Greeting Custom Around the World

It is always important to give people a good first impression, it shorten the distance between people, it is especially important for business live meeting.

there are many ways to greet another person, it depends on where you are or how well you know that person, below is part of our third research. it shows you how to greet people in different countries.

BELIZE --- Press fists together and press the counterpart’s fist together.

JAPAN --- Bow from the waist.

RUSSIA --- Kiss three times, on alternate cheeks...left, right, left. This is an old tradition.

EGYPT --- Kiss three times, on alternate cheeks...left, right, left. While men will cheek kiss other men and women will cheek kiss other women, no woman of a good family would cheek kiss a man, even if it is a friend of long standing.

ITALY --- Kiss on cheek 2 or 3 times -- Just kiss in the air.

NEW ZEALAND --- When Maori people greet each other, they press their noses together. This custom is called hongi.

BOLIVIA --- The Aymara women in Bolivia says hello to a friend with a tip of her bowler hat.

ECUADOR --- An Ecuadorian woman greets her friend with medio abrazo ("half embrace") -- like a partial hug.

MEXICO --- One kiss on the cheek. (Kiss in the air to the left or right)

U.S. --- Businessmen (women) usually shake hands when meeting each other.

SOUTH AFRICA --- The Zulu of South Africa say, "Sakubona" when greeting friends.

ITALY --- In Italy, friends greet each other by saying, "Ciao."

FIJI --- Men are expected to say "oooo" when greeting their chief.

AFGHANISTAN --- It is traditional for women to be more reserved in their greetings than men. When meeting a stranger, a man will say "manda na bashi." (May you not be tired.) A Ghilzai woman will raise her hand to cover her mouth.
U.S. and EUROPE --- The High-fives originated among American college basketball players in the early 1980s. It soon spread to other sports and became fashionable among young people.

ZAMBIA --- To find your partner, nod, slightly bend knees, and shake hands, right hand extended, with left hand under right elbow.

PORTUGAL --- Bom dia means "hello" in Portuguese.

GHANA Ming-gah-bou, Ga means "hello" in Ghana.

ISRAEL --- Shalom means hello in Hebrew.

CHINA --- Some people in China just say Ni-hao-ma which means "How are you?"

TURKEY --- Merhaba means "hello."

MADAGASCAR --- People used to greet nobles by saying Tsara Va?, which meant are you well?

FRANCE --- In France, people say Bon jour (Good day) during the day and Bon soir (good evening) in the evening.

SOUTH AFRICA --- The Afikaners of South Africa say "Goeie more" in the morning, "Goeie middag' in the afternoon, and "Goeie naand" in the evening.

CYPRUS Telephone greeting --- In Cyprus, people answer the phone with "Ano" ("Yes").

CZECH REPUBLIC Telephone greeting --- In Czech Republic, people answer the phone with "Prosim:" ("Ready").

GERMANY Telephone greeting --- In Germany, people answer the phone by saying their last name.

GREECE --- In the exotic Greek language, "Kalimera" (Good morning) is said.

VIETNAM --- Hello in Vietnamese is different depending on whom you are addressing. To an older man it is "Chao ong." To an older woman it is "Chao da." To a younger man it is "Chao anh." To a younger woman it is "Chau co." To small children it is "Chao chau."

source: Hawaii Geographic Alliance
Updated: March, 1998