The Indian Head Wobble, Explained 🇮🇳

[@sudarshanlahoti3856]

"Is it really up and down?"😂😂 (The true yes wobble follows)

[@RRP2]

Yes 😂

[@tpmash]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lets_C]

It was really more like a "you got it" wobble because the "yes" wobble is really just up and down.

[@Mileyn-s1c]

Yess

[@jayasil8295]

It is the wobble of agreement

[@varsharaos294]

As an Indian living in abroad, once my colleague was explaining something very seriously & I was wobbling my head to express Yes, I am listening, understanding, I’ll do it. But he got it otherwise and completely paused the conversation and asked me if I am not interested in the convo. When I asked him why would he say that, he said I was moving my head in every direction possible and he was hella confused. 😂.

[@Yasmin-cf4qm]

😅

[@divyasasidharan2960]

😂😂😂 oh lord I have never gotten that comment but m wondering did this happen

[@varsharaos294]

@@divyasasidharan2960 University to workplace atleast 10 foreigners asked me about head nodding, but I would never forget this particular incident. BTW living in Europe for almost 7 years I have all kind of conversations from What is that red dot on my forehead to Me asking them how can the whole family just go naked sauna… So I don’t need to lie about something that never happened. I had a lot of crazy conversations, humans are pretty enthusiastic to know about other people’s cultures.

[@honestabe_9207]

🤣

[@meb777]

😂😂😂

[@Periwinkleblue.]

I love the guy at the end who accidentally wobbled instead of nodding up and down, then seemed embarrassed. 😊

[@lawhardebbarma3027]

Some places in southern India wobble their heads for yes..both are correct 😂

[@Lost_n_Found_1]

@@lawhardebbarma3027 When you missed the point, lol.

[@faeezparkar9731]

As an indian, I wasn't aware that it's specific to India only. It feels strange to not wobble ur head or keep a start face while speaking 😂

[@daviusdavis2537]

It looks stupid.

[@msruag]

well it's used in pakistan and bangladesh too lol

[@YinYanUzumaki]

@@msruag yeah but they have derived their culture from India so saying Indian culture suffices as the two Indian neighbours have most things that is known as Indian borrowed from India only ..

[@Quemirabobo-sq6bj]

Italians also do it

[@msruag]

@@YinYanUzumaki but india is now colloquially known as the actual country and not the surrounding areas like it used to. the meaning changed, so it would be more fitting and more clearer to people to say "south asian" than indian because indian means something from india, and the modern meaning of india is said country.

[@rajeevjuneja5584]

As an Indian it feels rude not to do it while someone is explaining you something.... It shows you are understanding and acknowledging what they're saying. It's similar to how Japanese keep bowing.

[@ladyfame1430]

Well I absolutely love it and I am American I love all cultures I hope that If or when the time comes to be face-to-face with that opportunity I could participate and I can do it correctly Out of love and respect and compassion for a beautiful culture not by copying but by a human instinct so it is to be genuine and not rude and Not with embarrassment or mockery. I would consider the opportunity a honor and a blessing to be able to learn and adapt for others and to others I love all countries outside of the US I am tired of my country.......lol. Thank you India for your kindness and love and beautiful smiles, On some of the most beautiful people in the world! 💜🥰 I love you.

[@pricklycats]

​@@ladyfame1430It would be really difficult to do it without giving off the wrong message. It's something they've done basically since birth, it's probably equivalent to the urge to blink, yawn, etc.

[@pricklycats]

​@@ladyfame1430Or they might think you're mocking them if you do it wrong lol

[@mulkanmulkan5620]

In yoir country... but if you do it in other country.. that's become silly n funny...

[@atherisGAY]

In Germany they just stare into your eyes blankly until your part of dialogue fizzles out because you become intimidated 😭

[@pieterbezuidenhout2741]

No matter it's what makes INDIANS SUPER SPECIAL. Love from South African Boer.

[@ShibaStruck]

ya

[@SlimSlugga713]

European Colonizer in South Africa*

[@Root_001]

Secret fact: some people wobble in telephone calls as well

[@vp922]

Thanks for that Jimmy Saville

[@meany5038]

Lmao haha imagine asimg to make sure they are si u know they understand

[@ladyfame1430]

I love it!

[@joelleabounader1706]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@amazingmind3033]

Mummaa

[@junipairo]

I work at a nursing home, and we had a resident from India at our facility. Anytime we asked him something, like if he wanted tea for example, he’d always wobbled his head! I thought it was a something specifically to him. I am surprised that it’s actually more of a cultural thing! We’ve had a couple other Indian residents and they didn’t do this, so I guess I never assumed it. I miss my little papa dearly. 😔

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

You called him “my little papa”?

[@onethatdoesart5650]

​​​@@justanotherhappyhumanist8832 English term of affection for an older/ elderly man, lots of older women are called mama, mama's, mamaw, etc.

[@charissabihl1731]

You sound very caring. I bet you are great at your job.

[@delvingeorge2807]

​@@justanotherhappyhumanist8832 In India, South Indian also say Kochu Appan literally means Little Father. In South India people also say Kochu Appapan Little Grand Father. How about that.

[@Hi-Phi]

😂I hope you didn't give him medication for it!

[@WeRNthisToGetHer]

That's actually adorable. It's like how us Italians use our hands when we speak. It's a real thing. We don't even realize we are doing it. It's just an unconscious cultural habit. ❤️🤗

[@beatles42ohgg94]

and im pretty sure they started this because of colinization. when being questioned by the bri ish. they would wopple their head, as its not yes, and its not no. essentially the indian version of "i dont speeka da eenglish"

[@aspasianikolopoulou6687]

You and us Greeks both xD

[@AlwaysRight32]

Cookie Mart

[@விஷ்ணு_கார்த்திக்]

@@beatles42ohgg94Nonsense, most Indians never interacted with the British directly.

[@onepunchman4444]

Please don't ever compare us to these disgusting primitive beasts.. thanks

[@jinay.jain.]

As Indian even while watching this I was wobbling 😂😂... (Obviously in the sense of approval)

[@omaewamoushindeiru4329]

🤦🤣😜

[@taetatamic]

😂😂

[@annk387]

Love it! 😆

[@Yogi_20]

🤣🤣 same

[@Pratyushorg]

Same here🤪

[@MsHSpring]

I know that we wobble our heads, but I didn’t know that others don’t wobble!!

[@dr_greg_mouse4125]

True. I thought everyone wobbles

[@ArvindSingh-pf7kq]

i think they didn't developed this sign language yet, and we developed it first.

[@Kaagent1900]

I only do yes and no as belgian

[@MsHSpring]

@@Kaagent1900 ohh.. I think we kind of wobble for everything 🙈 especially when we are talking earnestly 😄

[@triggergames9731]

you should use we instead

[@Baby4Ghost]

The wobble shows sincerity in the conversation. Its body language for acknowledgement. Thats why it can be used for anything.

[@judendungu9438]

Finally some answers.😂😂Indians are unique people 😊

[@stigletclaudiu8487]

They are billions not that unique

[@starwarrior4056]

​@@stigletclaudiu8487 lol

[@faheemsheikh8432]

​@@stigletclaudiu8487😂 killed it

[@nikhilchaubey7]

​@@stigletclaudiu8487Last pagan civilization.

[@stigletclaudiu8487]

@@nikhilchaubey7 nobody cares about brainwashing people and religion.

[@TiwariSaket]

Wobbling your head while someone talking is giving a hint that you are understanding & engaged in what the other person is saying. It's clearly means that you are giving concious understanding nod to what they say.

[@annipsy2185]

yes but in other cultures its usually done with up and down motion of the head. not a wobble. so its unique to this culture.

[@lmao5070]

I just make noises to show that I'm engaged like hmmm haaaa aha ahmm Weird sounds like this😂😂😂

[@cyphi1]

It's not clear tho...Hence the video

[@michaelayala5394]

@@lmao5070 lolol. You're like, "That's a cool jacket, where'd you get it?" and while they're saying, "oh i got it at.." youre nodding and saying non-stop "mm-hmm, mm-hmmm, mmhmm"

[@nabihahurzuk7255]

Yeaaa

[@AlexandraZe]

I'm eastern european, never even been anywhere close to india. But I'm a big fan of bollywood movies and actors and have been watching them for more than 20 years now, since I was a teen. I have quickly learned that this gesture was a cultural thing and me and my mom always joke about it because we find it funny and cute at the same time. I've learned all the specific meanings of it and I am able to identify it when watching movies and I am kind of surprised that not everyone knows about this! 😆

[@_Dhanashree_05_07_]

As an Indian I'm surprised that it's strange outside India to wobble the head like that 😂

[@MsHSpring]

And as an Indian, I’m kind of grateful to this habit of ours.. for all we know, it’s a good exercise for our neck and probably also ensures better blood flow to our head.. perhaps it will even reduce dementia and other old age diseases, that are related to less blood flow to the brain.. I don’t know… just thinking out loud here..

[@AsepTravels]

Indian version of Italians 🤌🏽 when they speak😂

[@fatimanera]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 si, si, assolutamente

[@phantomgamingignt6275]

what is that ?

[@subratanandy2142]

Sonia Gandhi looking at this 👀

[@rajdeepvijayaraj4243]

​@@subratanandy2142 LOLL

[@dlim1908]

But this 🤌 also has indian version. I kid u not.

[@vblake530530]

FINALLY an explanation. I had to work up the courage to as a friend of mine about it and she had no idea what I was talking about..

[@BrodyLuv2]

😂

[@yoseflopez5141]

I wanted to ask this one dude about it, but his English is terrible.

[@MentalFabritecht]

​@Yosef Lopez you could say his English is a bit wobbly

[@yoseflopez5141]

@@MentalFabritecht 😂😂😂

[@dumbalek6001]

As a non-indian I find this gesture so adorable.

[@srijitachatterjee8011]

And I had an American telling me that no one finds its adorable, when I said and some of my non Indian friends find it funny and adorable. He spoke to me as a representative of rhe whole world telling " No one like this head wobble, u can believe what u want to believe but its a fact" 😢

[@aaradhyarawat7589]

​@@srijitachatterjee8011bro everyone wobbles their head, not just Indian people. It's just stereotype being normalised as acceptable truth in crazy bizzare way!

[@Navneetvaishnav24900]

​@@srijitachatterjee8011every have their own choice test life etc etc...

[@omp199]

I once went to India for two weeks, and when I got back to England, I caught myself wobbling my head in a conversation I was having with an English person. So I have no problem believing that it is done subconsciously. I somehow picked it up in just two weeks, although I only used it fleetingly in that one conversation, as far as I am aware. Or... maybe I am still doing it now, a decade later, and I just don't know, because it is so subconscious. :)

[@monicarenee7949]

Same after visiting India for work I find myself doing the head wobble from time to time

[@Jaymo00]

Me too! I picked it up simply from working with an indian family for a few months. Human culture is so interesting how it works sometimes

[@SweetColo]

Me too!!

[@jmarshal]

Yeeesss! I used to work mostly with Indians and just naturally began copying them. It was subconscious and I couldn’t help it. I’d notice I was doing it again and have to think really hard about keeping still while talking until I forgot again and back to moving my head. I didn’t want anyone to think I was mocking them or teasing them! I loved working there - it was my favorite job with some of my favorite coworkers!

[@heidih3048]

Same thing happened to me after having Indian coworkers for many years. It just feels natural.

[@bluerayzzz]

When you have a whole new language every 5 km, I believe these signs become necessary, lol 😂

[@how2download916]

are you sure 5

[@bluerayzzz]

@@how2download916 yup

[@AzraelAlpha]

Hindi, Tamil and Telugu are the only 3 I know of but I'm sure there's tons of other dialects out there

[@bluerayzzz]

@@AzraelAlpha kudos to you for having this knowledge, but we do have more than 2000 languages

[@oddball_oddity]

​@@bluerayzzz that's a very generous overestimation. Papua New Guinea has the most number of languages by country, but even they only have 840. It's 456 according to various Internet sources (we shouldn't include "dialects.")

[@hadenoughyet]

after being in India for 3 months I found myself doing it also, took a while to stop once i was back home. It is such an endearing gesture, you know that you are being listened to.

[@100islandds6]

its so cute, its like italians waving their hands while speaking. Cultures are really fascinating

[@korenbrigham]

@@ThaiSoup39 neither are genetic, but learned from an early age.

[@srijitachatterjee8011]

And I had an American telling me that no one finds its adorable, when I said and some of my non Indian friends find it funny and adorable. He spoke to me as a representative of rhe whole world telling " No one like this head wobble, u can believe what u want to believe but its a fact" 😢

[@drtechsavvy90]

I'm an Indian... and this is 100% true... and it happens every day in my work place, outside... and I didn't know till now

[@DOCTORJAN714]

I'm NOT an Indian, and it's STILL 100% true.

[@michaelburke4048]

I love this expression. Yes, there's nuance to it, and it can be confusing at first, but once you figure it out, there's a ton of depth to it. I wish more cultures would pick it up.

[@arjun._.bbC6]

It's the Indian equivalent of the Italian hand gesture or any other cultural feature from any culture. It's tied to our speech and actions. We communicate with a good mix of speech and body language, and head wobble is the easiest form of communication.

[@isabellrc]

Great point 😊

[@HoloScope]

I watched karl rock for a while and I noticed that I started doing it by accident, my dad keeps pointing it out lol. It 's a very versatile form of communication!

[@TokyoXtreme]

Japan has it too, except it’s a sharp and quick forwards nod, repeated about once a second or so.

[@laurelcook9078]

Was thinking the same thing. I’m an avid hand gesturer despite not being Italian 😂

[@GK222_]

When Somalis are listening to you attentively, they do short quick gasps after every sentence you say to signal that they're paying attention.

[@29.11plum]

I’ve never noticed that. Im an African American woman and usually I noticed when someone is telling me something, I will periodically respond “mmm hmm” or something to confirm that Im still listening. I think a lot of other Americans in general do the same thing. I don’t think when I do it, it just seems to be a natural response when I listen to someone. I also live in the midwest so I say “ope” a lot for whatever reason lol

[@kelsey2333]

MIDWESTTT. Lol I'm Minnesotan and I say ope too lol

[@BelwillCoily]

What does “ope” mean?

[@29.11plum]

@@BelwillCoily lol we tend to say it in place of “excuse me” or “sorry”

[@rizahawkeyepierce1380]

​@BelwillCoily Kind of a combination of "oh" and "oops". It's an expression of mild surprise, most often used if you bump into someone or want to announce your presence so you don't bump into someone.

[@Hagar-yn8jm]

Haha, I "ope" too. Kind of a lot actually.

[@rebeccagutierrez8170]

When my son who lives with autism wobbles his head from side to side, its usually an indication that he is happy or happily enjoying his meal.❤

[@elijahschaffersonlysimp]

I worked with a couple of guys from Nepal,here in America,when I was 18. one of them asked me a question and I shrugged my shoulders,as in a idk motion, nonchalantly. he done it back, awkwardly and pronounced and said what does this mean. I explained a lot of American culture to him in the short time I worked with them. they were so sweet

[@benjilinus5963]

Shrugging the shoulders is not American lol

[@TertiusIII]

​@@benjilinus5963 It is, just not exclusively.

[@waterfallsdontsaymeow2917]

I had no idea that everyone on Earth didn't do this until I lived abroad for a while haha

[@sejithevoid2059]

Lmao if you come to Australia people will actually think you are being rude.

[@DEVINdevdev]

holy f. do you not watch movies or tv shows ? how the hell every indian comments here that they did not know that rest of the world does not wobble bobble their heads when you have movies, shows, youtube. Is it lack of education that does this, really interesting.

[@avichanda4641]

​@@akmilli8179never thought about it before seeing this video

[@brownerjerry174]

@AK Milli Lmao you really don't have a life do you.

[@ugwuanyicollins6136]

Its not specific to india

[@Wakondaforever369]

I learned in college class in Hinduism that Indians learned to wobble their head thousands of years ago to better sing the hymns of Sanskrit which required you to move your head around to teach certain tones. This was before reading and writing were common so everything had to be remembered by singing stories

[@nikkitytom]

I lived in India for twenty years and unconsciously adopted the neck wobble. I've been in Hawaii for the last twenty five years and I'm told I still wobble. It can mean many things and context is the key. But sometimes it becomes a way to avoid a direct "yes or no".

[@RTAV108]

You are so on point in the last line in your comment !!

[@TheMAMAB123]

Do they get offended of you do it back? I tend to match the persons energy/body language to better connect with folks… If someone’s talking fast, I try to do the same, if they’re speaking, slowly, I do the same… Unfortunately, if they wobble their heads, I also do the same. I’m Afraid I may have offended a few folks in the process. 😭

[@jmp1759]

​​@@TheMAMAB123f you are talking to an indian in america or outside of india do not do it if it doesnt come to you naturally, since they do get made fun of for the head wobble, some might think you trying to insult them though they wont say anything, if that gesture is natural to you and doesnt interrupt the conversation then its all fine

[@TheMAMAB123]

@@jmp1759 I get what you’re saying… It’s happened once or twice… we were discussing our children who were in the same class, and I found myself nodding along as we were agreeing about a topic. I wouldn’t want to make anyone feel self-conscious about it.

[@camygr6297]

@@TheMAMAB123 I worked at an Indian restaurant and had the same problem. I had to consciously hold my head still when talking to my bosses to avoid offending them just in case.

[@chriswelter3859]

Personally, I love the head wobble. It’s so distinctly Indian and it just has a real positive vibe to it. Don’t know of it’s offensive to say or anything, but I just find it adorable. Truly a distinct cultural mannerism.

[@Sanatani-pq4xf]

It's totally normal and common in India...no one will get offended by this😂....and thaks for understanding India ❤

[@zipzup8989]

Isn’t it worldwide? I mean, in eastern europe everyone is doing that too

[@yomother8067]

​@@zipzup8989really? I never noticed that

[@gubivitschwob1619]

only diagonal is indian, yes and no is normal everywhere

[@joemama4473]

@@zipzup8989Weah people in America do that to

[@josejurado1582]

I find the head wobble adorable. ❤ I have a friend that does that when I speak to her and I can’t help myself thinking it’s the cutest thing ever.

[@srijitachatterjee8011]

And I had an American telling me that no one finds its adorable, when I said and some of my non Indian friends find it funny and adorable. He spoke to me as a representative of rhe whole world telling " No one like this head wobble, u can believe what u want to believe but its a fact" 😢

[@ayame316]

I just love the head wobble because they usually smile while they do it and I dunno it just feels friendly!

[@brian8507]

I love when they poop in street

[@srijitachatterjee8011]

And I had an American telling me that no one finds its adorable, when I said and some of my non Indian friends find it funny and adorable. He spoke to me as a representative of rhe whole world telling " No one like this head wobble, u can believe what u want to believe but its a fact" 😢

[@leslindelgado6124]

I worked at a KFC/Taco Bell back in 2003 and this Indian family came in to order bean tacos. Every time the lady giving me the order spoke she wobbled her head. It was a big group and they were all doing it. I knew immediately it was a cultural thing and tried to ignore it. I did not want to disrespect or offend her. But, I was curious if I, as an American, had anything I did that other countries would see as very different.

[@nebucamv5524]

I heard Americans are really loud. They walk loudly and they speak loudly. Don't know if it's true.

[@junosugi7466]

It's interesting to see so many people using their hands when they speak. I often see this with American journalists on an American news channel. Where I am from we don't use the hands to speak, we used to think it was typically Italian but it seems to be American too. As for wobbling the head, it does seem strange.

[@heavenssscent]

@@nebucamv5524 yes, restaurants are very loud. even classy restaurants theres lots of audible conversations its so easy to eavesdrop

[@heavenssscent]

@@junosugi7466 lots of americans come from italian migrants! some towns are still mainly italians

[@vacafuega]

​@@nebucamv5524 i'm from the uk and i was absolutely blown away by how loud people are in north america - it's not a bad thing as such, it's just shocking to me that people are having supposedly private conversations at a volume that's broadcasting them to the whole street. I would feel super rude and brash doing the same thing, but in context it makes sense.

[@AnInterestedObserver]

It's true. India is a lovely country.

[@Thatguyjay4]

Aside from all the sexual assault and what not

[@sarahlewisphoenix4951]

I read years ago that the 'Indian head wobbling' is sort of a whole 'secret' language, but I didn't know that it's subconscious, that's really fascinating. So it's almost it's own micro-language, but an unintentional one.

[@antpat]

I think that secret, micro-language you are referring to is called body language.

[@sarahlewisphoenix4951]

@@antpat No, it's different than standard body language, as BL is something you see across the board in all humans. Indians' head wobbles are a different thing, sure it's technically 'a language using the body's movements', but it's not the same thing. At least in my opinion, I'm certainly not an expert.

[@sarahlewisphoenix4951]

@@poa2.0surface77 Well, I guess since YOU are just some guy on the internet, I should believe you?

[@Freakoticbbx]

Nicely put!

[@jclive2860]

It’s called the collective unconscious

[@marcohancock6063]

If you hold their head still, they can’t talk.

[@rohitraulkaru5839]

It's true

[@shanemorris3554]

Like when you hold an Italian's hands

[@theresagomez2605]

Lol

[@Riosgirl98]

I'm actually dead 😂

[@Riosgirl98]

​@@shanemorris3554And you sent me over the edge 😅😅😅

[@reneequalls5878]

It’s my favorite thing about Indian people! Idk why but I love it.

[@pawe1]

As an introvert these wobbles help me a lot, you don't need to say anything just wobble the head when a person asks a binary answer question and that's it.

[@enriksouls6636]

A yes or no question?

[@DrSpooglemon]

Yesn't

[@penultimania4295]

Introversion has nothing to do with being socially inept.

[@justduro1527]

As far as i know being a introvert is not the same as poor social skill or social anxiety

[@azuredystopia3751]

​@@justduro1527 they are concomitant though...which doesn't matter cos you were just being weirdly bitchy for no reason.

[@hiiiimymelody]

I loved this short explanation! And the gentleman who stuck his tongue out and grinned in the "acknowledge someone's presence" example just gave me SUCH joy!

[@timeghost5000]

This is great to know! I work in hotels and have lots of Indian guests and I’ve seen the head wobble without even knowing it was a cultural thing. I always thought I was being silently judged - or I wondered why someone would shake their head when it seemed like we were having a good convo. Thanks for the lesson lol!

[@TheAkilesh08]

As an Indian, the first time I was even aware that we do is when I moved to Thailand 🇹🇭 and my colleagues asked me the meaning of the head wobble 🤣

[@MsHSpring]

😂

[@m199-f3i]

I noticed this when I was watching a travel vlog to India. The foreign guy was vlogging and there was an Indian man doing "the wobble to acknowledge someone's presence" in the background. And the foreign guy do the same because he thought the guy was just dancing his head. That was cute and funny at the same time. 😂

[@Lukky_175]

Vlog link?

[@s.msadat8383]

It's a secret code for all Indian subcontinent residents

[@m199-f3i]

@@Lukky_175 I don't know. I forgot. I just watched random videos and my history is off.

[@Last-Ninja-1]

Nice vid. A little nod to India from me. UK here.

[@Kblmquist]

I work in healthcare. A few years ago the doctors office I worked at also had a machine for laser treatments like hair removal. We were allowed by the doctor to get trained and use it on patients. Sometimes patients would want early appointments when the doctor wasn’t around. One early morning a patient came in. The other girl started her treatment and I was just chatting with the patient. At one point she gets her debit card out and tells me to go to Starbucks and she’ll buy everyone a drink. She was Indian and I’m not, but jokingly she says don’t worry you’ll pass for me just make sure you wobble your head. 😂😂😂😂. Such a nice patient.

[@abdul-kabiralegbe5660]

😂😂. Great sense of humour.

[@bud384]

I would wobble my head while watching this video. That's my subconscious reaction to this video.

[@cherryfairyy]

same lol

[@jackspark1546]

🤢💩🐂🦧🤮

[@redrosey7829]

​@@jackspark1546stop being rude

[@jackspark1546]

@@redrosey7829 disgusting creatures

[@BLACK___NOIR___x]

​@@jackspark1546 bro got triggered😂🐒

[@manicpepsicola3431]

I love Indian people man I grew up around them in DFW, and they're so freaking nice.

[@cadijakareema]

I'm black American and we wobble our heads too. Yes no attitude what's up fight what's up and so much more it's humanity we are all connected🤣❤️

[@Blossom482]

You know what I am Indian and until now I thought that everyone wobbles their head.

[@somethingcreativeprobably5160]

​@@Blossom482same

[@jesusdavis2941]

It's a different wobble

[@jackspark1546]

We are not

[@jackspark1546]

💩🤢🤮🦧

[@chrislitmen]

Indians have an extra level of communication.

[@jackspark1546]

🐂🦧🦧💩💩🤢🤮

[@DrSpooglemon]

+2 charisma

[@alexbeardmore3588]

It's a wonderful non-verbal language. Sometimes the wobble adds emphasis, sometimes expresses a level of uncertainty. I've found it pretty adorable, a piece of Indian culture that makes me smile when I see it.

[@fredjackson8408]

Its funny because i work with a lot of Korean guys at my job and I instinctively do the head nod/bow procedure with them, and when one of my fellow americans point it out, it never registers to me that I did that 🤣

[@dollynina8992]

Koreans also instinctively say 'eoh eohh' repeatedly when you're explaining something to them and I've started doing it too without realising😂

[@Sid-69]

​@@dollynina8992 what does "eoh eoh" mean? It's it kind of like a "yes" or an "umm"?

[@dollynina8992]

@@Sid-69 I think it means like 'yeah' or 'yes'

[@brascoperryjoe6425]

A specific kind of head wobble is part of Classical Indian dance form Bharatnatyam called 'Shiroveda', mainly nine kinds. It was always a part of culture for a long time.

[@yanahakai]

Yes it may be related to the ancient exercises where people would activate their pineal glands through such movements.

[@M.A.S.8513]

So true. I love Indian culture

[@itstimetorise]

Even the gang rape?

[@psychedelicpegasus7587]

I find it really charming, and I especially appreciate the side to side wobble. A visual sign that someone is listening is really helpful.

[@Richa_cute]

I’m surprised that this is just an Indian thing. I thought every human in the world talks non-verbally like that. 😂

[@jessicalanggamez]

We do, it’s just more simple, straightforward (yes - up and down, no- side to side) and no wobble 😂

[@bradcohenski9207]

maybe bcoz ur an Indian @richa_cute

[@nitupriyadarshaninayak3014]

Same here I thought everyone does that. But ig not😂

[@hugoh.9694]

Nonverbal yes. But not with a head wobble. The West uses hands mostly.

[@HeatherBoo916]

We do just not a whole head roll lol

[@KristyRadio]

I love this. It's so genuine. Beautiful culture ❤

[@_mrk347_]

Thanks for awareing me i can't wobble my head now 😂😂

[@georgebasister1929]

I've worked for more than two decades in Saudi Arabia but never really decoded all through the years what all that head wobbling that my Indian officemates do really mean, but i felt all along that they do it subconsciously. Thanks for explaining.

[@lmao5070]

@@AA123TD but to other people it might look weird because they do other type of gesture to show that they acknowledge you. I do sounds

[@keishatackett4879]

I love it!! I hope to visit my Indian brothers and sisters someday. ❤

[@bluemoonerheart5316]

To be clear, head wobble indicates they are trying to relate or understand the assignment, whether yes or no. It also means "okay, no problem" as a yes or no. But yes simply is vertically down and no is horizontal. Vertically up means "what do you want". Slanted one means "yes, done"

[@OneEpicEric]

Do Indian women wobble their head when they have an orgasm?

[@savingday]

I love this... It is so universal.. in the sense that people of Indian descendants in my country also do this.. I love going to the Indian restaurant telling them my order and see them wobble in acknowledgement

[@haga1320]

It’s really amazing so see the different ways people behave when you travel. I lived on a island in the Caribbean for medical school and there we so many interesting differences between our cultures. My favorite was how if you passed somebody on the street, they would always greet you and ask how you are. They did this for friends and strangers alike. And if you ever simply said “I’m fine” they would stop and ask you what’s going on in your life because to them if anyone just said “fine” it meant something was wrong. Growing up in New York, it was a very huge difference in what I was used to, where you could even see friends in public and not say hi to each other 😅 My favorite experience tho was with this little girl at the public pool. About 98% of the population on the island is of African decent, so there are very few white people around and many children don’t even meet a white person before adulthood. This little girl was just so curious about me-asking me why my skin was so pale, playing with my lighter hair, and pointing out my freckles. She also kept taking off my sunglasses because she’d never seen blue eyes before and wanted to stare at them ❤

[@yashrohra394]

Beautiful!

[@selardohr7697]

I worked at a salon, and one day the front desk clerk told me my next client had "attitude" but i realized she was doing a head wobble, not the "girrrl, no she didn't" head wobble. Lol so funny that's it's the same gesture in 2 cultures but different meanings. I love humans.

[@sorayakapetti]

I met an Indian family as tourists in Zagreb, and helped them to find their way. I have taught them a little bit about some building etc as they were very interested in it. The father was wagging his head. I was a little confused and amused, but learned that this is a very positive gesture 👍😁

[@Cinnamoroll_8022]

U r right!! because I'm Indian

[@eesktv]

i dont like you

[@Eirlys0104]

The first time I met an Indian and she wobbled her head while I was talking to her I thought she was mocking me. So I stopped talking and she kept the subject going with replies and inputs on what I had said immediately while wobbling her head. I then thought she must be a little "crazy". Little did I know that this is an Indian thing and actually an act of politeness.

[@sm_artx]

That's true. We don't even know we do it. And we don't notice it in conversations either simply because it's second nature to us.

[@sarathchandravikas8062]

That Acknowledging someone's presence wobble is Goldennnnnnn❤❤❤❤

[@MsHSpring]

Have you guys seen “thanjavur thalai attu bommai”? Traditional wobble head doll of thanjavur of TN.. cute traditional couple with sweet smile and wobble heads 😊

[@rosalee477]

The wobble always makes me smile. I feel like it's done in good nature.

[@kornel4074]

The diagonal one is looks foking rude innit

[@anonymousperson8259]

Everyone standing there was so cute. They are beautiful people.

[@devdroid9606]

As someone from the Indian diaspora but having grown up in North America, I'd say this is quite accurate. To explain it to Americans, consider that in the Midwest they say, "uh huh..." quite often. However, depending on the context, it can mean ,"I acknowledge what you're saying", "I see," or even "You're welcome." This is quite confusing for anyone not from the area and even Indians visiting America. Even students frequently interacting with locals they don't know, in informal settings, may be thrown by "uh huh"!

[@richerDiLefto]

I’m a Midwestern white American and say “uh huh” a lot. Its meaning differs depending on the context and tone of voice. I don’t even think about it, it just slips out of my mouth. I usually use it when I help people with small things for which acknowledgment for their thanks with “you’re welcome” would be too formal. I consciously try not to do it too much because some people see it as rude or lazy, but for some situations it just fits.

[@agirlisnoone5953]

That's so interesting. I never even thought about that. Uh-huh is such a non-word.

[@childoftheuniverse1432]

I can't believe that people in other countries don't do this😂

[@jackspark1546]

💩🐂🐂🦧🤮💩🤢

[@carolinekamya2339]

lol

[@SweetTea742]

No we don't but I find it amazing 😊

[@ugwuanyicollins6136]

Why are you racist

[@sheikhtijanjeng4762]

We do. It in SeneGambian but it forward and backward. That's why I was somehow 😢when i visit india

[@garybaillie1805]

I love the Indian head wobble. It's relaxing 😌

[@happypriyavlogs5975]

The most enjoyable video abt INDIANS with no harm. And that last wobble for YES was so fun watching it😂😁

[@avrumietreuhafttravel]

I would nod to say that I enjoyed this video 😂

[@jackspark1546]

🐂🦧🤮💩🤢

[@47Kaay]

@@jackspark1546 🧑🏻‍🦲🗑️🤢🤮

[@47Kaay]

@@jackspark1546 incest 🧑🏻‍🦲🤮🤢🤢🤢

[@samanvayasrivastava559]

😂 as an Indian this was so much fun to watch… today I discovered something new about myself

[@johannaliceaga5936]

I’ve always wondered what’s the origin why it started and how because it’s so unique to their culture

[@truthfinder8652]

Bcz they're advanced aliens, they can communicate with each other without using any language..

[@lorettagrey7383]

@@truthfinder8652 🤣🤣🤣

[@billbaldwin8074]

Did you ever watch how elephants naturally wobble their heads? I wonder if the ancient and deep cultural relationship of India and elephants could be where the head wobble came from? Mahouts driving elephants to do the heavy work in India for millennia probably communicated with elephants in part through the head wobble and maybe that spread through the culture.

[@indiangirl4081]

​@@billbaldwin8074 u r not making any sense!

[@YinYanUzumaki]

Nodding the head keeps the energy in the frontal lobe and gives more focused mind -- that could be the origin of the excessive wobbling and nodding

[@chronicfatiguehermithiker3022]

I assumed that the quick side to side wobble meant a nurturing/contented approving feeling, it’s my favorite wobble. It makes me smile and feel joy when I see it. Am I right, though about what it means🧐.

[@user-cq8hw3ni7g]

Yes , it's like a quick "no problem/ say no more you / I Got it "

[@hugoh.9694]

I have always found the Indian head wobble mezmerizing and enchanting. ❤ especially when men do it because it is such a subtle and delicate gesture.

[@arkamaiti2284]

And here is Pankaj Tripathi who has turned this head bubbling into an art.

[@pam1001100]

Have you seen "Ludo" . Must watch for pankaj tripathi's sterling performance 🎉

[@kayden492]

साबाश बेटा

[@parvezshaikh9082]

बहोत बढिया

[@josueveguilla9069]

I've seen the Indian Head Wobble in Bollywood movies 😎👍

[@The13thSpiral]

Lol 😂 there are wobble dance moves too.

[@extinctoart]

What a wonderful and unique gesture! My Indian coworker does this a lot, and it confuses the hell out of our English boss lmao

[@almonds8895]

i love learning about small social differences like this! especially when it’s something the person doesn’t really notice when they’re doing it

[@xero_chance818]

This is a cool ass short. TBH, I have always wondered about this. Thank you

[@Pancakes4dindin]

I love it and think its Charming. Indian people are beautiful.

[@HG-ol1tq]

This is so wholesome ❤😂

[@getoffyoazz]

Write!, It's pretty sad when the world gets so filthy that we actually have to point out when there is a family-friendly post! LOL

[@azuredystopia3751]

​@@getoffyoazz Agree but there are some strangely aggressive replies to comments in this thread I don't understand it??

[@YSBEYOND]

I am also from head wobbling india 👍🔥❤️

[@jackspark1546]

🤢🤮🦧💩🐂

[@SpiritDragoness]

And if you live in India long enough, you will realise that it is also contagious.

[@user-dx9yi5ef9w]

Indians are humble and good people 😊.

[@TeeK94]

We love humble scammers 🙏🏼❤️

[@fruitygranulizer540]

@@TeeK94 the indian scammers u get in calls are less than 1% of the indian population. it's not even a valid stereotype.

[@TylerSmith-hs8xw]

Don't forget cheap. I don't blame them though, it's their culture.

[@stephenmani8495]

@@TylerSmith-hs8xw - No, it is not 'culture'. It is most often caused by poverty and paucity of resources. I am in the UK, and in recent times there has been a significant increase in shoplifting that has been reported here (Government statistics). Is it due to culture? Absolutely not. It is very clearly due to the increasing poverty levels in the last couple of years here in the UK, due to sharp inflation in prices, decline in wages, etc. Now, if that can happen in a relatively wealthy country like the UK, just think about what life must be like for the poor in developing countries.

[@TylerSmith-hs8xw]

No no, their culture is very cheap. It's really just that simple. I'm not shitting on them for it. It literally is just that way. @@stephenmani8495

[@duppalasaipreetham7499]

After you said to say yes , I wobbled my head 😂

[@raenelllewis89]

I have heard that the people of India are absolutely amazing! I wanna go so bad!!!

[@goodvibes-pw9xlVR]

What a fantastic life meeting so many awesomely interesting people. I would love to travel like this! 👌

[@yespls4184]

I love the head wobble! I think it's sort of just a way to emphasize things? Like Italians with their hand thing lol

[@DEVINdevdev]

can't take anyone seriously while wobbling their head. can you imagine godfather movie with head wobbling, :D that is so silly, you don't portray authority by shaking like a rabbit.

[@lmao5070]

@@DEVINdevdev I do understand you. I can't imagine someone with authority making noises like ahm to show that he's engaging or making the Italian hand moves

[@DEVINdevdev]

@@lmao5070 what are you talking about lol. never seen godfather ? you are comparing hand gestures to head wobbling, rofl.

[@ssr5745]

​@@DEVINdevdevare u psycho

[@lmao5070]

@@DEVINdevdev the one with the fingers touching each other and moving the hand up and down

[@bronzepistachio]

I'm not Indian but have had close Indian friends all my life & so I do it too, even when talking to non-Indians.

[@curoseba5363]

I loved that you highlighted on that. I always noticed that here in Canada. I found it son interesting. And to be honest if you hang out with them long enough it rubs off on you. It has happened to me. And I am Cuban living in Canada. Or maybe it’s just a mirroring thing during social gatherings to bond. We humans are so amazing. 😂

[@g4ur1b0y]

I'm Indian and my relatives do this all the time when they are talking to someone who is new to the country of sometimes just in general

[@Tokilainen]

"How are you?" *starts wobbling head*

[@darlenamacejewski2541]

Love this AND how they interact and share their way WITHOUT being offended! This is how we learn and embrace other cultures ❤

[@fredfinks]

Be careful embracing them though, some of the wobbly necks can be weak and prone to damage.