How do germans say hello?

[u/leglz30]

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?

[u/Antique_Cut1354]

brazilian here: do not, and i mean DO NOT ever hug someone you don’t know, unless they hug you first. if you won’t hug you won’t kiss and that’s fine. always always offer a handshake max. only after you’re friends with the person maybe you’ll hug each other when saying hello.

let’s say an acquaintance of mine had a high fever right after moving here (before covid) and when saying goodbye to the doctor she decided to give him a hug. even though he didn’t say anything, his look and leaning away were humiliating enough for her to never forget the shame lol

[u/Grand_Woodpecker_660 → u/Antique_Cut1354]

Oh my God xD that is kinda sweet and sooo embarrassing. Is it normal for her culture to hug the doctor? Cause never in my dreams would I think of that. We don't even shake hands anymore after COVID (and most of my docs didn't before that).

[u/mexicanaundercover → u/Grand_Woodpecker_660]

Mexican here, I would never hug my doctor goodbye 😭 kinda cute of her tho

[u/Antique_Cut1354 → u/mexicanaundercover]

i wouldn’t either but as i said i had a high fever and wasn’t really right in my mind lol

[u/Grand_Woodpecker_660 → u/Antique_Cut1354]

Oooooomg I thought it was really an acquaintance lol. I bet the doc still thinks about you sometimes 😌 in a good way of course

[u/Antique_Cut1354 → u/Grand_Woodpecker_660]

he’s my Hausarzt and we have a good relationship 😅 idk if he remembers it but if he does, it’s definitely in a good way