Reversed Gestures for Yes and No

In many cultures around the world, including Western cultures, nodding the head is associated with a positive response or agreement. Usually, someone who agrees with something or expresses consent will move or nod their head up and down. In Bulgarian culture, however, this gesture is reversed. Here, turning the head from left to right is interpreted as confirmation or a positive response, while nodding is understood as a negative sign or refusal. Bulgarians are therefore distinctive in their own way in this aspect of non-verbal communication, which can cause misunderstandings when communicating with foreigners.