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French Gestures ~ Les gestes français

Understanding and using French gestures

If you've ever been to France or watched French movies, you've undoubtedly seen French people performing some familiar gestures as well as a few unfamiliar ones. While some gestures are vulgar, others are as innocuous as shaking or nodding one's head.

In any case, it is as essential to understand this French "sign language" as it is any vocabulary. These pages include photos, explanations, and register ratings for 45 gestures.
 

French gestures by lesson   Top 10 French gestures
   Lesson 1 (21 gestures)
   Lesson 2 (14 gestures)
   Lesson 3 (10 gestures)
  Among the dozens of gestures and facial expressions in these lessons, there are ten that really stand out.

 
French gestures by register
(what is register?)
Note that some gestures have different names and are thus listed more than once.

Normal Informal Familiar
Use with anyone Use only with people you tutoie  Use only with close friends
A peu près Alors, là Aïe, aïe
Baiser la main Au poil Barrons-nous
C'est fini Bises Bisque !
Chut Bof Camembert
J'ai du nez Bouche cousue Ça pue
On a sommeil C'est nul C'est pas donné
Parfait Comme-ci, comme-ça Clapet
Pardon Délicieux Du fric
Répétez Faire la bise / le bisou Ferme-la !
Se serrer la main Faire la moue Il est cinglé
Silence Gallic shrug Je m'en fous
Téléphone Je le jure Mon oeil !
Se tourner les pouces J'en ai ras le bol On se tire
Un, deux, trois S'en jeter un derrière la cravate Pied de nez
  Magnifique Que dalle !
  Motus et bouche cousue Quelle barbe !
La moue Verre dans le nez
Nul  
On boit
Passer sous le nez
Poil dans la main
Qu'est-ce qu'il chante, là ? Vulgar - Offensive
Ras-le-bol Use with extreme care
Rien Le bras d'honneur
Shrug Cocu
Sous le nez Va te faire foutre
Victoire
Zéro

  

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