How do people greet each other in different countries?

Hugs, handshakes, kisses, bows... Greetings vary from one culture to another. If you going abroad, it can be useful to learn the customs of the country you're visiting, so you avoid awkward situations!

In this European country, it is customary to give two kisses on the cheeks to greet each other, even if you meet for the first time. However, if the context is more formal, you shake hands to greet each other.

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However, if you are used to giving two kisses to say hello, you can get confused and 'left hanging' in Belgium: there, they only give one!

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And then there's The Netherlands, right next to Belgium. Upon first meeting you, Dutch people will give you a handshake. But once you know them, you will get not one, not two, but three kisses! So don't move your head back after the first or second, because there's more coming!

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The same goes for French-speaking Switzerland. There, it is customary to give three kisses to greet each other. In other Swiss regions, you should go for a handshake when meeting someone, both in a formal and informal setting.

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In Morocco, the handshake is the most common greeting among men. Women give each other two or four kisses (the last two on the same cheek) to greet each other. Hugs and kisses are also exchanged between close friends and members of the same family. Finally, note that in certain regions of Morocco, it is customary to greet each other by placing your right hand on your heart while slightly bowing your head.

Hugging is a common gesture in Brazil to say hello to close friends, family members, or even work colleagues. Brazilians also give each other a kiss or two when they hug. In a more formal context, play it safe and go for a handshake.

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Japanese culture is based on deference toward others. If you travel to Japan, be aware that the custom to greet someone is to bow with your head slightly lowered, your eyes turned downward, and your back straight. The more you bow, the more respect you show to the person in front of you.

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In France, the number of kisses depends on the region you are in. The majority of French people give two kisses, but in some regions, they will do their own thing. In Brittany, there's a single kiss; in parts of the Provence, they give three; in the Marne valley it's a generous four-kiss greeting; and in certain parts of north-west France, as well as Corsica, they can give you up to five kisses! If you are unsure, you can always opt for a handshake.

In Saudi Arabia, and more widely in the Middle East, it is common to see men greet each other with a handshake followed by a nose rub. This gesture only applies to men and is prohibited between a man and a woman. Women generally greet others with a slight tilt of the head or a simple spoken greeting.

In Tibet, the custom is to stick out your tongue to say hello. Don't take it the wrong way! Tibetans also have the habit of pressing both hands in front of their chest, while bowing their head, as in many Asian countries.

Called 'Namaste,' the traditional Indian greeting involves placing the palms of both hands together on your chest and bowing your head slightly. Between friends and members of the same family, it is also common to greet each other with a hug, or a kiss in certain regions.

Americans are the kings of the "hug": an embrace that can be brief and very loose or long and warm, depending on the degree of closeness between two people. In a professional environment, the handshake is preferred.

In Canada, the gesture most frequently used to greet each other is a warm hug. This is also the case in Quebec, even though Quebecers also give their loved ones two kisses when they greet them.

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In Thailand, just like in Cambodia or Indonesia, people press the palms of their hands in front of their chests to say hello, while tilting their heads slightly. The higher they put their hands, the more respectful the gesture.

The handshake and the hug are the most common ways of greeting each other in New Zealand. In Maori culture, they also say hello to each other by going 'nose to nose' and touching each other's foreheads. Just like the greeting King Charles is getting in this photo.

The handshake is the most common greeting in South Africa and the hug is very common in family and friendship contexts. Don't try to kiss a South African, they might find it weird.

In Sweden, as in the rest of Scandinavia, physical contact is limited. To greet someone, just say "hello" ("Hej!"), with a small wave of the hand. Handshakes are reserved only for first meetings, and kisses should be avoided altogether.

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In Latin America, greetings vary from country to country, but the handshake is the most common. In Peru, for example, men shake hands, and women greet each other with a kiss on the right cheek.