If you are about to visit another country, you’ve probably already started studying a guidebook with information on essential words and phrases to know.

But interpreting body language correctly is just as important for effective communication in any nation.

Before you travel, take a look at some of the major differences in body language from one culture to another, and find out why it is so important to pay attention to more than just speech when you’re in another country.

Thumbs Up

When you want to show someone your approval, you can confidently make the thumbs up gesture in the US, UK, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Denmark and Australia, since each of these cultures interpret it to mean agreement/positive affirmation.

In Germany, Hungary and China, you may not convey the same sentiment, but you’re unlikely to offend anyone. The meaning of the thumbs up signal depends on context in these countries, but it is usually positive since it can mean anything from “You’re number one” to “Good luck.” In Brazil, it means “Thanks.”

However, in Iran, Greece and Sardinia, the thumbs up sign is comparable to giving the middle finger in the US. In addition, people in many areas of South America and West Africa interpret this gesture to essentially mean “Up yours!”

This is exactly why interpreting body language properly can help you avoid offending people in other cultures — you wouldn’t want to accidentally flip someone off!

Shaking the Head No and Nodding Yes

If you’re unfamiliar with the language of the country you plan to visit, you’ll likely be doing a lot of nodding and pointing. That’s why you should make sure that nodding means what you think it does.

In the US, we think it’s universally known that shaking your head from side to side clearly means “No,” while nodding the head up and down means “Yes.” The same goes for China, Canada, Mexico, and most parts of Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

But, there are some exceptions. Pay close attention when interpreting body language while you are traveling in other countries. In Greece, for example, tilting the head first to the left and then to the right means “Yes.” Tilting the head up and back means “No.”

Similarly, in Bulgaria and Albania, a head shake means “Yes” while nodding means “No.” Residents of Saudi Arabia shake the head to say “Yes” and tip the head back to say “No.” And in Iran, dipping the head down indicates “Yes” while jerking the chin upward means “No.”

Communicating Through Touch

If you like to communicate using physical contact during conversations, interpreting body language first is important. You might end up offending someone or looking very out of place in some countries.

In general, the following countries encourage physical touch in most settings: Iran, India, France, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Russia and most of Latin America. More specifically, many Saudi Arabians express their respect for others by holding hands or even grasping the respected person’s elbow.

Just take note that most Arabian men only touch other men — not women — when they greet each other or hold hands.

In addition, in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, touching people on the head is considered a faux pas. On the other hand, certain countries do not encourage people to touch others unless they know each other well. Generally, this goes for the US, UK, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Northern Europe.

If you’re traveling for business, you may want to consider obtaining professional interpreting services. A professional interpreter can make sure there are no misunderstandings between you and your associates, whether your communications are verbal or via body language.

Have you traveled internationally, for business, school or otherwise? Share with us any other cultural customs you’ve encountered that made you realize the importance of interpreting body language.