Two kisses in Spain

One of the most common ways of greeting in Spain is giving two kisses. A social choreography that baffles many foreigners… But where does this tradition come from and how can you master it without looking like a confused tourist? Our Spanish language school El Rincón del Tándem helps you to find out.

If you’ve been to Spain, you’ve probably encountered the following situation: someone approaches you, bows their head, smiles… and suddenly gives you two kisses, one on each cheek.

No, they’re not stealing your wallet or being an unconditional fan, it’s just the usual way of saying hello.

While in other countries with a kissing culture the greeting varies between one, three or even four, in Spain we have stuck with two. One on each cheek. It’s as simple as that.

It is a gesture of closeness and courtesy that sets us apart and that we use with friends, acquaintances and even when being introduced to someone for the first time.

Giving two kisses is a norm in many social situations, but not with everyone:

• Between women: two kisses most of the time.
• Man and woman: two kisses in most cases, although some men prefer a handshake.
• Between men: depends on the context. In family or close friendship settings, kissing is fine, but in a professional settings or with strangers, a handshake is more common.

So how do you give both kisses right? If you want to avoid a clash of noses or an awkward moment, follow these steps:

• Move your face slightly closer to the other person.
• Do not give a real kiss, it is usual to simply lean your cheek and make the gesture with the characteristic kissing sound.
• Start on the right cheek (this may vary, but in Spain this is usually the case).
• Avoid excessive contact, no need to grab the other person’s face or leave a trace of lipstick.

And in the professional world?

At work, the rules change. In more formal settings, a handshake is the best option, especially if you don’t know the other person well.

However, in a relationship of closeness and familiarity, two kisses may be perfectly acceptable.

So, if you’re visiting Spain, you’d better get used to this social habit because you will surely experience it on more than one occasion. Relax, go with the social flow and enjoy this display of closeness that is part of our culture.

And remember! If you see someone leaning towards you with a smile, don’t panic… it’s simply time to practice your two-kiss technique.

If you want to learn more about customs and non-verbal communication, we advise you to take a look at our post about gestures in Spain. You will find it very useful!

See you soon!