Greetings

An informal welcome is usually made with a kiss on each cheek, beginning with the left. This style of greeting is very popular among ladies. Men may kiss ladies more frequently than they shake their hands when saying hello and good-bye.

In formal settings, a firm handshake, smile, and eye contact are the proper greetings. Once familiar, greetings become much more affectionate, and Spaniards frequently prefer to embrace (abrazo). This could involve a hug and a pat on the elbow or shoulder (between men) When shaking hands, some Spanish males will lay their left hand on the other person's right forearm to show that they are friendly.

In formal contexts, it is acceptable to address people by their given names or titles, such as "Mr." for males and "Seora." for women. However, it is uncommon for someone's friends to use their title and last name to address them. Even in formal contexts, Spaniards quite rapidly establish first names. Depending on the time of day, the standard spoken greeting is "Buenos dias" (Good Day), "Buenas tardes" (Good Afternoon), or "Buenas noches" (Good Evening/Night). People may also ask, "How are you?" (How are you). "Hola" is a more informal greeting (Hello).