Greetings in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Brazil and Germany: what to say and do

Greetings are the first thing you do in a new country and one of the easiest places to feel awkward. Should you shake hands? Kiss on the cheek? How many times? The honest answer is that it depends on the region, the setting and the people. But there are common patterns, and knowing them makes the first few seconds of any meeting much easier.

Treat everything below as typical, not as rules. Customs vary within each country, and many people adapt when they meet visitors.

Spain

What people often do: among friends and in social settings, two light cheek kisses (right cheek first) are common, especially between women and between men and women. Men who know each other might shake hands or hug. In business settings, a handshake is standard.

What to say: Hola, ¿qué tal?, or buenos días / buenas tardes. Saying hello when you enter a small shop, a lift or a waiting room is common courtesy.

France

What people often do: la bise, cheek kisses between friends and acquaintances, is the famous one. The number varies by region, commonly two, but three or even four in some areas. Handshakes are normal in professional settings and when meeting someone for the first time.

What to say: Bonjour is essential: when you enter a shop, a bakery, a doctor's waiting room, or start any interaction. Skipping it can come across as rude. Bonsoir in the evening, salut with friends. Our guide to ordering at a French café shows how much a simple bonjour matters.

Italy

What people often do: two cheek kisses between friends and family are common, and a handshake when meeting someone new or in business.

What to say: Ciao with friends (it means both hello and goodbye), buongiorno during the day and buonasera from mid-afternoon or evening in more formal situations. You'll often hear a greeting followed straight away by one of Italy's little everyday words, like allora or dai.

Portugal

What people often do: two cheek kisses are common among friends and between men and women; men often shake hands. Handshakes are standard in business.

What to say: Olá, bom dia, boa tarde, boa noite. Tudo bem? is a common follow-up.

Brazil

What people often do: Brazilians are generally warm and physically expressive greeters. Cheek kisses are common, often one or two depending on the city, and hugs are frequent among friends. Handshakes are used in more formal settings.

What to say: Oi or olá, tudo bem? or tudo bom?, and bom dia / boa tarde / boa noite.

Germany

What people often do: a handshake is the classic greeting, especially in formal or first meetings, often with eye contact. Friends may hug. Cheek kisses are less common than in southern Europe, though not unknown.

What to say: Hallo is neutral and widely used; Guten Morgen, Guten Tag and Guten Abend are more formal. In southern Germany and Austria, Grüß Gott and Servus are common regional greetings. Moin is typical in the north.

When you're not sure

• Let the other person lead. Wait a moment and follow what they do: an extended hand, a lean in for a kiss, a wave.
• A handshake is rarely wrong in a first meeting.
• A verbal greeting is always right. Whatever happens physically, a clear hola, bonjour, ciao, olá or hallo starts things well.

Greetings also come with the question of how formally to address someone. That's covered in tú, vous, Sie: formal and informal "you".