Greeting with Kisses (Öpüşerek Selamlaşma)
Turkish greetings often involve cheek kissing (air kisses on both cheeks, typically twice) between women and between women and men who are friends or family. Men usually shake hands with each other or hug if very close. The pattern is typically right cheek first, then left.
Usage contextgreetings
Do
- Wait for the other person to initiate physical greetings if you're unsure
- Use two cheek kisses (sağ, sol - right, left)
- Start with the right cheek
- Maintain appropriate distance - usually air kisses
- Shake hands firmly when greeting someone formally
- Greet elders first and with extra respect
Don't
- Don't initiate cheek kisses with people you've just met
- Men: don't initiate cheek kisses with women unless they're family/close friends
- Don't do single kiss (that's not Turkish custom)
- Don't make actual lip-to-cheek contact unless very close friends/family
- Don't skip greeting elders in a group