Greeting Etiquette

Men traditionally shake hands, whereas women make no physical contact in the most traditional greeting. Women shaking hands, on the other hand, are not uncommon when one of the greeters wishes to show respect to the other. Meeting etiquette differs depending on the relationship, but formal introductions are expected regardless of proximity.

Younger generations generally greet each other in French, with a dash of Arabic thrown in for good measure. Younger people are less interested in spending time establishing a relationship and prefer to get right to the meat of the conversation. When a younger person greets an elder, the younger will do his or her best to participate in a traditional and time-consuming greeting, but it will rarely be as elaborate as when two elders greet each other.

A traditional greeting between two strangers in Senegal begins with an exchange of surnames. Afterwards, each person speaks in a short sentence, wishing the other person and his/her family good health and happiness. However, it is important that each sentence contains the recipient's last name. The exchange lasts for a while, but the more time they spend introducing themselves and repeating their surnames, the more respect they show and the stronger the bond between the two families, and the more mutual understanding they gain.