5 Russian Gestures To Help You Understand the Locals

A flick on the neck 

When you see someone bending their neck slightly and flicking the side of it with their finger, congratulations, you’ve got an invitation. This is an exclusively Russian gesture meaning “Let’s have a drink”. It can also be used to allude to someone being drunk without saying it out loud. Overall, it’s a playful, informal sign usually used among friends – definitely not how you’d ask your crush out for a drink!

One of the most intriguing origin stories traces this sign back to the St. Petersburg of Peter the Great. According to legend, ship carpenters who did a great job were given a stamped mark on their neck, which entitled them to a free shot of vodka at local taverns.

A head scratch

Scratching the back of the head is a common gesture used to express confusion, often paired with a pensive or preoccupied facial expression. Some jokingly say this kind of scratch helps "stimulate the brain" to solve a problem, while others see it as a way to buy some time before giving an answer. Sometimes, though, the answer won’t follow – in this case, consider it as a silent “I don’t know.”

Fig

When you put your thumb between your index finger and middle finger and form a fist, you make a gesture known as a fig (фига). There are other names it goes by, including кукиш (kukish), шиш (shish), or дуля (dulya). What do you use it for in Russia? Usually, it’s a firm way of saying “No way” or “You won’t get anything.” Think of it as a localized and slightly more polite version of giving someone the finger. Nowadays, it's still well-known, but rarely used by younger generations.

A fist

If someone waves a fist at you, it’s rarely a good sign. More likely, it signals a threat or warning of physical force. It’s a classic “Watch it!” gesture. In Russian culture, it can be a way for parents to playfully discipline children, or it might appear in heated moments as a sign that things could escalate into a fight. A vivid example of the proper use of this gesture can be found in the classic cartoon Well, Just You Wait!, a Soviet counterpart of Tom and Jerry: the main character, the Wolf, waves his fists in frustration every time his nemesis, Hare, slips away.

Twisting a finger near the temple 

As in many other cultures, twisting your index finger in place near your temple is a way to say someone is acting crazy. There might be different tones of showing it – from joking to offensive, and its meaning can be either literal or figurative. Most often, it’s used to comment on silly or irrational behavior rather than someone’s actual mental health.