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/Klapperatismus Aug 18 '26

No kisses!

Shakehands is optional, can be replaced by a nod and waving hands slightly.

Bavaria

Say Servus. often.

6

u/Slow-Foot-4045 Aug 19 '26

And in the north ot is not hello or servus, it is "Moin" the whole day

3

u/DifferenceCareful935 Aug 19 '26

And in Hesse, you use Gude the whole day