Meaning
gesture, an act
- gesture, a sign, a movement
In a sentence
Il suo gesto mi ha fatto sorridere.
His gesture made me smile.
Che gesto hai fatto con la mano?
What gesture did you make with your hand?
Non capisco questo gesto, puoi spiegarmelo?
I don't understand this gesture, can you explain it to me?
Word forms (3)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| gesto | masculine · singular |
| gesti | masculine · plural |
| gesta | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use gesto for a physical or symbolic act; use atto for a formal deed, action, or legal act.
- For hand/body movement, gesto is common; movimento is broader and more mechanical, not necessarily communicative.
- A common pattern is fare un gesto, often with a + noun: fare un gesto di saluto, di stizza, di intesa.
- also le gesta (feminine plural, different meaning)