Please Stop Using “🤌🏼” Incorrectly – Sincerely, All Italians

With the rise in TikToks and Reels, you cannot log onto social media without seeing someone using “” totally incorrectly, and it has many Italians cringing. People are aggressively using their wrists to the beat of the infamous Che La Luna Mezzo Mare song. We think Lou Monte is turning in his grave.

Younger and even older generations across the world are making videos of themselves smiling with this hand gesture. So we would like to clarify what it means and when it should be used.  

What does it mean?

 “” means the following: 

• Ma che vuoi? (But what do you want?!)
• Ma che fai? (But what are you doing?!)
• Ma perché? (But why?!)
• Ma dove vai? (But where are you going?!)

When should it be used?

“” should be used when someone says or does something ridiculous and you’re confused. So basically, it’s appropriate to use it in reaction to people using it incorrectly in their TikToks. 

In the video below, Michele from Intrepid Italian with Michele explains more about Italian hand gestures.