Puerto Ricans have a very different way of communicating than the average American. They have their own cultural sign language. When I moved to Puerto Rico, it took me a little while to figure out the foreign body language. I was actually quite lost and had no idea what was going on.

So here is a translation if you plan on moving to or visiting Puerto Rico. It should help you out.

If they have a question about something you said or if they didn’t hear you very well they will crinkle their nose. It almost looks the same as when someone smells something that they don’t like. This is an important one to know because they will keep on wrinkling their nose at you until they get an answer. If you don’t understand this sign, you will just sit their looking like an idiot. On the flip side, it is pretty humorous to see someone wrinkling their nose over and over until they realize you have no idea what is going on.

Instead of pointing with their fingers they do it with their lips. You will usually see this when you ask someone where something is. Instead of saying it’s over there, they just point with their lips. I have also noticed the lip pointing when you walk up to a group of people. If someone wants to speak to just one person, they will point their lips at them. It looks like someone is puckering up for a kiss, except it is done quickly, probably less than a second.

I have also seen (twice) when someone gets angry while driving, they will throw one hand in the air. Both times the person’s window was down. The driver’s arm was already out of the window and they threw the arm up into the air very quickly. I have asked some of the locals here. They said it was an insulting gesture. I assume it is like giving someone the finger.