Etiquette in Latin America varies by country and by region within a given country.
Generalizations
![Map-Latin America2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Map-Latin_America2.png)
There are several definitions of Latin America, but all of them define a huge expanse of geography with an incalculable amount of different customs. However, some generalizations can be made:
* Compared to much of the
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
-speaking world, people from areas of Latin America may demonstrate more relaxed and casual behaviour and be more comfortable with loud talk, exaggerated gestures and physical contact. It is common to greet known people by kissing them on the cheek.
[Erin Richard]
Cultural Etiquette
September 19, 2006
* In addition, many Latin American people have a smaller sense of
personal space
Proxemics is the study of human use of space and the effects that population density has on behaviour, communication, and social interaction.
Proxemics is one among several subcategories in the study of nonverbal communication, including haptics ...
than people from
English-speaking cultures. It may be rude to step away from someone when they are stepping closer.
* At some finer restaurants, it may be considered rude for the staff to bring a customer the check without the customer first requesting it.
[ACI]
Travel Talk August 2006
* It is considered impolite to "toss" objects to people instead of directly handing it to them.
[U.S. Institute of Language]
/ref>
* The American "come here" gesture
A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication or non-vocal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of, or in conjunction with, speech. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or ot ...
of palm upwards with the fingers curled back can be considered a romantic solicitation.
Specific regions
The following points of etiquette apply most specifically to a certain region:
Brazil
* Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish. Addressing someone who speaks Portuguese in Spanish, although most Brazilians understand Spanish to a reasonable degree, may be considered very offensive.
* In Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, a form of the American "ok" gesture is obscene when directed at someone with the symbol upside down (back of hands down, circle forward to someone, rest of fingers to your self pointing any side), implying something like "go f... yourself!". However, the standard "okay" gesture is also used, as is the "thumbs up
A thumb signal, usually described as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a common hand gesture achieved by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval, respectively. These gestures have become metaphors i ...
" gesture.
* The gesture of "flipping someone off" by hitting the wrist against the inside of the elbow (sometimes called "a banana" in Brazil) is considered playful and not very offensive (in some other parts of the world, this is more akin to "the finger
In Western culture, "the finger", or the middle finger (as in giving someone the (middle) finger, the bird or flipping someone off) is an obscene hand gesture. The gesture communicates moderate to extreme contempt, and is roughly equivalent i ...
").
* Giving someone of the opposite gender a gift may be easily misinterpreted as a romantic overture, except for birthdays.[Terri Morriso]
The Business of Gifts
/ref>
* In some parts of the country, most notably in rural or suburban areas in which homes may not have doorbells, the appropriate action is to stand in the yard and clap one's hands. If no one comes to the door, then the visitor may approach the door, knock, and then step back away from the door and await a response. This is especially applicable in regards to small, thin-walled cottages that offer less privacy than homes in North America.
* In the northeast of the country is rude to enter the house with your shoes on, you have to take them off.
* In the northeast region and rural areas it is rude not to ask for blessing from parents and family, so it is common to see kids and adults asking: "Abenção?" or "Bença (informal use)" and the parents answer with "Deus te abençoe" (God may bless you). If they don't that probably will be seen with bad eyes.
* Tipping isn't a thing in Brazil.
* Kids are not allowed to talk in adult conversation, if they do their parents will give them a lesson later.
* Brush your teeth 2 or 3 times in a day, when you wake up, lunch and dinner. (Even in college, work, and school; everybody does that).
* Shower every day, because of the weather.
* Use napkins when touching your food.
* In the bathroom don't put the paper in the toilet, put it in the bin.
* Don't put salt in the avocado, put sugar.
* Giving people normal temperature beer is like a crime, the beer has to be super cold.
* Give a sip (of vodka or beer) for the saint, the saint is the orisha Exu, which is worshiped in Brazilian afro-indigenous religions, like Candoblé and Umbanda.
* Jump seven waves and wearing white in the new year, this comes from Brazilians afro-indigenous religions, the reason is to be grateful and wishes good things for the new year, so people will use the color of what they want in the new year (it goes like White-Peace, Red-Love, Yellow-Money). Jump the seven waves and sometimes make a wish in every wave and be grateful for Iemanjá (Orisha worshiped in Brazil) to leave the bad things in the past year.
* Make 3 wishes in the lord of Bonfim bracelet and gives 3 knots, so the wish can come true. The Senhor do Bonfim Ribbon has a side that few people know: each color symbolizes an Orisha. Is used in the northeast of the country and people really believe in that, so please don't disrespect the beliefs.
* Tan is actually sexy in Brazil, so people use insulating tape to keep a tan in cities like Rio or São Paulo. It is common to see people discoloring the hair on the legs and arms on the beach, it is also common to get henna tattoos on the beach.
* Usually people who are dating sit beside each other and nobody really cares when they show love at the table.
* Use a fork and knife to eat pizza.
* Avoid talking about politics and religion.
* It is extremely rude to point at someone in the street or out in public.
* When you meet someone it is common to give 2 kisses on the cheek, it is accepted that males can only do this to females and not to other men.
* Handshake is seen to be formal, usually used in the workplace only.
* Holding hands and kisses in the street isn't seen as rude, it is common see couples (LGBTQIA+ couples too, but only in high public places like in the beach, malls, etc., if you do that near churches it may be dangerous and become a problem to many Brazilian people) share affection in public, people don't care at all.
* At restaurants, usually everyone who eats pays the bill, commonly splitting it among people including dates.
Haiti
* Although tied more closely to France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
than to Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
or Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
, the etiquette regarding Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
is similar to other Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...
n countries.
* Haitians
Haitians ( French: , ht, Ayisyen) are the citizens of Haiti and the descendants in the diaspora through direct parentage. An ethnonational group, Haitians generally comprise the modern descendants of self-liberated Africans in the Caribbean te ...
take proper behavior seriously and this includes good manners, clean appearances at all times, a moderate tone in one's speech, and avoidance of any profanity or public "scenes", as these are all important indicators of one's social class.
* Entering a household and not greeting the elders or owners of the household is regarded as highly offensive. Say ''bonjou'' (good morning) or ''bonswa'' (good afternoon) when entering a room or passing by someone on the street.
* Eating is considered a social event and so withdrawing from the center of activities during meals is considered slightly offensive.
* At restaurants, the one who extended the invitation pays the bill. Unless another woman is present, a woman should not buy dinner for a man. Making arrangements for payment before the meal is considered especially polite. When summoning a server, make eye contact; waving or calling their names is very impolite.
* At the dining table, the European etiquette applies; ladies sit first, fork on the left, elbows off the table, etc. When utensils are not being used, a person's hands are expected to be visible above the table resting the wrists on top of the table and not at one's lap. Diners are expected to stay at the table for the entire meal; no bathroom breaks.
* While dining, for making a toast, the most common toast is ''sante'' (to your health). When beginning to eat wait until after the host says "''bon appetit''!" ("enjoy your meal!").
* Relationships are important to Haitians, so business discussions should be saved until the end of the meal, or for later.
* Avoid discussing politics, corruptions within the government, and Dominican life, without having a good understanding of the issues as well as the people with whom one is discussing it, and until one has established a relationship with the listener. These are touchy subjects to speak about, especially if one does not know what one is talking about.
* The infamous Haitian Creole
Haitian Creole (; ht, kreyòl ayisyen, links=no, ; french: créole haïtien, links=no, ), commonly referred to as simply ''Creole'', or ''Kreyòl'' in the Creole language, is a French-based creole language spoken by 10–12million people wor ...
phrase ''Langyèt Maman'w'' is highly offensive, insulting one's mother. Uttering this to someone will almost certainly provoke conflict.
* It is rude to point at someone.
* Haitians expect to barter when making a purchase.
* Men shake hands on meeting and departing. Men and women kiss on the cheek when greeting. Women kiss each other on the cheek. Friends, family and close acquaintances usually share a light kiss on the cheek.
* When attending church (whether it be Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
or Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
), one's best formal shoes and clothes are to be worn.
* Punctuality in an informal setting is not highly valued and being late is usually not considered rude.
* People holding hands is an ordinary display of friendship though women and men, but seldom show public affection toward the opposite sex but are affectionate in private. It is also common for people of the same sexes to hold hands, and is often mistakenly viewed as homosexuality to outsiders.
* Children are to be ''seen'' and ''not heard''; not to draw attention to one's self.
It is especially disrespectful for children to whistle, point, suck their teeth, stare, or to roll their eyes at adults. Children should also avoid sitting with their legs crossed and acting like an adult.
* Flatulence
Flatulence, in humans, is the expulsion of gas from the intestines via the anus, commonly referred to as farting. "Flatus" is the medical word for gas generated in the stomach or bowels. A proportion of intestinal gas may be swallowed environm ...
, when company is present, is very rude and should be done in another unoccupied place. It is polite to say "''excusez-moi''" ( ht, eskize'm), which means "excuse me".
See also
* Etiquette
Etiquette () is the set of norms of personal behaviour in polite society, usually occurring in the form of an ethical code of the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed and practised by a ...
* Etiquette in Africa
As expectations regarding good manners differ from person to person and vary according to each situation, no treatise on the rules of etiquette nor any list of faux pas can ever be complete. As the perception of behaviors and actions vary, interc ...
* Etiquette in Asia
Etiquette in Asia varies from country to country even though certain actions may seem to be common. No article on the rules of etiquette, nor any list of faux pas, can ever be complete. As the perception of behaviors and actions vary, intercultu ...
* Etiquette in Australia and New Zealand
Expectations regarding good manners differ from person to person and vary according to each situation. As the perception of behaviors and actions vary, intercultural competence is essential. However, a lack of knowledge about the customs and ex ...
* Etiquette in Canada and the United States
Etiquette rules in the United States and Canada generally apply to all individuals, unlike cultures with more formal class structures, such as those with nobility and royalty.
Both Canada and the United States have shared cultural and linguisti ...
* Etiquette in Europe Etiquette in Europe is not uniform. Even within the regions of Europe, etiquette may not be uniform: within a single country there may be differences in customs, especially where there are different linguistic groups, as in Switzerland where there a ...
* Etiquette in the Middle East
Many matters of etiquette in the Middle East are connected to Islam as it is written in the Qur'an and how it has been traditionally understood and practiced throughout the centuries. Prescribed Islamic etiquette is referred to as Adab, and descr ...
References
{{Americas topic, Etiquette in
Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...
Latin American culture