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The V sign is a hand gesture in which the index and middle fingers are raised and parted, while the other fingers are clenched. It has various meanings, depending on the cultural context and how it is presented. It is most commonly used to represent the letter V as in "victory", as a symbol of peace (usually with palm outward), as an offensive gesture (palm inward), and to represent the number two. It was adopted by the 1960s counterculture movement as a sign for peace.
The V for Victory campaign and the victory/freedom sign3.1 Vietnam War, victory and peace3.2 V sign in photographs of Japanese3.3 V sign in Korea and Taiwan
Singer Robbie Williams using a V sign with palm facing signer as an insult.
Singer Rihanna using the V sign as a peace and friend sign.
2009 Iranian election protests
The sign's meaning depends in part on the way the hand is positioned. With the palm of the hand facing the signer (i.e. back of the hand facing the observer), it can mean:
An insult – largely restricted to the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.[1][2]Two – indicating quantity (even in countries where it can be an insult, provided the context is obvious) although this is more common with the palm turned around.
With the back of the hand facing the signer (palm of the hand facing the observer), it can mean:
Two – a nonverbal communication of quantity.Victory – in a setting of wartime or competition. It was first popularised by Winston Churchill. It is sometimes made using both hands with upraised arms as US President Eisenhower, and in imitation of him, Richard Nixon, used to do.Peace or Friend – used around the world by peace and counter-culture groups; popularized in the American peace movement of the 1960s.Rabbit ears – used behind the head of another person, often the subject of a photograph. In some cultures this indicates a cuckold.The letter V, in American Sign Language – used when spelling.[3]It is also used in tribute to the late rapper Tupac Shakur When used with other movement, it can mean:
Air quotes – flexing fingers, palm out, both hands.[6]This hand shape is also used in a number of signs, including "to see/look". When the pointer and middle fingers are pointed at the signer's eyes then turned and the pointer finger is pointed at someone it means "I am watching you." [7]The sign for the ordinal "second" in American Sign Language has the V-sign palm forward, then the hand turns (yaws) until the palm faces backward from wiki
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