Video:Learn French: 5 Common Familiar French Gestures
with Milo De PrietoUsing French hand gestures will bring you so much closer to fluency, just be sure you know what they mean and the correct context. Learn 5 French gestures to use with people close to you in this how-to video from About.com.See Transcript
Transcript:Learn French: 5 Common Familiar French Gestures
Bonjour I'm Milo for About.com and today we are talking about 5 familiar French gestures. These examples and more can be found on our French site. You'll also find a couple more helpful videos on the subject.
Remember these gestures and expressions are for people you are familiar with. They're not for everyone.
Signaling that Someone is in Trouble in French
Aïe, aïe - Whether you're talking about yourself or someone else, this signals that someone's in trouble.
Il est rentré à 7h du matin. Aïe aïe aïe, il a un gros problème. He came home at 7 in the morning. Aïe aïe aïe, he's in trouble.
Gesturing for Someone to be Quiet in French
Camembert - There are a few names for this gesture that asks someone to shut up. Obviously use it in only the most familiar situations.
Je suis en ligne avec le bureau, tais-toi! I'm on the phone with the office, shut up!
Hand Gesture to Express Craziness in French
Il est cinglé - The motion that expresses craziness has some other names as well, but the gesture is fairly universal. Il s'est reconcilié avec sa fiancée malgré qu'elle le traite mal.
Il est cinglé. He got back together with his fiancée even though she treats him badly. He is crazy.
Hand Gesture to End a Conversation in French
Je m'en fous - This gesture/phrase combination pretty much ends the conversation. You simply don't care.
Il ne s'est pas bien habillé pour sa fête ce soir. Je m'en fous. He didn't dress well for his own party tonight. I don't care.
Gesturing that Someone is a Pain in French
Quelle barbe -Evoking the idea that a beard can be rough, this gesture refers more to someone's behavior or personality than facial hair.
Elle ne peut pas s'arrêter de parler de sa nouvelle maison, et au combien elle est meilleure que les autres. Quelle barbe! She can't stop talking about her new house and how it's so much better than everyone else's. What a pain!
For more helpful and excellent information on speaking and learning French, check us out at About.com.