A nod of the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_head">head</a> is a <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesture">gesture</a> in which the head is tilted in alternating up and down arcs along the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittal_plane">sagittal plane</a>. In many <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture">cultures</a>, it is most commonly, but not universally, used to indicate <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus">agreement</a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance">acceptance</a>, or acknowledgement.There are few exceptions with some countries swapping the meanings between nodding and shaking head: in Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania a single nod of the head up (not down) indicates a "no".

What country nods to say no?

<div dir="ltr">This article needs additional citations for <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability" dir="ltr">verification</a>. (July 2007)</div>A nod of the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_head" title="Human head" dir="ltr">head</a> is a <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesture" title="Gesture" dir="ltr">gesture</a> in which the head is tilted in alternating up and down arcs along the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittal_plane" title="Sagittal plane" dir="ltr">sagittal plane</a>. In many <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture" title="Culture" dir="ltr">cultures</a>, it is most commonly, but not universally, used to indicate <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus" title="Consensus" dir="ltr">agreement</a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance" title="Acceptance" dir="ltr">acceptance</a>, or acknowledgement.
<img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Nodding_gesture.gif/100px-Nodding_gesture.gif" width="100" height="149"><div class="caption">A depiction of a man nodding</div><h2>Contents</h2><h2 onclick="mfTempOpenSection(1)">To indicate acceptance</h2>Different cultures assign different meanings to the gesture. Nodding to indicate "yes" is widespread, and appears in a large number of diverse cultural and <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_groups" title="Linguistic groups" dir="ltr">linguistic groups</a>. Areas in which nodding generally takes this meaning include the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent" title="Indian subcontinent" dir="ltr">Indian subcontinent</a> (note that the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_bobble" title="Head bobble" dir="ltr">head bobble</a> also shows agreement there), the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East" title="Middle East" dir="ltr">Middle East</a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia" title="Southeast Asia" dir="ltr">Southeast Asia</a>, most of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" title="Europe" dir="ltr">Europe</a> (see below), <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America" title="South America" dir="ltr">South America</a> and <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" title="North America" dir="ltr">North America</a>. Nodding may also be used as a sign of recognition in some areas, or to show respect. An insult may be inferred if it is not returned in kind.
In Greece, the single nod of the head down that indicates "yes" is often combined with closing the eyes simultaneously. This nod commonly also includes a very slight, almost unnoticeable, turn of the head to the left (or to the right).
An early survey of nodding and other gestures was The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, written by <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin" title="Charles Darwin" dir="ltr">Charles Darwin</a> in 1872. Darwin wrote to <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionaries" title="Missionaries" dir="ltr">missionaries</a> in many parts of the world asking for information on local gestures, and concluded that nodding for "yes" was common to many different groups.
There are varying theories as to why nodding is so frequently used to indicate acceptance. One simple theory is that it is a form of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing_(social)" title="Bowing (social)" dir="ltr">bowing</a>, indicating that one is prepared to accept what another person is saying or requesting.[<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" dir="ltr">citation needed</a>] It has also been stated<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-1" dir="ltr">[1]</a> that <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant" title="Infant" dir="ltr">babies</a>, when hungry, search for milk by moving their heads vertically, but decline milk by turning their head from side to side.
<h2 onclick="mfTempOpenSection(2)">To indicate refusal</h2>There are several exceptions: in <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece" title="Greece" dir="ltr">Greece</a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus" dir="ltr">Cyprus</a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran" dir="ltr">Iran</a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey" dir="ltr">Turkey</a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria" dir="ltr">Bulgaria</a>,<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-2" dir="ltr">[2]</a> a single nod of the head up (not down) indicates a "no". Some cultures also swap the meanings between nodding and <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_shake" title="Head shake" dir="ltr">head shaking</a>.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-3" dir="ltr">[3]</a>Specifically in Greece and in Cyprus, the single nod of the head up that indicates "no" is almost always combined with a simultaneous raise of the eyebrows and most commonly also with a slight (or complete) rolling up of the eyes. There is also a sound that sometimes accompanies the whole gesture, called "τσου" (tsou). This sound bears heavy resemblance, but is not identical, to the British <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tut-tut" title="Tut-tut" dir="ltr">tutting</a> sound. The use of "τσου" is optional and reserved only for heavy emphasis on the "no".[<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" dir="ltr">citation needed</a>]The emphasis on the raised eyebrows and the rolling up of the eyes is such, that the actual nod of the head upwards has ended up being of secondary importance. A person can denote "no" by simply raising their eyebrows and rolling up their eyes, with the head staying completely still.[<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" dir="ltr">citation needed</a>]<h2 onclick="mfTempOpenSection(3)">As greeting</h2>Nodding can also be used as a form of nonverbal greeting or acknowledgement of another's presence; in this context, it is essentially an especially mild form of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing" title="Bowing" dir="ltr">bowing</a>, with just enough movement to show a degree of respect without additional formality. This includes the traditional downwards nod, or the upwards nod (which is more informal and usually used among friends or subordinates). To increase the formality, the downwards nod may also be accompanied by a suitable verbal greeting.
In <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/America" title="America" dir="ltr">America</a>, men often greet other men with whom they make <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_contact" title="Eye contact" dir="ltr">eye contact</a> using a nod. This greeting is often referred to as "the nod". It has been claimed that "many men feel a great deal can be intuited from the gesture [...] replete with all sorts of little nuances."<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-4" dir="ltr">[4]</a><h2 onclick="mfTempOpenSection(4)">Nodding syndrome</h2>Nodding is also a symptom of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodding_disease" title="Nodding disease" dir="ltr">nodding disease</a>, a yet unexplained disease. It affects mostly children under 15, and was first documented in Tanzania in 1962.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-5" dir="ltr">[5]</a>

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needs additional citations for <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification </a>

A nod of the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_head">head </a>is a <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesture">gesture </a>in which the head is tilted in alternating up and down arcs along the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittal_plane">sagittal plane </a>. In many <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture">cultures </a>, it is most commonly, but not universally, used to indicate <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus">agreement </a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance">acceptance </a>, or acknowledgement.

Different cultures assign different meanings to the gesture. Nodding to indicate "yes" is widespread, and appears in a large number of diverse cultural and <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_groups">linguistic groups </a>. Areas in which nodding generally takes this meaning include the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent">Indian subcontinent </a>(note that the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_bobble">head bobble </a>also shows agreement there), the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East">Middle East </a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia">Southeast Asia </a>, most of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe">Europe </a>(see below), <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America">South America </a>and <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America">North America </a>. Nodding may also be used as a sign of recognition in some areas, or to show respect. An insult may be inferred if it is not returned in kind.

In Greece, the single nod of the head down that indicates "yes" is often combined with closing the eyes simultaneously. This nod commonly also includes a very slight, almost unnoticeable, turn of the head to the left (or to the right).

An early survey of nodding and other gestures was The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals , written by <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin">Charles Darwin </a>in 1872. Darwin wrote to <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionaries">missionaries </a>in many parts of the world asking for information on local gestures, and concluded that nodding for "yes" was common to many different groups.

There are varying theories as to why nodding is so frequently used to indicate acceptance. One simple theory is that it is a form of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing_(social)">bowing </a>, indicating that one is prepared to accept what another person is saying or requesting.[<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed">citation needed </a> ] It has also been stated<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-1">[1] </a> that <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant">babies </a>, when hungry, search for milk by moving their heads vertically, but decline milk by turning their head from side to side.

There are several exceptions: in <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece">Greece </a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus">Cyprus </a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran">Iran </a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey">Turkey </a>, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria">Bulgaria </a>,<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-2">[2] </a> a single nod of the head up (not down) indicates a "no". Some cultures also swap the meanings between nodding and <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_shake">head shaking </a>.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-3">[3] </a>

Specifically in Greece and in Cyprus, the single nod of the head up that indicates "no" is almost always combined with a simultaneous raise of the eyebrows and most commonly also with a slight (or complete) rolling up of the eyes. There is also a sound that sometimes accompanies the whole gesture, called "τσου" (tsou). This sound bears heavy resemblance, but is not identical, to the British <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tut-tut">tutting </a>sound. The use of "τσου" is optional and reserved only for heavy emphasis on the "no".[<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed">citation needed </a> ]

The emphasis on the raised eyebrows and the rolling up of the eyes is such, that the actual nod of the head upwards has ended up being of secondary importance. A person can denote "no" by simply raising their eyebrows and rolling up their eyes, with the head staying completely still.[<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed">citation needed </a> ]

Nodding can also be used as a form of nonverbal greeting or acknowledgement of another's presence; in this context, it is essentially an especially mild form of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing">bowing </a>, with just enough movement to show a degree of respect without additional formality. This includes the traditional downwards nod, or the upwards nod (which is more informal and usually used among friends or subordinates). To increase the formality, the downwards nod may also be accompanied by a suitable verbal greeting.

In <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/America">America </a>, men often greet other men with whom they make <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_contact">eye contact </a>using a nod. This greeting is often referred to as "the nod". It has been claimed that "many men feel a great deal can be intuited from the gesture [...] replete with all sorts of little nuances."<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-4">[4] </a>

Nodding is also a symptom of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodding_disease">nodding disease </a> , a yet unexplained disease. It affects mostly children under 15, and was first documented in Tanzania in 1962.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nod_(gesture)#cite_note-5">[5] </a>

Nod (gesture) - Wikipedia

What country nods to say no?

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