The Indian Head Wobble Explained

I’m black, and I worked closely in a research lab with a very kind and intelligent woman who was a native of southern India. Within six months of working with her, I began wobbling my head when I spoke (I’m not joking). That was 15 years ago, and I’m still wobbling! The instinct never left my body. I think it’s because I admired my former colleague so much.
Interestingly, I find that most people take my wobbling as a sign of endearment😊

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In college, this was the most common form of nonverbal communication aside from eye contact and eyebrow raising between myself and my Indian & Pakistani friends. It was crazy how quickly I picked it up 😂 Intercultural relationships are a Godsend.

It's the super low IQ

Here in america thats a meth head shske

I'm Brazilian and always thought this head wobble funny, but thought it was a "so-so" (here in Brazil we make this gesture when we say "more or less")... Now I think it's actually cute! I'm starting to work with some Indian folks and now I'll understand them better, thanks!

I can’t go to college. Just tell me to Sleep floors.

I sold solar for a while and in some areas they had big Indian communities and whenever I was there at the home to close the deal, I would always do little head wobbles when I wanted them to agree or when I wanted to show that I was agreeing … lol!

I was born in australia but my heritage is back in India.I just think it's so sweet that people try to understand us.Shows humanity.

This did not explain a god damn thing!

Freaks

No way yall haven't figured out how amazingly useful the neck is for unspoken communication.

I’m in sales and I assist a lot of Indian customers, the head wobble is definitely a thing. Especially when they are saying something in a matter of fact way. It’s cool how diverse the world is with all of our unique characteristics and tendencies.

It’s meant to advise people that they were swimming in the Ganges and picked up an ear infection…..

I live in houston and yes it is contagious 😂❤

Its so funny

So, there are degrees of wobble, speed, and cycling patterns. That's the expression. And then you have when and where. The context and reaction. Thank you for the explanation, makes total sense now.

I understand less now thanks

I love Indians, except when they phone scam me, then meh

2 places I will not ever visit, India and China

I love this.. and yes, it's very endearing.

Because of the great fish.

The only head wobble that pissed me off was seeing that guy on a 90-day fiance episode wobbling his head... Everyone else's wobble is ok.😊

I always wondered about this. I find it so endearing.

who's head wobbling right now?👇

i'm wondering if they have to see chiropractors less.

I think this is one of those things you have to do from birth to do naturally. I'm 40 and my neck muscles cannot move this fast and smooth. I end up awkwardly jerking around. the side to side nod where the head seem to move around the centre is what I can't do. I end with my head pivoting from the bottom.

Pretty sure all of them can repair my pc

I wish my country has this wobble because it's actually cute 🥰

Ohh wow, thank you for explaining this. I often wondered why they did that?

The stomach wobble while eating Indian food and sipping soup made of gastric juices seasoned with nail dirt and sprinkled with underarm dandruff

Of all the different cultures I've met honestly Indians have to be some of the nicest people I've ever met. Food is too damn spicy for my taste but hella great people😂.

thank you i am going to communicate with poohi now!

Hurts my neck bro

It hurts my skull to wobble diagonally?!😮 it feels like the brain liquid is rocking back and forth?!😢 how do these Indians do it daily?! Brain injury??😮

Watch movies from India, like RRR and the head wobble is every where. Now I notice other culture head wobbles too. Americans have a wobble, American indians too. Many Cultures have a head wobble. But not the Finns! In America, blacks introduced the chin up head wobble among men mostly. But now women do it too. Fascinating.

I LOVE the head wobble! I was searching for head massages and this blipped into my suggested search and I finally remembered that I've always wondered why it's a thing there, so THANK YOU! It makes me happy to know this is just humans embracing a part of expression.

You did not explain anything!

Tour Guide can tell you what this means we like you but no tip

In Hawaii we use the "Shaka" sign and it's used for all the stuff you said about the head wobble.

shit's too curry i ain't gonn do that

And what about the designated redeem wobble?

They will never have a stiff neck wich is for psychopaths

But you did not explain the mystery about a head wobble to a simple yes or no question.

Yeah it's subconscious..
We mediterranean talk with our hands .. and eqch gesture has a special meaning

Yo thats pretty cool to head wobble more expressivley.

Skills for Effective Negotiation course from UPEACE Centre for Executive Education brought me! 🤩

They wobble their heads to scare the flies 😂