Turks say "evet", (eh-veht) (yes) by nodding the head forward and down. To say no, "hayir" (hay-yurh), nod your head up and back, lifting your eyebrows at the same time. Another way to say no is "yok" (yohk), which literally means "it doesn't exist". Remember, when a Turk seems to be giving you an arch look, he's only saying no. By contrast, wagging your head from side to side doesn't mean no in Turkish; it means "I don't understand".

Useful to know these gestures - I shall practise - Thanks janissary

Well that is very useful to know! Are there any forms of body language which the Turkish find rude or offensive which we do unknowingly?

Ahh now i understand that from-side-to-side thing!!! I always thot he was saying no, but then he did 'yes'.. he just meant he didn't understand it

I don't agree with the side-to-side thing. It also means "no" or "I don't know"

I think it is index finger and thumb touching to make a circle?

Oh as in 'pico bello'

But Kadir did that to me.. he put his fingers that way and kissed his lips with it and put it back in the sky, when i offered to make him tea

So then how is it offensive?