Greeting Etiquette

When greeting someone, don’t make the faux pas of shaking their hand too firmly, as this is seen as a sign of aggression. A light handshake between men is the accepted custom. Women often greet casual and business acquaintances with a hug and air kisses on each side of the cheek. Buenos is what people usually say when greeting, while Buenos dias or Buenos tardes (good morning or good afternoon) is used in formal occasions.

Panamanians take titles quite seriously and addressing people by their titles is considered a sign of great respect. Don is the title used for men, while Dona is used for women, followed by the surname. This also applies to professionals like doctors, lawyers, engineers, or professors. When saying goodbye, adios is the preferred term, but ciao is also used commonly today.

Those who avoid maintaining eye contact during a conversation out of shyness may, unfortunately, be committing a major faux pas. Eye contact is regarded as a sign of integrity. Panamanians, unlike people in other Central and Latin American countries, prefer personal space and avoid touching during conversations.