Greeting people in Spain, including the two-kiss greeting (dos besos)

Terms used

• Dos besos — Dos besos is the two-kiss cheek greeting, right cheek first, used between friends, family and acquaintances.
• Buenos días — Buenos días is the greeting used in the morning until lunch.
• Buenas tardes — Buenas tardes is the greeting used after lunch until dark or dinner.
• Buenas noches — Buenas noches is the evening greeting and goodbye, also used as goodnight.

Key rules

• Afternoon switch: Buenos días lasts until lunch, so it is still right at 1pm.
• Entering small places: Greet when you enter small shops, waiting rooms and bars, and say goodbye when you leave.
• Dos besos: Start with the right cheek, keep contact light, and follow the other person's lead.
• Formal settings: Shake hands in business meetings, with senior people, and between men meeting for the first time.
• ¿Qué tal?: In passing it is a greeting, so a short reply is enough.

Which greeting to use and when

Say buenos días until lunch, then switch to buenas tardes after lunch, from about 2pm. Noon is not the switch point. At 1pm, buenos días is still normal, because lunch is late in Spain. Some people switch a little earlier.

Buenas tardes runs until dark or dinner, around 9pm. Buenas noches takes over from roughly 9-10pm. You can use it as a greeting and as a goodbye. It also means goodnight when you go to bed.

In a hurry, a short buenas works at any time of day.

Greeting when you walk in

Greet when you enter small shops, bars, waiting rooms (doctor, pharmacy) and often lifts when others are there. It is expected most in small shops and waiting rooms. It is less strict in bars and lifts. In large supermarkets and busy stores nobody expects it.

A short buenos días, buenas tardes or buenas is enough. On the way out, say gracias, adiós or hasta luego.

Dos besos or a handshake

Dos besos means two kisses on the cheeks. Use it between women, and between a man and a woman, among friends, family and acquaintances. It is also common at a first introduction in informal settings.

How to do it:

• Start with the right cheek, then the left.
• Keep contact light. Cheeks touch, or you kiss the air, with a soft kiss sound.

Use a handshake in formal or business meetings, with older or senior people, and between men meeting for the first time. Close male friends or family may hug or shake hands. Women meeting socially often kiss straight away. In business, a woman and a man may shake hands, and the kiss comes once things relax or in young, creative or informal settings. If you are unsure, follow the other person's lead.

Avoiding a kiss politely

Offer your hand first, with a smile. You can also step back slightly and say encantado (if you are a man) or encantada (if you are a woman). A wave or a hand on your chest also works.

If you want to explain, say "perdona, no soy muy de besos" or "prefiero dar la mano". Most people accept this without offence, though a handshake can feel a bit formal. Illness is a common reason: "estoy resfriado" means you have a cold.

Saying how you are

In passing, ¿Qué tal? or ¿Cómo estás? is a greeting, not a real question. Reply with bien, ¿y tú?, muy bien, gracias, tirando (getting by) or aquí andamos. With someone older or in formal settings, the polite version is ¿cómo está usted?

It is a real question when a friend asks it slowly, follows up, or asks in private. Then a fuller answer is welcome.

Saying goodbye

• Hasta luego: see you later. It is polite and works with people you will see again, or with strangers.
• Adiós: a neutral goodbye for anyone. It can sound more final.
• Hasta pronto, hasta mañana and nos vemos: see you soon, tomorrow, or around.
• Chao: among friends.
• Que vaya bien and que tengas buen día: warmer, slightly more polite wishes.
• Que descanses: in the evening.
• Buen fin de semana: on Fridays.

The questions below cover the most common doubts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I politely avoid a kiss greeting in Spain?

You can avoid a kiss by offering your hand first with a smile, or by stepping back slightly and saying encantado or encantada. If you want to explain, say "perdona, no soy muy de besos" or "prefiero dar la mano". Spaniards usually take this without offence.

How do I answer ¿qué tal? when someone says it in passing?

Answer with a short stock reply such as "bien, ¿y tú?", "muy bien, gracias" or "tirando" (getting by). In passing, ¿qué tal? is a greeting, not a real question. If a friend asks it slowly or in private, they want a fuller answer.

Do I say buenas noches as a greeting or only as a farewell?

You can use buenas noches both ways, from nightfall or after dinner, roughly 9-10pm onward. It also means goodnight when you go to bed. Because dinner is late, buenas tardes often lasts until about 9pm.

What is the difference between hasta luego and adiós?

Hasta luego means see you later and is polite to anyone, even strangers. Adiós is a neutral goodbye that can sound more final. For a warmer touch, add que vaya bien, que descanses in the evening, or buen fin de semana on Fridays.