Wink
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Lachten
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225169547 by [[Special:Contributions/203.213.213.82|203.213.213.82]] ([[User talk:203.213.213.82|talk]])
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[[image:Wink.JPG|thumb|A man winking his right eye]]
The '''wink''' is an [[intent]]ional [[facial expression]] made by briefly closing one or both [[eyes]]. A wink is a form of semi-formal communication, which indicates shared, unspoken knowledge.
A "naughty wink" can silently indicate a shared secret, such as if a [[sales]]person gives a [[customer]] a [[brochure]] and says, "Here you go... it's free". Infrequently, it may also mean "got it" or "yes, I understand".
In Western cultures, women may wink to men they are interested in [[dating]], but this has grown out of fashion, though still used occasionally. Winking is also done by men to women, often to convey a message of "I like what I see here" or "Hello, I am interested in getting to know you". In most male-female contexts, it has come to mean communicating explicit sexual intentions. A stranger male's winking at a woman is an explicit invitation for sexual act.
In [[Latin American]] cultures, winking is also a romantic or sexual invitation, but can also be used a casual sign of recognition or of acceptance of behavior among friends.<ref name=non>{{cite web
| title = Non-verbal communication
| url= http://erc.msh.org/mainpage.cfm?file=4.6.0.htm&module=provider&language=English
| accessdate = 2008-02-04
}}</ref> In [[Nigeria]], winking is a signal for children to leave the room.<ref name=non />
Many Asians, especially [[China|Chinese]] and [[India|Indian]] women, consider winking to be rude.<ref name=non />
Not all humans are able to wink voluntarily, and some can only wink one (usually the non-[[Ocular dominance|dominant]]) eye but not the other, while others are far better at winking one eye and find it awkward to wink the other.
== See also ==
* [[Body language]]
* [[Blink]]
* [[Face]]
{{wiktionary}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Facial expressions]]
{{eye-stub}}
[[fa:چشمک]]
[[fr:Clin d'œil]]
[[fi:Silmänisku]]
[[he:קריצה]]