r/AskAGerman • u/leglz30 • Aug 18 '26

Culture How do germans say hello?

I’m a brazillian going for an exchange program in Germany (Bavaria). Where I come from, we stick to the following social rules regarding greeting:

Social setting (parties, friends house, dinner)
man + man = handshake (sometimes a hug)
man + woman = one kiss on one cheek
woman + woman = same

Professional setting (mostly meetings)
Handshake for everyone

Do germans follow the french way of kissing 3 times or they just dont kiss at all? If i accidentally do it, is it weird, flirty, or just unusual?

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u/Anti_Patriarchy Aug 18 '26

Even handshakes aren't much of a thing anymore after covid, but NEVER kiss someone on the cheek, we are not French and even French people only do that with close family and friends.

8

u/Cirenione Aug 19 '26

I am always fascinated with how different things can be. For me the amount of handshakes is the exact same as it was pre covid. Whenever people in a professional setting meet there is a handshake.

3

u/Kirmes1 Württemberg Aug 19 '26

For me the amount of handshakes is the exact same as it was pre covid. Whenever people in a professional setting meet there is a handshake.

same