If you’ve ever tried to say hello to a guide in Thailand or mingle at a bar in France, you may have realized that a firm handshake is not always the go-to greeting. Especially when you don’t speak the language, saying hello properly is crucial to conveying good intentions and kicking off any interaction, whether you’re trying to buy bus tickets or going out for dinner. Some of these greetings are used between strangers, while others are reserved for people you know well. When in doubt, watch what locals do, or wait for them to initiate. From touching foreheads in New Zealand to deep bows in Japan, these are 10 traditional greetings around the globe.
Stick out your tongue
Tibet
Blame this greeting tradition on a cruel 9th-century king named Lang Darma, who killed his older brother, suppressed Buddhism, and was eventually assassinated. He was known for having a black tongue, so monks began sticking out their tongues to show that they came in peace—and weren’t the reincarnation of Lang Darma. Today, however, sticking out your tongue is uncommon and it would be more polite not to, unless someone greets you this way first.
Bump noses
Qatar, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf countries
Khashm-makh is a common greeting between men across the Gulf countries. Noses are bumped together, sometimes following a handshake (always with the right hand). Women may do it, but it tends to be in private and only to other women. Don’t initiate this with anyone you don’t know.
Air kiss next to the cheek
France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Latin America, Ukraine, and Québec, Canada
For North Americans used to shaking hands, the cheek kiss can be a minefield. In France, it has a name—la bise. The number depends on what region of France you’re in; one on each cheek is generally a safe bet, and remember, you’re not actually kissing the cheek but the air next to it. In Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, one air kiss is standard (either hovering over the right cheek or the left), whereas in Spain, Portugal, Paraguay, Italy, and provinces like Québec, it’s two. In Russia and Ukraine, three is the norm.
To add a little more confusion to the mix, some people start with the left cheek and others the right. And there are some tricky gender and relationship rules, too. In all “air kiss” countries, women kiss women, and in most of them, men air-kiss women, but men kissing men is less widespread. However, in southern France, southern Italy, and Argentina, it’s not uncommon for men to air-kiss other men. Note that Belgium’s cheek-kissing is different in Wallonia (French-speaking) and Flanders (Flemish-speaking), with cheek-kissing more common in the former.
No matter where you are, always shake with your right hand.
Photo by i_am_zews/Shutterstock
Shake hands
Canada, the U.K., Australia, Germany, Botswana, China, Zambia, Rwanda, and the Middle East, among many other countries and regions
If you’re from Canada or the USA, this is your default greeting, and it’s commonly used in dozens of other countries. As in the U.S., only shake with your right hand; this is particularly important in countries in the Middle East, India, and Pakistan, where the left hand is considered unclean. Visitors to China will want to lighten their grip, while folks introducing themselves to Germans should know to stop after one firm downward yank.
If you’re in Morocco but your hand is dirty or wet, skip the shake and touch the back of your right hand to the back of the other person’s right hand instead. In Botswana, the local handshake between two people entails multiple steps: Clasp right hands, shake up and down once, interlock thumbs, raise your arms to a right angle, grasp hands again, then release to a relaxed “shake” position before letting the other person’s hand go.
Rub noses (and sometimes foreheads)
New Zealand
More intimate than air kisses is the hongi, the pressing together of forehead and nose. New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people call this a “sharing of breath,” and it signifies the sacred welcoming of a visitor into Māori culture. The hongi is used at pōwhiri (Māori welcoming ceremonies), but the honor requires an invitation and isn’t extended to everyone. In short, although you may see people doing the hongi on your next trip to New Zealand, don’t try it unless someone else initiates.
Clap your hands
Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique
In Malawi and more rural areas of Zimbabwe, the clapping of hands comes after folks shake in a call-and-answer style—the first person claps once, and the second person twice, in response. Note that men clap with fingers and palms aligned, while women clap with their hands at an angle. In northern Mozambique, people also clap, but usually three times.
Put your hand on your heart
Malaysia
After shaking hands in Malaysia, it’s common to then bring your hand up to your heart and briefly touch your chest. If you sense that the person you’re meeting doesn’t want to touch—perhaps they’re religious and of the opposite gender—you can smile gently, nod your head, and put your hand to your chest.
In Japan, the deeper the bow, the more respect you show someone.
Photo by Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock
Bow
Cambodia, India, Nepal, Laos, Thailand, and Japan
When it comes to bowing, the question isn’t just when to take a bow, it’s how to do it. In Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, press your palms together in an upward-pointing prayer position at heart level or higher. The higher you place your hands, the more respect you’re showing, but don’t go above your nose. Then, bend your head forward a bit to take a slight bow of the upper body. In Thailand, this greeting is called the wai, in Laos the nop, and in Cambodia it’s the sampeah. In Nepal, you’ll hear “namaste” during this greeting; the Sanskrit term translates to “I bow to you” and is considered a sign of respect and gratitude.
In Japanese culture, a deeper bow indicates a higher level of respect than a slight bow (90 degrees is the max), and prayer hands are not used. Men bow with their hands at their sides, and women with their hands on their thighs. Among the younger generations, a head bow (like a nod, but more pronounced) is becoming the new norm.
Sniff faces
Greenland and Tuvalu (Oceania)
High on the intimacy scale is this greeting used in Greenland and on the South Pacific island of Tuvalu. In Greenland, the kunik, the Inuit tradition of placing your nose and upper lip against someone’s cheek or forehead and sniffing, is limited to very close relationships. On the South Pacific island of Tuvalu, pressing cheeks together and taking a deep breath is also a common way of greeting relatives or people close to you
Greet your elders before younger people
Most common in Asian and African countries
No matter where you are in the world, you can’t go wrong by saying hello to older people first. This is particularly important in countries throughout Asia and Africa, where honoring your elders is a societal rule. In addition to greeting anyone older than you first, always use culture-specific titles and terms of respect upon first meeting. In the Philippines, for example, the mano po involves taking an older person’s hand and pressing it gently to your forehead, thereby showing respect. In India, locals touch older people’s feet as a show of respect. In Liberia, as well as among members of the Yoruba people in Nigeria, young people bend their knees slightly or—if the older person is seated—drop to one or both knees to honor their elders.
How to avoid using the wrong traditional greeting
Mishaps are unavoidable, and we’ve all been there: You’re new to a destination and you aren’t quite sure how to greet someone, so you default to whatever is acceptable at home. Following the other person’s lead is the safest—if you see them going in for a cheek kiss, don’t abruptly extend your hand.
The best thing to do is a bit of research before you leave home. Or simply ask what’s customary; “Is there a proper way to greet people that I can use?” will go a long way.
This article was originally published in 2018 and most recently updated on July 15, 2025, with current information. Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.
