, singing, dancing, etc.). There is a grey area, because many people who don't have an academic background tend to clap in situations where knocking would be more appropriate and you also might clap in a situatiion where the audience just don't have anything at hand to knock onto (like e.g. a speach before a standing crowd).

[@ShoreVietam]

Could be due to a lack of wooden tables at concerts. 🤔

[@Allmight_Kitty]

In Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards there is a scene where a spy outs himself by ordering a drink with three fingers up. XD Got busted because he couldn't count in german. :P

[@AKS-666]

This movie was the first time I realized this difference. 😄

[@uwesauter2610]

Tapping on the forehead means: "He has a bird in his upper room" "Einen Vogel haben" is the same as "Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben"

[@Captn_Altblech]

The "crazy" sign is also called "Scheibenwischer" (Windscreen wiper) and is considered a misdemeanor (insult) which can cost you around 500€ or even more... The counting: Often the thumb is not straight upwards at 12 o'clock position but more to 2 or 10 o'clock position. If you're a diver talking or signing to a fellow diver, the "hole" means "ok". But to non-divers it can be taken as an insult. Maybe even to a fellow diver if none of you is under water, idk...

[@jurgenfichtel3253]

Especially in Italy... Da kann man als Deutscher echt in Schwierigkeiten kommen.... Bin gespannt wie Google DAS übersetzt 🤣🤣🤣

[@Alias_Anybody]

Btw. if you count from one up you usually do not hold your thumb perfectly vertical/90 degree like with a thumbs up. It's more like 60-70 degrees while your index finger (2) is doing the 90 degree angle. So you can actually differentiate a thumbs up from counting.

[@klarasee806]

This exactly. I thought something was wrong with how Mr. Wolters showed the gesture in the video, but I didn‘t know what it was until I read your comment! You are so right!

[@tirirana]

also one important difference is when counting I'm holding my hand with the palm to me, but when signalling one to someone I'd hold up one indexfinger with my palm towards them

[@begr_wiedererkennungswert]

Raised backside of the index finger can also mean "Hey, careful!" (you're about to cross the red line). But it's more a grandparent's gesture.

[@olgahein4384]

And shaking it, that's very important. The harder and faster that finger is shaken, the more terrible a fauxpas you commited.

[@JohnSmith-iu8cj]

Also, the closer that finger is to someone else’s face the more likely it is to cause trouble 😂

[@anunearthlychild8569]

The OK sign is also considered an insult in some countries (asshole), it could be that a similar meaning is also known in some German areas. We often blink one eye when something is meant jokingly or sarcastically, but there are people who can't just wink with one eye. In some areas, the pulling of the eye that he shows also has a different meaning. It's called "Holzauge sei wachsam" (Wooden Eye Be Vigilant) and means that you have to be careful not to get scammed.

[@Kelioff]

i think we germans whould hold the Thumb sideways to count most of the time. Maybe even only use the Thumb as a 1 Sign if we continue with a 2 afterward.

[@alexnefi]

Knocking on the table is a University thing. People do clap in Germany. Why knocking became a thing in unis is not exactly known. Some theorize it is because they only had one hand free most of the time, the other one was occupied because they had to hold their quill to take notes. And no, you don't pull your eyelid back at the person who did that ;) You just smile or laugh or look offended. If you hold up your index finger to say 'one', everybody will just think you are pointing at something above them.

[@MichiB]

I think you can pull your eyelid back on someone. If you want to amphases the sarcasm by answering "Yeah sure we're not drinking". but tbh I think that's more of on old man thing. In my generation/wehere I live no one does that anymore.

[@CalmoOmlac]

It's not just a university thing. I've seen it at work and in bars even 30 years ago where barely anyone was in uni.

[@100100freak]

I mean clapping after every lecture would be weird.. Knocking on the table is less so I guess

[@metalafro]

The German "good luck" would mean "let's box" in Romanian 😂😂

[@PropperNaughtyGeezer]

Wiping for stupid is like when a boxer receives a violent blow. Then the referee wipes with his hand in front of boxers face to see if his eyes can still follow his hand. If not, he breaks off the fight. What you're saying is: "Do this to yourself to see if all the screws in your head are still tight."

[@strenter]

Regarding counting with your fingers: Consider a bar. Let's look at three of the tables with several people around them. At every table someone raises his hand showing three outstretched fingers to the bar keeper. The tables were delivered different amounts of beer. The first one three beers, the second one five beers and the third one seven beers. ... To consider why three fingers lead to different amounts we have to take into account that the bar keeper has an 80/80 sight and knows his customers. ... Okay, the first table just ordered normally, three beers. At the second table the guy ordering was working at a saw mill. (Remember, excellent sight and knowing their customers!) And at the third table were sitting the computer nerds, that usually order in binary.

[@feyz58]

As a German, all the gesturrs are totally normal for me. It's really interesting, that you don't have the same gestures in America

[@bultvidxxxix9973]

I'd say using just your index finger to signal 1 is fine. Pretty sure I have done that myself. When counting with my hands I always start with the thumb, but when I just want to make clear that I want only one beer (lol) I may also just use my index finger. It's kind of hard to consciously think about what you are doing unconsciously. Just make sure it's obvious that your thumb is not raised.

[@HenryLoenwind]

The index finger is fine if you whos the inside of your hand. If you show the outside, people will either assume they cannot see your extended thumb or mistake which finger you're holding up...

[@bultvidxxxix9973]

@@HenryLoenwind Good point, I agree. Also people may interpret it as a rebuke otherwise.

[@tovarishchfeixiao]

@@HenryLoenwind Especially if you hold it from a bad angle then anyone in any part of the world would mistake it for a middle finger. 🤔

[@tosa2522]

The old people staring at him are probably a tour group and think he's an attraction.😄

[@kagolanothing8314]

As a german i can say the counting method may be seen regionally. If you raise your index finger in a Bar, you only get one beer. The rest of the explan fits. At the end the reversed symbolism for 👌perfect means in germany you are a as.hole. You need a picture in your head that you look in a ...... Very simple😁

[@AdamMPick]

That is the power of Hollywood, though. The "correct" way is to start with the thumb and you should have been tought that in school. The index finger method is not even an english thing, but an american invention, that keeps spreading via Hollywood and internet. Try ordering two beers with the american system in the UK and see how far you come. Two finger salute might get you in trouble. Persian influenced cultures mostly start with the little finger and some asian cultures start with an open hand and fold down their fingers, often starting with the little finger, as well.

[@anunearthlychild8569]

@ kagolanothing8314 Of course, this works, you just give the waiter a step more work, because he has to ask (with words or hand signals) what you want. With the raised index finger, you only attract his attention.

[@tirirana]

I'd agree. Counting in sequence always starts with the thumb, but if I just want to say one and it stays one, I'd use the index finger as well.

[@blackforestfpv3046]

The reversed 👌is actually originating from the italian immigrants. In Itlaly this is the sign for culo, short term for vafanculo, which means as_hole.

[@ger_Raenef]

i thought the correct way is the one which works@@AdamMPick

[@arianajuni]

I laughed so hard about your comments about the random strangers! Thanks!!

[@balasFTW]

I think most European countries have similar gestures. In Portugal pointing at your head while referring to another person (you can even be talking to that exact person while doing that gesture) means that he or she is silly/dumb/clueless. It's like the pointing at the head means "you/the person have nothing inside your head". Sometimes it can be used as a question (Ex: after someone has done something stupid - You point at your head while referring to the person in question in a way that they understand you are rhetorically asking them if they have anything inside their head) The gesture of waving your hand in front of your face is meant to let the other person know they are "blind" and can't see the problem (you are telling them that they have a wall in front of their face which blocks their critical thinking - 'waving the hand to create a sort of barrier between them and the world').

[@wollfaden1979]

The exact meanings we have in Germany, too. At least the Portuguise will understand me when I travel there 😂

[@amiraniable]

When I lived in Tbilisi, Georgia, people would start with their little finger when counting and the thumb would hold back the other three fingers, so the little finger is one, and for two, they would let go the ringfinger and so on.

[@arnodobler1096]

Interesting

[@JHenry-wv1xv]

Best way I guess. Not many can move the little finger and the ring finger independently, so holding one back solves the problem.

[@monarch73]

Well, if I were to run into someone, speaking in a foreign language in front of a camera (maybe a whole team?), that would drag my attention towards the guy too. It could also be, that he is just blocking the view to the displaywindow of the shops as this apperently is a downtown shopping mile... Keep up the nice work. Ich drücke dir die Daumen 🙂

[@monarch73]

BTW...did you know that you can tell from the license plate where the car is registered? The license plate on the car says "QLB" which stands for Quedlinburg - which is probably also the location of this video...

[@monarch73]

also, pulling down the corner of the eye literally means "go, find the grain in my eye" which is an Idiom for "Hey, I was just beeing sarcastic"

[@pedrobotero8542]

At 1:24 he says that he's in Quedlinburg😁@@monarch73

[@Emulleator]

@@monarch73 the location was said in the video @ 1:25 and yes its Quedlinburg

[@marcgyver677]

@@monarch73 Nice work Sherlock, but Mark said it right at the beginning of the video, that he was in Quedlinburg...

[@MrsStrawhatberry]

I didn't even know it was thanksgiving XD sorry, hope you had a good one. We do celebrate Erntedank in churches, like we thank god and the farmers for the harvest. But that's it. Not a big meal or anything you'd do with the family or so. We also don't eat turkey. It is not considered to be tasty meat, it's cheap and lean, so body builders would eat it but for festive meals you'd prepare duck or goose. They have more fat aka taste.

[@ViviNorthbell]

church? we up north don't do that.

[@MrsStrawhatberry]

@@ViviNorthbell it's a catholic thing only and they also don't tell you a specific date, it's just usually one Sunday in autumn where they celebrate harvest. It's usually beautifully decorated and the closest thing to thanksgiving that we have in Europe

[@freaktopianexile2083]

@@MrsStrawhatberry Here in the Rhineland the Protestants also celebrate Erntedank in church ("try to blend in..." ;-)) - when I was younger and my town was still a village, lots of people grew vegetables in their own gardens or had some fruit trees or berries. For Erntedank we used to donate a couple of jars of jam or preserved gherkins, and after the sermon there was a small market at the church, where we'd buy something someone else had donated... the money went to the church for charity purposes, but the fun was in tasting other family's recipes for "Apfelmus" or "Gewürzgurken", and seeing the diversity of all the home-grown products,

[@MrsStrawhatberry]

@@freaktopianexile2083 That sounds awesome!

[@MrRyanIsle]

What is legit and what isn't and additional context? (German POV) 1. Thumbs up, means thumbs up just like in the USA - one is the index-finger (unless you are counting to yourself and doing math or so in your head) 2. Pressing thumbs is correct. Crossing fingers (behind the back) is for lying 3. Knocking on the table after a presentation is a thing (at University for example). Most of the time in other circumstances, we will clap. Knocking on wood means: "Don't jinx it", as in I knock to prevent the jinx. Some people would self ironically know on their own heads saying "knocking on wood" 4. pulling down the eye lids a little is legit. Usually just once or twice. 5. the sign for "okay" such as used in diving does NOT mean anything bad where I come from. It can be used in a teenagers play, where when you look to the hole, you will get a punch on the shoulder. You are not supposed to look and if you do you fell for it and get punished. Like said, teenagers play :D 6. Signs for "crazy" and "stupid" are correct, waving hand and pointing towards the forehead (tipping a few times).

[@HenryLoenwind]

1. Really complicated. Aside from some regional preferences, the hand position also changes the meaning: - "thumb up, back of the hand towards the other person" is "thumbs up"; "thump up, knuckles towards the other person" is either "1", "1?", "ok?" or "ok"; - "thumb extended to the side, back of the hand forward" is "1" or "that way"; - "thumb extended to the side, thumb pointing over your shoulder" is "behind me"; - "thumb extended to the side, thumb pointing sideways over your shoulder" is "get out"; - "thumb extended, thumb pointing towards the other person from below, hand swinging up once" is "f. off"; - "thumb extended, thumb pointing towards the other person from below, hand swinging up and down" is "I'll stab you"; - "index finger up, thumb on the index finger, hand raised, backside forward, hand swinging side to side" is "stop or I'll punish you"; - "index finger raised, hand raised, back of the hand to the side, thumb on the middle finger" is "here!"; - "index finger raised, hand raised, thumb and other fingers slightly open, palm towards the other waiter" is "attention" or "check please"; - "index finger raised, hand raised, palm towards the other person, thumb on the middle finger" is "1"; - "index finger raised, hand raised, back of the hand towards the other person" is nothing but can be interpreted as "1", "2" or "middle finger"; - "index finger extended" (often with "thumb extended in the same direction") is pointing. 3. Knocking on wood also can mean "good luck" 4. The primary meaning is "I see through that deception". So, depending on who spoke the words it refers to, it means "I think they are lying", "I don't believe you", or "I just said the opposite of what I mean". 5. "index finger and thumb for a ring, fingers open, palm towards the other person" indeed is "good", but other variations refer to various body openings. Worst one is "thumb and all fingers form a ring, index finger of other hand slides in and out, both hands raised up towards the other person", which means "f. u.". With the hands low, it's just "f." and can, for example, mean "those two are off to have fun doing that, don't you think?" 6. Waving the hands with the fingers open goes more towards "confused" or "drunk". Waving the hand with the fingers closed is more "crazy" or "unhinged".

[@dnocturn84]

Well, showing my thumbs up (usually not in a 90° position, which would also just mean "Ok" or "well done") to order a beer from afar in a bar or restaurant here, will result in one beer being delivered. If they see my index finger, they 100% bring me two beers. Maybe that's different in other regions, but this advice is certaily true in the part of Germany where I live.

[@Cheskin1984]

​@@HenryLoenwind I never realized that before but I tried all of your very precise descriptions and I actually use them all 😅

[@Justforvisit]

Already the first point is a bit strange though or must be something regional. In the rest of Germany you are totally fine to order ONE beer with your index finger as well.

[@klamin_original]

What? Absolutely not. One is thumb, not index finger. Maybe in Berlin it’s the index finger but in real Germany it isn’t.

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

When I was a child (in the seventies), I was told many times by my German Mother: "Man zeigt nicht mit einem nackten Finger auf angezogene Leute!" I haven't heard that in many years. It is not known/used here in Switzerland where I've lived almost all my life. I suspect you are right and this 'finger' aversion is regional!

[@klamin_original]

@@alexandergutfeldt1144those people not using their thumb are probably from weird regions like Hannover or Berlin

[@Kolenya90]

He didn't say that it isn't fine to use your index finger. Of course you can do that. But it is not common.

[@dieserjohannes1179]

​@@klamin_original sicher das du nicht von der seltsamen Region bist

[@ThomasPilgrim-iz1xr]

👌REINGEGUCKT! Is a popular game at german schoolyards. If you look into the O someone else forming with his fingers, he's permitted to give you a Punch to your upperarm. I thought you should know that. 😁

[@MellonVegan]

Personally never heard of the thumb & index finger circle one as being an insult (might be an old fashioned one). These days with people our age (although I think most have grown out of it), that's just a thing people would do and if the other person looked into the circle, you could hit them. No idea where it came from. It just kinda started some day when we were kids.

[@lhcrain]

Danach habe ich gesucht :D

[@chrisrudolf9839]

That's not originally a German thing, it was likely brought to Germany by Italian immigrants. In Italy, the positive thumb and index finger gesture isn't used at all and the gesture universally means "a-hole" (I blelieve in some other mediterranian countries it has the same meaning). The positive one AFAIK isn't traditional German either, but an American pop culture import, so you would get a somewhat vague mix here.

[@MellonVegan]

@@chrisrudolf9839 Yeah, that was my understanding of it as well.

[@HenryLoenwind]

It should be noted that "Daumen drücken" is much more often said to wish luck than done.

[@eyeofthasky]

"to knock on wood" is exactly the same in germany

[@stennostenno1346]

7:14 Amazingly enough, the local Braunschweig beer is called Wolters

[@MichaEl-rh1kv]

It is not only Germany which starts counting with the thumb. But you can order one beer with the index finger also, if your gesture is clear enough with either the back of the hand or the front of the hand with the thumb folded in to the bartender - it may be however he recognizes the gesture only as a beg for attention, not a concrete number. 3:45 He is thinking: "What's that guy doing there, blocking the street as if he would own it? Does he think he's some kind of celebrity? Clearly does not have the look." 4:35 one explanation I read for pressing the thumbs is about the thumb representing a demon of bad luck. A more believable explanation explains it as the gesture used by spectators of Roman gladiator fights to signalize mercy for a fallen fighter. (The "thumbs up" gesture often shown in movies about gladiator fights was not used for this, because a thumb up moved from left to right before your head meant: cut his throat - so it was the opposite of giving mercy.) The gesture is known in Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland (all former parts of the Holy Roman Empire), Croatia and Slovenia (a formerly Habsburg-ruled kingdom), Poland, Russia, Estonia and South Africa, while crossing the fingers is at home in countries with a French or English past. A fist with the thumb outside is for fighting (you never box with your thumbs inside if you don't want to hurt yourself). 5:20 knocking on wood (sometimes explained as distracting the devil, but actually it comes probably from a tradition in seafaring: A newly hired seaman was allowed to knock on certain parts of the ship before accepting the hire to test the condition of the ship; miners did the same with pit props) is also known in Germany. Applauding by knocking on the table is an academic tradition; students did it with the left hand, while the other hand held the pen or pencil for making notices. 6:10 The index finger to the forehead is called "showing the bird" (den Vogel zeigen) - if you do it in traffic to another driver you can get fined. It is related to the idiom "Bei dir piept's wohl" ("seems something is beeping at/in you(r head)") and "Der hat doch einen Vogel" ("he has surely a bird") - people with crazy ideas were imagined having a excited small bird instead of a regular brain, like a tit (German: "Meise", which also sounds vaguely similar to Yiddish "mases" = misdeeds) or a sparrow. 6:40 That one is called the "Scheibenwischer", the windshield wiper. 7:05 this gesture is related to the idiom "Holzauge, sei wachsam" (Woodeye, watch out) warning against scams and frauds. The gesture can mean "I'm looking through your scam", "I caught your lie and laugh at it" or "Did you get it?" (referring to a joke). 8:05 That is not really true. Germans use the thumb-indexfinger ring for "o.k.", but some have taken over also the meaning it has with Greeks and Turks, where it (depending how you hold your hand) can mean "a-hole". In some other countries (like Belgium or Tunisia) it can also stand for a zero and signal "worthless", again depending on circumstances and position. And with the other fingers spread out and the palm outwards it was recently adapted by parts of the extreme right as sign for "white p..r" (the ring standing for the p).

[@thetruetri5106]

One of our teachers always used 'thumbs up' for saying 'first warning' (when someone talked in class) and it confused everyone. Were funny times

[@Tam_Hawkins]

For the first thing: A single thumb up simply means ok Counting differs from person to person, I have seen people count as he does (mostly to themself) and have seen other ways to (personally use others). I think when people count to others they mostly start with the index, probably because that one is a bit more visible and stands out more than the thumb. If you ever come here count however you want, we will understand, and ok just means ok^^

[@klamin_original]

I find it really strange that there are Germans here saying they don’t use their thumb for ordering one beer. Really strange. I feel like they must be from weird parts of Germany or haven’t been raised properly. At least in southern Germany you use your thumb for „one“, regardless of counting ordering or whatever. If another German person would order something with their index finger I’d immediately ask them why they’re using their index finger and that it’s weird and American (equals bad).

[@dnocturn84]

Me being from the middle of Germany can only agree. You'll order one beer with your thumbs up. If I order from afar and the barkeeper or waitress spots my index finger being up, I will get two beers for sure. This is either a regional thing or these commentators never ordered a beer in their favorite bar or restaurant from afar. Or maybe they always go to talk with the barkeeper and never had a chance to try themselves, but honor us with their experience regardless - but how does this work in loud places then?

[@nilshoppenstedt6073]

For Python programmers the index finger actually stands for 2 because in Python lists start with... ok, bad joke. Forget it.

[@Gaehhn]

Back in school a friend of mine said to me, "Bet I can count to 1023 using only my fingers?" and showed me how to count in binary format using my fingers as bits. When Ryan asked whether the index finger was 2 I was reminded of that.

[@LisaZoe86]

You had me in tears with this one! 😂 And no, I wouldn't think you meant two when holding up your index finger, but based on the context I could also think you either want me to wait a minute or listen to something 😂 But I sometimes hold up my index finger to indicate the number one as well. It's not a problem. The other ones though are 100% legit. But the way you repeatedly pulled your eye down! No no! You only do it ONCE! And its not something I see people do often. The thumb pressing was just hilarious as well 😂 Great video!

[@leobeck8074]

I think American and German hands are different. It's hard for me to form the American 3.

[@DirkLachowski]

It’s just getting used to. I’m German and living in the US for 5 years now. At some point, your brain somehow just adapts to the different gestures. I don’t even think about it anymore and when around Germans only, it’s German gestures again without realizing the difference

[@MrRyanIsle]

Germans that use the index-finger to signal "1 beer please" vs. Germans who use the thumb. Comment on this to share how you do it!

[@MrRyanIsle]

Me: Index-Finger =1 Beer please (2=index and thumb, 3=thumb, index, middle, etc.)

[@jokami1051]

The reversed "ok" signal is like a bunghole sign in Europe in general...

[@kpanic23]

It's only bad if you look into it...

[@jokami1051]

@@kpanic23 yes its one of the worst pranks ever...

[@frankk3358]

I laughed so hard when I saw you in the other video pressing your thumbs against each other ... and Ryan now you got it right! :-) hearthly greetings from Germany

[@Lisa-xn9xc]

Quedlingburg is a tourism city with beautiful architecture. The people were constantly looking at buildings left and right.

[@skylinwinter5970]

That video was so funny to me hahaha loved it

[@luzia1090]

Cobblestones might be beautiful but they're really annoying when you're either drunk and tripping over them or when you go by bike (especially as a kid in the back, I'll never forget that) which many of us - including me - do everyday

[@jassidoe]

And during wintertime when everything is frost-covered I curse every cobblestone in existence 😂

[@lulaa123]

And it’s the worst when you’re wearing heels

[@javik1929]

or have any sort of walking impairment like a fixated ankle, used to like em now its pain

[@ViviNorthbell]

also not fun if you ride a bike....

[@olgahein4384]

Yep. That's why you don't see women wear high heels in Freiburg outside. It's common for young women who want to go party in high heels to have a somewhat bigger hand bag that fits a 2nd pair of shoes: high heels for the inside and flats/ballerinas for the outside. They usually change while waiting in line in front of the club and when they leave the club.

[@irishflink7324]

In Sweden we say that we are holding our thumbs for you , so you will have good luck

[@kieferngruen]

same in Germany

[@monarch73]

@@kieferngruen holding? Nein, definitiv nicht....Zumindest nicht, das ich es je gehört hätte...

[@kieferngruen]

@@monarch73 holding, pressing.... however you want to translate it

[@monarch73]

@@kieferngruen die Überweisung für Daumen drücken ist "pressing". Holding wäre was völlig anderes.

[@Justforvisit]

The reverse OK sign can stand for a women's more delicate parts, that's why you shouldn't do that.

[@loo_ping]

could also mean a-hole ...

[@HenryLoenwind]

@@loo_pingIt's the shared body part on its own and the gender-specific part if you slide the middle finger of your other hand through it. So either f/u or a/h, neither is very polite.

[@dielina]

I'm german and I've never heard or known about that sign before, to be honest.

[@nilshoppenstedt6073]

The hot waffle stand at the left must look very amazing. Every passers-by stares at it.

[@Attirbful]

I saw the sign „Heiße Waffeln“ and immediately my brain farted to read „Scheiße Waffeln“…. Am surprised no one took a Sharpie to it, yet…

[@LeonLange-cr3su]

The "Pressing thumbs" gestures origin is not completely clear. 1. Superstition: the thumb was a "lucky" finger and by closing it inside your hand, it was believed to catch a demon so it couldn't harm anyone anymore. 2. Ancient Rome: with Pressing your thumb, you would have voted for mercy for a gladiator (so they would let him live)

[@michaelkorger3273]

Well if someone is standing in front of an camera talking to himself I simply look at him thinking what kind of mental disorder he has.

[@Auvas_Damask]

8:35 This gesture here means be careful what you say

[@derramboralf6404]

Some carpenters need two hands to order five beers!

[@AP-RSI]

8:34 Than, we know you're an american! LOL Ever seen the movie "Inglourious Basterds"?

[@Anson_AKB]

_"thumbs pressing"_ - there sometimes is a (not so serious) debate whether the thumb should be IN the fist to *keep the luck* or ON TOP of the fist to *not squash the luck* :-)

[@juwen7908]

Or stick it between your thumb and pointing finger, as we do 😉

[@JohnSmith-iu8cj]

That pointing finger instead of the thumb for one could be mistaken as rude, or confused with the single middle finger or the finger pointing at the head, both not nice, or just as pointing at sth. which would be rude if mistaken as pointing at somebody.

[@neutronenstern.]

4 is actually shown as indicator, middle finger, ring finger and pinky finger without the thumb. So the thumb goes out of the way to show 4.

[@hmvollbanane1259]

The tap on the forehead comes from a medieval believe that crazy people have birds nesting in their head. The knocking on wood as a counter charm (3 times while optionally also saying toitoitoi) also exists in Germany The answer to someone pulling his eyelid is a "zwinkern" (no idea what it's called in English, closing quickly one eye and opening it again)

[@vascobatista2132]

I am pretty sure the german hand gesture for 4 normally throws everyone off. Walter did it wrong - the thumb needs to be tucked in….

[@derGlasdrache]

I think Germans understand and use American hand gestures, too, so if you count and use different fingers, it's generally not a problem. Actually, you can count or show numbers starting with any finger, but yes, you would normally start with your thumb. Holding your thumbs for "good luck" is generally said and not gestured, but of course people can understand that. If you don't hold your thumb or if you don't show that you're holding it, it's just fists. People do understand knocking on wood as "good luck" and crossed fingers behind your back as "lie". Knocking on wood instead of clapping your hands together for applause exists just for people who want to use only one hand. People do often times clap, but you can also stomp additionally. Tapping your forehead or temple with your index finger means "stupid" or "crazy" but waving with your hand before your face also works. Moving at least your index finger away from your temple and your head means "idea" or "greetings".

[@neb-taui-djeser1060]

The thing with counting might be a thing mostly amongst elderly people. I start mostly with my index finger for 1 and middle for 2, sometimes i start with my pinkie towards the middle to count to 3. The index could mean many things like stop, wait a sec depends how you present it and since the IS -i slamic state it could be understood badly. As far as i know, or the people i know, we don't really gesture daumen drücken (press thumb) The way he presents it is seen mostly if kids do it because they understand it exactly this way.

[@DarkVVitcher]

First thing which comes to mind reading the title: 🙋🏼🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♂️

[@foxyvirgo75]

You made me laugh so hard... Have a good night

[@pikkozoikum8523]

Though to communicate a "one", I wouldn't use my thumbs (as a german). Only if I would count something like counting fingers 1,2,3, etc

[@klamin_original]

Then you’re not a real German, sorry to say that. One is always thumb.

[@kieferngruen]

I agree. I would never raise a thumb to order a beer.

[@klamin_original]

@@kieferngruen Then you’re weird

[@MrRyanIsle]

agreed this part of the video is BS. I know nobody who signs a thumb to a waiter, meaning "1". Thumbs up is thumbs up now klamin is gonna respond "you're weird" or so

[@klamin_original]

​@@MrRyanIsle You're weird. You're welcome. No but seriously, the German way is using your thumb. If you do it differently you simply don't do it the German way because either nobody taught you (parents) or you didn't care to remember. But using your index finger just isn't the German way. You also can't build a house the American way, then claim 5 friends of you did just the same, that it's the German way and that you don't know anyone else building a house differently while it just isn't the German way to build a house.

[@Silizium_]

in Germany we have 👍🏻 too but the meaning can be "1" or "good/ok" that depends on the context

[@dagmarszemeitzke]

The knocking on the table is used in the university from the students.

[@jesuszockt3531]

I don't know any place in Germany where the ok sign is an insult.

[@ikke12345]

It is not pulling your eyelid, we have a similar gesture in belgium. It also means 'dat zie je van hier'. So it have everything to do with seeing something or not😂.

[@303otto]

we in germany would only "eye lid pull" back, if we at least 200% agree with our buddy. Most of the time you just 'fat grin' back and move our head like saying "yes"

[@stevenvanhulle7242]

In Belgium we use our index finger to denote one.

[@philippmuller782]

dont show one with your index finger like that it could be understood as a threst in some parts of germany, because that way (in some parts of germany) you show that your angry with someone or something.

[@ace_bean7011]

One does not press the thumbs but lets the luck fall into the well. Aka if you press your thumbs don't close the fingers around the thumb but press the thumb on top of the fist or it won't bring you luck. Similarly to hanging a horseshoe with the ends up but never down so the luck doesn't fall out of it. But perhaps it's regional.

[@herb6677]

If someone sticks out one finger like you did, that would mean, that the other should pay attention.

[@ChristianBeckerKapraun]

5:02 The thumbs outside? Well... that's a fighting stance, no? ;D

[@blondkatze3547]

It`s normal for people to look at you often when you`re out and about in Germany, but it`s not meant to be rude , It`s often unconicious . You shouldn`t take it too personally.

[@chrisrudolf9839]

I mean, he was standing in the middle of the walkway and talking into a camera in a foreign language, of course people would look at him because they are curios what's going on. Also I guess some people looked at the shop display window right behind him.

[@PiratePawsLive]

Never did that eyelid thing, none of my friends either. If we are sarcastic we can just pick up on it, i think its nonverbal communication together with the tone thats used. But honestly don't know how it works, it just does.

[@MichiB]

I also think it's more of an old-man thing.

[@kirasternenfeuer6198]

the ok sign is actually understandable as an insult as in some countrys like Italy for example it means asshole

[@markus-pg6me]

Holzauge sei wachsam !

[@conbertbenneck49]

Ryan, When I lived in Koeln, and if you were driving and tapped your forehead at another driver, indicting he was crazy, and the Police saw you you'd be fined, for insulting the other driver.

[@KonKan25]

I know in some culture/country not sure where - maybe somewhere in Asia maybe - but a thumbs up - is a rude gesture like flipping someone the middle finger.

[@ZarzenLetsPlay]

The counting one is beyond stupid. As if the other person couldn't count the amount of fingers held up

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

Oh Ryan, One is only the middle finger in germany. Please film it if you ask for 1 € this way 😂

[@TheMelkuki]

The ok sign with the whole between the fingers is problematic. In some cultures and regions it is a nob-verbal attack or really bad way to "ask" a women for sex. Best way is to avoid it. You can get in trouble without purpose.

[@LuciaSims745]

I'm German and I never saw & heard of the sarcasm gesture. Also the thumb meaning 1, I didn't also knew. But I know that when we count with our fingers, we start counting with our thumb, it makes sense. If you start counting with another finger, then you'd need to count till the thumb again. Den Vogel zeigen (Stupid) gesture in america means that you're smart? :S :S :S Sorry, but that's weird for me.

[@Chokoboh]

Walter White: "I am the one who knocks!" The germans: "But not the only one!"

[@atdynax]

So i as a German use the Index Finger for 1, adding the middlefinger for 2, the ring finger for 3 and then the pinky for 4. I can't form a 3 with thumb, index and middle finger.

[@dnocturn84]

You should not order a beer where I live. One beer has to be the thumbs signal. If you raise your index finger, you will get two - for sure.

[@yournemesis192]

⁠@@dnocturn84where do you live? Daumen für 1 hab ich noch nie gesehen beim bestellen

[@dnocturn84]

@@yournemesis192 Little village in Thuringia, next big thing is also just a smaller town. I lived for some years in southern Bavaria (also in a village), where it worked the same. Judging by other comments, it looks like your index finger is ok in big cities. They will get it there. But it won't work in villages and small towns. I guess it's more a difference between big city life and rural life in Germany, and not a regional thing per se.

[@squarecircle1473]

0:28 LMAO 🤣

[@Chuulip]

How to spot an American 😂 it's so stereotypical that he would just stand there in the middle of a touristy street with a whole damn tripod (I assume). I've never seen a German do that. And yes, germans stare. They don't pretend you're not there. They see you, they acknowledge you and they wanna find out wtf you're doing there talking to a camera in front of their salad. Oh, it's also very risky because filming other people and posting it on the internet is a real grey area. He could get in trouble for this if he filmed the wrong person (who could sue him for that).

[@NoBody-ut6qs]

this reaction is a nice 1 👍 :D

[@holgerlinke98]

If you have your Thumbs on the outside, that is some sort of a fist, very different message!

[@MerryJones]

I know that some people I know press their thumbs having them inside the hand, some don't. My family never has their thumbs inside the hand while doing it. Is that a regional thing guys? (I'm from Saxony-Anhalt)

[@ViviNorthbell]

right, actually I just lay my thumb across my pointer finger when making a fist. I am from Hamburg

[@eyeofthasky]

if u wanna SHOW someone ONE, u just use ur index finger in order to not confuse it with the thumbs-up, but NOT with the back of the hand towards them cuz that might look like a finger raised in reprimand or aggression -- rather with the palm towards them just like the emoji ☝

[@JakobFischer60]

Pointing with your finger to the head is a bit outdated and most of the time used when driving a car. It is called "den Vogel zeigen" (showing the bird) and sometimes ends before court. And if I am correct the okay sign means asshole in Italy.

[@MrTuxracer]

Never noticed it was outdated. Btw in the middle ages people thought lunatics had a bird inside their head.

[@SchniebediBiSchniebediBuh]

If you want to sit back and relax, then look at "This is Germany🇩🇪" by Dr. Ludwig.

[@faystardust9112]

I send you a package a while ago and just know learned that it is still at Zoll... whatever that is called in english... I hope it will go through eventually :)

[@chrissiesbuchcocktail]

Customs...

[@Anson_AKB]

_"pulling the eyelid"_ - don't the americans have a saying to pull someone's entire leg instead of only the eyelid ? :-) LOL the meaning in both cases is that something is not meant seriously ... something like a "pre-internet smiley" to indicate some funny or sarcastic intention. verbally, _"jemanden auf den Arm nehmen"_ (take someone on your arm) and _"jemandem einen Bären aufbinden"_ (strap a bear to someon's back) mean something similar.

[@redzora80]

i never did a thumps up for one. normaly its the index finger. if you jus mean one. if your counting yeah thumb is one but then you count up. because just humb up its just ok. if you order just one we use index finger. and sometimes for 2 index and middel finger. for 3 the thump is comeing

[@krccmsitp2884]

7:10 you actually pull the eyelid just a tiny bit, and not until you see the conjuctiva.

[@KonKan25]

and in Italy - talk about hand gestures - WOW so many. just be careful how to use them....and a flipping someone off gesture looks similar to a "like you" gesture.

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

👌 can be very rude in southern european countries ( I've been told )

[@MiPo]

One Thumb is not just saying 1 it also means everything is ok or good. Counting like germans makes more sense, because you begin with your first finger, the thumb, then the next one insteat of beginning in the middle of the hand. And if you use your Thumb as 1 you can cound binary with your 5 fingers in 1 hand with 2 options up and down from 0 - 31. It's easier to increase with the thumb than other fingers too. And the Finger to your head is stupid or smart. It's just pointing to the brain and your face shows that you mean someone is stupid or very smart. Same gesture. The Ok Sign means ok in the most places in germany, but in italy and some parts it means ashole so better don't use it :D And there is a childish game kids play, so you show this ok sign and if someone is looking into it you can beat him on the shoulder. It must be under the eyes not infront of that's the rule. Then if someone is able to stick a finger in your hole from the ok sign and put it out he can hit you insteat of the shoulder and if you catch the finger, the person who catched the finger can beat the other person. So if someone is doing the ok sign with the 3 fingers pointing at you and thumb and pointing finger creating the o don't look inside, it's a childish trap to hit you :D

[@AFNacapella]

tbh _Anything_ scares US Americans . . .

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

sarcasm: except letting everyone own guns ... that is 'patriotism' ( or culture, or something)

[@nin5058]

I'd actually use my index finger for indicating one... 🤔