Words for Body Language

 

1. Gestures:

• Hand wave
• Finger wag
• Thumbs up/down
• Pointing
• Clapping
• Air quotes
• Fist bump
• High five
• Handshake
• Shrugging
• Facepalm

2. Walking:

• Stride
• Shuffle
• Stroll
• Swagger
• Saunter
• March
• Limp
• Drag
• Trot
• Gallop

3. Postures:

• Slouching
• Upright
• Cross-legged
• Leaning
• Hunched
• Arms crossed
• Hands on hips
• Kneeling
• Sitting
• Lying down

4. Facial expressions:

• Smirk
• Frown
• Scowl
• Grimace
• Raised eyebrows
• Furrowed brow
• Pursed lips
• Wide-eyed
• Squint
• Wink

5. Eye behaviour:

• Darting eyes
• Eye contact
• Eye rolling
• Glaring
• Gazing
• Staring
• Blinking
• Looking away

6. Proxemics (personal space):

• Intimate distance
• Personal distance
• Social distance
• Public distance
• Encroaching
• Withdrawing

7. Touch (haptics):

• Pat
• Stroke
• Caress
• Hug
• Kiss
• Tickle
• Pinch
• Slap

8. Tone of voice (paralanguage):

• Whisper
• Mumble
• Murmur
• Stammer
• Shout
• Monotone
• High-pitched
• Low-pitched
• Soothing
• Harsh

9. Body movements (kinesics):

• Nodding
• Head shake
• Tapping foot
• Drumming fingers
• Twirling hair
• Biting nails
• Pacing
• Swinging arms