If the risqué title caught your attention, don’t be disappointed that the topic of the moment has nothing to do with sexual behavior.

Instead, it’s a primer on clean, non-verbal communication in Mexico, as expressed through hand gestures.  This is practical knowledge that doesn’t require learning new vocabulary or mastering pronunciation.

No: Close your hand, hold up your index finger and wag it back and forth. This simple negative signal will firmly dispatch a street vendors or anyone offering something you don’t want.

Sí / yes: On the contrary, crook the index finger and wiggle it up and down to show your acceptance or agreement.

Gracias / thank you:  Show the back of the hand with fingers turned up to express appreciation for an act of kindness, such as another driver who lets you squeeze into traffic.  Ironically, it’s also a way to say “no thanks, I’ll pass” when someone invites you share a cigarette, stick of gum, a cup of coffee, etc.

Pásale / go ahead: To signal the right of way to the other driver waiting to turn across traffic or pedestrians trying to cross the road, hold out your hand perpendicular to the body  and wave them through  with several flicks of the wrist.

Venga, adelante / come here or come ahead: Extend the hand out, palm down, using the wrist to wave fingers towards your body.

Momentito / just a sec: Say, “hold on, be right with you” by sticking out the index finger and thumb below separated about an inch apart.

Dinero / mulla:  Flip the previous sign with finger and thumb crooked, widening the gap between them as if gripping a wad of bills.

Codo / tight wad: Comment on someone’s excessive frugality by bending the right arm upwards with fist closed and tapping the elbow with the palm of your left hand.   

Llámame / call me: Stick out the pinky and thumb above, with other fingers folded in, and hold your hand up between the mouth and ear.

Toma / down the hatch: Hold up the thumb and pinky vertically and tilt toward the mouth to say “let’s have a drink” or to point out someone who’s wasted.

La cuenta / the bill, please: Diners indicate they’re ready to pay and go by catching the eye of the waiter, pressing together the tips of the index finger and thumb and scribbling in the air.

Ojo / watch out: Holding up the index finger and pulling the skin just below the eye is the sign for pay attention, be careful.

Esa altura / this high: Gestures for indicating height are a bit tricky, depending upon the object of reference. If it’s about a person, press the thumb next to the extended index finger and raise them vertically to the appropriate level. For an animal, hold all fingers with the thumb up perpendicular to the body to show the creature’s height.  For inanimate objects, extend an open hand with palm turned down and raise to measure.

¿Quién sabe? / who knows?: Hold up hands, palm upwards and shrug the shoulders.

Mas ó menos / more or less: Extend  the hand palm down and tilt it back and forth.

Bien / good: The universal “thumbs up” gesture is understood by all Spanish-speakers, more so nowadays thanks to wide adoption of Facebook’s “like” symbol. It’s best to avoid the classic hand sign for okay, which may be interpreted to mean an ugly part of the human anatomy.