If you are the proud parent of a teen or a tween, you already know that they practically have their own language — and of course, as adults, we're totally not privy to it. After all, when we were tweens, we had our own slang that our parents didn't understand just like our kids do now, but things get even more confusing when it comes to their many hand gestures.
What are they actually saying, and what's the deal with these hand signals? Should parents be worried or is this all just innocent teenage fun? In the end, it's probably a little bit of both. While some, like the peace sign, have been around forever, others have meanings that are a bit more disturbing — and are probably something parents should know about.
Of course, every parent will be relieved to know some things haven't changed that much since we were kids, but beware, a few of these are not exactly safe for work or little kids! Don't believe us? Read on to find out why the heck no one is supposed to look when kids touch the tip of their thumb to the tips of their other four fingers …
Peace Sign
Some things really never change, do they? And we're thankful for that, because that means we know at least some of what our kids are doing with their hands! The same peace sign the hippies used at Woodstock is popular with kids today, and yep, it still means "peace" — and it's still a frequent fixture of teen selfies.
Two-Finger Salute
It looks like a peace sign, but notice you see the back of the fingers, not the front? That's rumored to be the equivalent of the middle finger in Britain. And even if you live in the US, you might have seen this one once or twice.
Then again, for some kids, it's just a peace sign — so don't jump to conclusions.
V Sign
Here's where things start to get a little dicey, because even though this gesture looks like a peace sign, it couldn't be farther from it. The innocent two fingers get naughty when you bring the tongue into play, changing the meaning of the sign. If you hadn't already guessed, this one is suggestive of oral sex.
Heart
Looks like a heart, doesn't it? That's because it is — and take a deep breath, because we promise, that's all there is to it if you see your kid flashing this sign up in a photo. This generally means "I love you," and it was popularized even further by celebrities like Taylor Swift.
Hole
This is a silly game teenagers play (though not all of them will necessarily be in on it). The goal is not to look at this hand sign. If you do, you're bound to get sucker-punched, which obviously, nobody wants. Want it to go away? You have to try to stick your index finger in the hole — without looking.
Hook 'Em Horns
Don't worry — even though this hand signal has the word "horns" in it, the gesture is not meant to be demonic. Actually, it's just a sign of having a good time — as innocent as could be. You'll tend to see this one at concerts, though us old folks probably see this and think, "rock on."
Middle Finger
Yes, the middle finger turned sideways means the same exact thing as the traditional finger in the air, just as it has for decades before we were raising our teens today. Sometimes teens do this because it's less obtrusive — essentially they're hoping not to get caught flipping someone the bird.
Loser
You probably know this one already, But just in case you don't, the "L" is for loser! This is a sign that has somehow managed to survive through multiple generations of teens — including us when we were our kids' age. Hey, just as long as they're not throwing up that "L" to us …
You Ate It
This is a creative one — and definitely not something that existed when we were in middle and high school! It's a game, sort of — when some burps or farts, some teens put their hand to their forehead like this. The last person to do so is the person who "ate" the aforementioned flatulence.
I Love You
Similar in meaning to the heart, this sign is pretty self explanatory, especially since it's taken directly from American Sign Language. If you see your kid flashing this sign, usually to one of their friends, this simply means "I love you." Fortunately, nothing to worry about here!
Peace … Sideways
This sign doesn't mean anything scandalous — it's just a peace sign on its side. Yes, it's sideways, but if you thought that changes the meaning of the gesture, it's actually not that complicated at all. The sideways peace sign actually means the same thing as the traditional peace sign.
This
The sign itself is pretty meaningless, and kids just call it "this." The game is to try to get people to look at "this," at which point you make fun of them. Yes, it's as silly as it sounds — as if teenagers need to have a reason to make fun of someone (and as their parents, we're usually their target).
Ice in My Veins
This hand signal emerged on TikTok, though it comes from the sports world. It was originally started by Los Angeles Lakers player D'Angelo Russell, who put two fingers on his arm to show that he's cold-blooded, but kids have taken the signal and absolutely run wild with it.
Talking on the Phone
If you see your kid put their hand up to their ear, keeping it totally flat, that means that they're pretending to talk on the phone. No, it's not how we would do it, since we're used to actually using a landline, but for tweens who have only used smartphones, this is how it's done.
Fist Bump
Here's another classic hand gesture that hasn't changed meanings through the generations! Teens and tweens still fist bump each other, and yes, it's still used as a greeting between friends (and sometimes, even with us, if we're lucky). Nothing exciting to see here — sorry to disappoint.
Chef's Kiss
Here's another hand gesture that's been around forever that is also having a resurgence with today's teens and tweens. The chef's kiss gesture is meant to show that something — food or otherwise — is perfect, and while it can apply to almost anything, it's usually solidly innocent.
Two Fingers Together
The two fingers together motion can be used in real life, or even in emoji form. It means that they're shy — too shy to say what they're thinking, or that they're busy working up the nerve to share whatever's on their mind. Fortunately, that means the sign is pretty innocent!
