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Social · Mexico

Greet with a handshake or a single cheek kiss

Shake hands on a first meeting or in business; among acquaintances, a single cheek kiss (usually right cheek) is common between women, and between a man and a woman, close friends may hug (abrazo) instead.

MexicoSocialcasualUpdated September 2, 2026

Default to a handshake when meeting someone for the first time or in a professional setting. Once you know someone socially, a single cheek kiss (touching cheeks, usually starting right, more of an air kiss than actual contact) is common, between two women, or between a man and a woman. Men greeting men typically stick to a handshake, sometimes with a shoulder pat, unless they’re close friends.

Close friends and family often greet with a hug (abrazo), a loose embrace with a couple of light pats on the back, not a tight squeeze. Let the other person set the tone rather than initiating the warmest option yourself.

Why it matters

Physical warmth in greetings scales with familiarity rather than being fixed by rule. A firm handshake with steady eye contact is always safe on a first meeting, eye contact in particular reads as honesty and confidence rather than confrontation, the way it might in some other cultures. Let the other person initiate anything closer, and follow their lead on which cheek. Standing closer during conversation than you might be used to is also normal here, stepping back can unintentionally read as coldness.

Source: Mexican Culture: Greetings – Cultural Atlas

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