Greetings & Introductions

Greetings

Greetings are very important in Peru. The most common greeting in Peru is a handshake, which is light and with eye contact. During handshakes, men often pat each other on the back. Handshakes are used in formal situations and when meeting someone new. With family and friends, 'abrazo' is used, which consists of a handshake and a hug with men, and a hug and a kiss on the right cheek with women. Friends are addressed by their first name, professionals by their title, and older people by ¨señor¨ and ¨señora.¨

Slang

When Perúvians greet a casual friend, they often say ´habla´ instead of hello. Peruvians also say ´chau´ instead of adíos sometimes in formal situations.