Greetings Around the World: How Do People Say Hello?
People in every culture greet each other before they start talking, but they do it in very different ways: with words, handshakes, bows, hugs or even by touching noses. Greetings show friendly intentions and help people trust each other.
Why do people greet each other?
A greeting is a small ritual people perform before a conversation. Greetings exist in all human cultures. They show friendly intentions, start conversations in a clear way, make people feel comfortable and build trust and connection. Talking to someone without greeting them first is usually considered rude.
Key facts
- Greetings exist in all human cultures.
- There are over 7,000 human languages, each with its own greetings.
- The Chinese gongshou greeting is more than 2,500 years old.
What are the most unusual greetings?
Some greetings are literally face-to-face. In the Inuit kunik, two people touch each other’s faces with their noses. Māori people use the hongi, pressing noses and foreheads together. In Burundi, women traditionally perform akazehe, a musical greeting with hugging, clapping and singing. And sometimes all you need to do is smile, which works everywhere on the planet.
Where can I read the full story?
This is a short version of “Human Greetings: Notes from Alien Explorers” from OYLA Junior #11. The full article in OYLA Junior is told as a report by alien explorers studying humans, and it ends with secret handshakes you can try with friends.
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