.gif "South Bay Brazilian Portuguese Meetup")
You are hereForums / Culture / Cultura Brasileira / The Kissing Thread
Forum Inactive
You can search our forum, but it is no longer active. Please post your questions on our Facebook community where you will find colloquial vocabulary, music, events, and news about Brazil.
Sincerely, the Street Smart Brazil team.
The Kissing Thread
I know, from having known Brazilian people socially, that it is normal for a man to kiss a woman acquaintance or someone being introduced to them on the cheek or on both cheeks as a greeting. Women would kiss everyone on the cheeks. However, I was wondering . . . if I was to go to a business meeting in Brazil, and I was introduced to a woman as the meeting began, would it be prudent to kiss her on the cheeks, or would that be a big NAO? What other situations would you feel it is appropriate or not to kiss people?
This is handy,
I am never sure of this, my country is very friendly but fiercly conservative. The idea of kissing someone on the cheek upon introduction is really against my grain. Even when people here from the southern states greet me with a hug is awkward enough!
So I meet this girl from Brasilia at the 'jam' night the restaurant puts on after we close and we don't 'greet' with the kiss but we part with it but only on one cheek, probably because it's obvious I am awkward with it. I did get a strange look which could be her noticing that or because she liked my cologne!
Did I offend or just look like a gringo? I am happy with the latter....
In some places in Brazil, we kiss twice -- once on each cheek. In other places, people give only one kiss. This is regional. So the girl you met, Species, may be used to one kiss.
We usually do not kiss with lips touching the other person's cheek. It is cheek with cheek in general.
Regarding the professional environment etiquette, I agree with Vanessa. Business meetings in Brazil are very similar to those in the U.S. A handshake is more appropriate. Later on, when you already know the people you are meeting with, you can kiss them. But notice that the kisses only happen when you meet them in the waiting room sort of thing. It is not something that will happen in the meeting situation itself.
I agree with Vanessa and Luciana on the kissing etiquette in Brazil. Just wanted to add that if you go down to Porto Alegre it will be slightly different. Gaúchos that are single give each other 3 kisses on the cheeks! The first kiss is for you to have good luck on dating, the second one is for good luck on getting engaged and the last is for good luck on getting married.
That is funny Betania...
We do something similar in Recife... we usually kiss twice, but if we do kiss 3 times, it always comes followed with the sentence: "3 kisses to get married" !! heheheh...
'moral' lesson: Brazilians are extremely surpersticious...even when they say they are not... They always make sure to be in good terms with ALL kinds of 'mandingas' (just in case, you know?
ok...who wants to explain what mandinga means?...
Vanessa
Check out this blog post by Deep Brazil: http://deepbrazil.com/2009/12/21/how-to-talk-to-a-brazilian/
It mentions the kissing protocol and more!
Check out this blog post by Deep Brazil: http://deepbrazil.com/2009/12/21/how-to-talk-to-a-brazilian/
It mentions the kissing protocol and more!
Great article!!!! Thanks
Hey Carl,
This is what I think: No. You do not kiss on the cheeks if you go to a business meeting in Brazil, especially if it is the first time. Though the relations, even at the workplace, are more relaxed and laidback than here; I would consider a less professional attitude. Especially if you have no clue about what kind of people you are meeting. So... If you are in that meeting you mentioned, and you are introduced to that woman, I'd go with a courteous and warm hand shaking.
NOW... there are circumstances where the rule can be broken. It all depends on what type of work environment you are talking about. I thought of the regular, conservative, capitalist and suit & tie setting. But, let's say the company has a different profile, more avant-gard, or modern, young, eclectic; than you might feel that the cheek kisses are not a problem. You'll feel the difference.
In doubt... go with the hand-shaking, and observe the way people relate at the workplace from the moment you park your car in the parking lot. It will help you figure out the kind of etiquette you should follow. Later on...if you go to business mettings with people you already met before, than the relations get way more relaxed, and cheek kisses happen.
Funny Middle way:
Sometimes you will see in Brazil people doing the kisses on the cheeks in a 'less intimate' way. I know, sounds crazy. They do the move like if they are going to kiss, but their mouths never touch each other cheeks. It's like if they are kissing the air! Many times there is not even kiss itself...they just do the move to one and to the other side... I guess they do that when they do not know well, or at all whomever they are 'kissing'. To me looks very weird, but I saw it many many times, and maybe even did it a few times!!!
I call it : "the snob kiss" !!!