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French Sign Language
If you have visited France or watched French movies, you've certainly observed familiar as well as unfamiliar gestures. For instance:"Baiser la main", that is, a man kissing a woman's hand, a refined and sophisticated gesture. An advice: it's better if the lips don't touch the hand, but simply rest along its surface.
"Silence!/Chut!", or raising your finger in the air, an useful gesture if you want to let people know it's better if they shut up. With a little variation of this gesture (just wave your finger back and forth) you can emphasize you are going to say something important or to scold somebody.
"J'ai du nez", if you tap your nose using your index and say "J'ai du nez" or "J'ai du flair", your are boasting all your cleverness and your mental quickness.
"Pardon!": say this while covering your mouth with both hands and you are apologizing or indicating that you have messed up.
"Aoe, aoe !": say this while holding up your hand, palm facing your chest and shake it up and down rapidly; this means that someone is in trouble.
"Faire la bise": "La bise" or "le bisou" means "kiss". This is what you should do when you are introduced to a new person. It will result very French, as French friends exchange kisses on alternating cheeks upon meeting and separating.
"Ripitez": To ask someone to repeat something they said, a French speaker may hold up a slightly cupped hand behind the ear.
"Ça pue!", this, together with two fingers holding your nose, indicates that something reeks or is disgusting.
"Bouche cousue" To say "mum's the word," "keep it under your hat," or "zip your lips," use the motus et bouche cousue gesture. Hold your thumb and forefinger together and move them across your lips.
"Du fric" To indicate that you need money or that something is expensive, hold out your hand with your fingers and thumb touching, and rub your thumb across your fingertips.
"Ferme-la!", This gesture is very appropriate when you want to say "Shut your mouth!". It consists in holding your hand resembling a C and squeezing the fingers and thumb together.
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