Video calls have made it easier than ever to talk to people across borders, time zones, and cultures. But one thing they have not done is erase the deeply rooted differences in how people use body language. When the camera is on, every nod, wave, and hand sign travels with it — and depending on who is watching, it can land very differently than intended.
This is not a hypothetical problem. It happens in real conversations, between real people, often without either side realising what went wrong.
The Gestures That Travel the Worst
Body language does not translate as cleanly as words. Certain gestures carry such different meanings across cultures that a well-intentioned signal in one country becomes an offence in another.
The Thumbs-Up
In the United States and across most of Western Europe, a thumbs-up signals approval. In many Middle Eastern cultures, the same gesture carries a meaning closer to an obscenity. Thanks to Hollywood and social media, it has begun shifting among younger generations in some of these regions, but it is still far from safe to assume.
The OK Sign
Forming a circle with the thumb and index finger usually means “perfect” in the US. In France, it can signal that something is worthless. In Japan, depending on context, it can be read as a reference to money. In Brazil, it carries a meaning similar to giving someone the middle finger, and in Turkey, it can be taken as a sexually insulting reference.
The Beckoning Finger
Curling the index finger with the palm facing up is a standard “come here” gesture in the US and parts of Europe. In China, East Asia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, it is considered rude. In the Philippines specifically, this motion is used mainly to call dogs, and directing it at a person is a serious insult.
The Open Palm Wave
A wave of the hand is a friendly greeting in most countries. In Greece, an open palm wave is one of the strongest insults, known as the “moutza.” In Japan, waving the hand side to side with the palm forward typically means “no” rather than “hello.”
These are only the most documented cases — many more variations exist at the regional and even city level.
Head Movements Are Not Universal Either
Most people assume nodding means yes and shaking the head means no. That assumption breaks down in several countries, and when it does, a 1vs1 chat between two people from different cultural backgrounds can produce genuine confusion without either person knowing why.
In Bulgaria, the pattern is fully reversed: a horizontal head movement means “yes” and a vertical head movement means “no.” In Greece and Cyprus, a single upward nod — often accompanied by a raise of the eyebrows — indicates disagreement. Someone can believe they are getting a clear yes and be receiving a clear no, with neither party aware that anything went wrong.
A Quick Reference: Same Gesture, Different Meaning
The gestures below are among the most widely misread in cross-cultural video conversations — familiar in one context, problematic in another.
| Gesture | Common meaning (US/Western Europe) | Different meaning elsewhere |
| Thumbs-up | Approval | Offensive in Middle East and parts of West Africa |
| OK sign | All good | Obscene in Brazil, Turkey; “money” in Japan |
| Beckoning finger | Come here | Insult in the Philippines, Singapore |
| Open palm wave | Hello / goodbye | Serious insult in Greece |
| Head nod up-down | Yes | No in Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey |
Awareness of these differences does not guarantee smooth communication, but it prevents a gesture from becoming the most memorable part of a conversation for the wrong reasons.
How to Avoid Misreads on a Cross-Cultural Call
In face-to-face settings, physical proximity and surrounding context help fill in the gaps. On a video call, the frame is small, and the context is stripped back. A hand movement that might go unnoticed in a room becomes the focal point of the screen.
The safest habit when talking to someone from a different country is to let words carry the heavier load, especially early on. Gestures reinforce what is already understood, but they are a poor substitute for directness. Saying “I agree” is unambiguous in a way that a thumbs-up simply is not.
When something feels unclear, naming it works better than performing it. A simple “just to confirm, is that a yes?” takes two seconds and sidesteps the kind of confusion that can quietly derail an otherwise good conversation.
When there is profile context available before a call — a visible location, shared interests, or cultural background — a quick glance is enough to reframe a nod or a wave correctly. When there is no prior context, staying attentive during the conversation is enough. A moment of confusion is usually visible — a pause, a surprised reaction, a slight shift in tone. Catching it early and naming it directly tends to resolve the issue before it does any real damage to the conversation.
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