Three Dots Tattoo

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The three dots can be concealed by holding the thumb in.

A tattoo consisting of three dots in a triangle, usually found on the skin between the thumb and forefinger, is popular amongst various groups. For Hispanic and Asian gangs, the three dots signify mi vida loca ("my crazy life") in Spanish, and tôi không cần gì cả ("I need nothing") in Vietnamese.^[1] As a Sureño (gang) symbol, the tattoo is worn between thumb and forefinger because it is believed to be harder to remove. The Sureño gang number is thirteen, using Arabic or Roman numerals, or a combination of both: 13, XIII, or X3. This signifies the 13th letter of the alphabet, the letter M, meaning "La Eme" or "The M"; the Mexican Mafia. ("Three dots") or X3, which is the representation for the number 13 within the Aztec numeral system.^{[citation needed]} This may explain the origins of the tattoo amongst Hispanic gang members. However, along with the pachuco cross, the three dots is also a popular "generic" tattoo among Hispanic teenagers with no gang involvement whatsoever.

Gansta Two Six Nation among other gangs uses the three dot symbol.

This is also popular in German prisons among current and former convicts as a symbol of their time done behind bars. Generally it implies the person does not know, see or hear anything and has therefore no information for the police. This tattoo also usually appears on the skin between the thumb and forefinger.

In France, the dots stand for 'Mort Aux Vaches', literally 'Death to cows', in slang 'Death to cops'. It can also be interpreted as 'Fuck the World'. In Greece, the three dots in a triangle signify affiliation with anarchist beliefs/ideals (The three dots can be seen as points of the letter "A", the symbol for many anarchists around the world).

The three dots in a triangle are also used as a protective symbol for hobos, sailors, and convicts, known as "hobo dots." Among sailors it's a traditional tattoo to get on their first voyage. Among Danish sailors, the three dots are often taken to mean "faith, hope and love" and as such supposedly reflects the ideal life at sea.

In Sweden the three dots stands for "Vi vandrar vidare" (We keep walking), popular amongst hobos. It also symbolize the three largest cities, Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö.

The three dots in a triangle are also used widely in the southeast region of Turkey as a symbol of being one of the tribesmen. The three dot symbol is known as "Görmem, Duymam, Söylemem" meaning that "I hear nothing, I see nothing and I tell nothing". Bearing this mark is an oath to the person's own society, and requires great responsibility such as being willing to sacrifice himself in favor of the society.

The three dots tattoo is also a symbol in freemasonry and the emerging secret undersociety "Niq" (short for unique) which stems from freemasonry. The "Niq" tattoo is displaying on the middle knuckle.