Greeks are confusing

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From an article in Forbes

"Don't mix up the words for yes and no. The Greek language is very gestural, and seeing a native speaker in action is confusing. "No" is a click of the tongue, accompanied by raised eyebrows. The word oh-knee also means no, but it can sound like "OK." For "yes," native speakers tilt their head downwards and slightly on one side. The word for yes is nai in Greek, which confusingly sounds like "no.""

I happen to speak Modern Greek (I'm not Greek, but I love the language ), so allow me to chime in .

First, Greeks are confusing only in comparison with what we are used to. It just happens that languages are different, and sometimes those differences can cause confusion for someone who doesn't master a specific language.

Second, while the gestural descriptions are relatively OK, in my experience they are much easier to notice than the article makes it seem like. If I manage anyone can . And anyway, the Greeks are very talkative, and will always accompany their gestures with words.

Third, about "yes" and "no" in Greek. "ναι" does indeed mean "yes", and sounds very much like "nay". But if you think you have it hard, think that in Dutch (the language I speak most nowadays), "no" is "nee", which sounds exactly like "ναι"! Hilarity ensues. It took me a while to get used to it. As for "no", it's "όχι". That word uses a sound that doesn't exist in English (it does in German, for instance: it's the same sound as "ch" in "ich"), but if I were to approximate it in English I'd say the word sounds like "oh! she". I don't find this so similar to "OK" (which is used in Greek as well).

If you really want confusing body language, I believe it is Bulgarians who shake their head from side to side to mean "yes", and tilt it upwards and downwards to mean "no"!