Greetings Around the World
Greeting↕ | Origin↕ | Gesture↕ | Meaning↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
Handshake | Ancient Greece, worldwide | Right hands clasped and shaken | Originally showed no weapons in hand, trust and agreement |
Bow (Ojigi) | Japan | Bend at waist, eyes down, depth varies by respect | Respect, apology, greeting, gratitude - all in one gesture |
Namaste | India | Palms together at chest, slight bow | The divine in me honors the divine in you |
Wai | Thailand | Palms together, higher hands for more respect | Respect, hello, thank you, apology |
Hongi | New Zealand (Maori) | Pressing noses and foreheads together | Sharing the breath of life (ha) |
Cheek Kiss (Bise) | France | Air kisses on each cheek, 2-4 times depending on region | Warmth, familiarity, friendship |
Eskimo Kiss (Kunik) | Inuit | Pressing nose and upper lip against another's face | Affection between family members in cold climates |
Salaam | Middle East and Muslim world | Right hand to forehead then heart | Peace be upon you (As-salamu alaykum) |
Kowtow | Imperial China | Kneeling and touching forehead to the ground | Deep reverence, historically to emperors and elders |
Curtsy | Europe | Bending knees with a slight bow | Respect to royalty or elders, formal greeting by women |
Tibetan Tongue Stick | Tibet | Sticking out the tongue | Proves you are not the reincarnation of a cruel king with a black tongue |
Mongolian Hada | Mongolia and Tibet | Exchanging a silk scarf (khata) | Respect, good wishes, ceremonial welcome |
Ethiopian Shoulder Bump | Ethiopia | Shoulders touching while shaking hands | Greeting between close friends and equals |
Zambian Handclap | Zambia | Clapping hands before a handshake | Respect, especially to elders |
Tuareg Veil Pull | Sahara (Tuareg people) | Men pull the veil higher when greeting | Respect by covering the mouth |
Maasai Jumping (Adumu) | Kenya and Tanzania | Warriors jump high in place | Display of strength and greeting between warriors |
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This dataset contains 16 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
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