La Bise: How France's Cheek-Kiss Greeting Actually Works
Who does la bise, how many kisses, and how it actually works - the real etiquette behind France's cheek-kiss greeting, including regional variation.
La bise is France’s cheek-kiss greeting, used among friends, family and social acquaintances - not typically for first professional meetings. The number of kisses varies by region, commonly two in much of France, though this genuinely differs. It’s cheek-to-cheek contact, not a lip kiss.
Quick answer
La bise is France’s cheek-kiss greeting, used among friends, family and social acquaintances - not typically for first professional meetings. The number of kisses varies by region, commonly two in much of France, though this genuinely differs. It’s cheek-to-cheek contact, not a lip kiss.
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This deep-dives the etiquette section of the French greetings guide.
Who does la bise (and who doesn’t)
Friends, family, and social acquaintances typically exchange la bise. It’s generally not used at first professional meetings, where a handshake is the expected greeting instead. See the tu/vous social circle for a parallel intimacy marker.
How many kisses? (honest variability)
Commonly two in much of France, but this genuinely varies by region - some areas use three or even four. There’s no single fixed national rule, so following the other person’s lead is the safest approach.
The mechanics
Cheek-to-cheek contact, not lips. Usually starting with the right cheek, but following the other person’s lead matters more than a fixed rule. A light air-kiss sound is optional.
Who initiates and when it’s awkward
Historically, the more socially senior person or, in mixed settings, the woman would often initiate - though this varies and continues to evolve. If unsure, it’s fine to follow the other person’s lead.
Post-2020 evolution
Heightened hygiene-consciousness shifted some contexts toward handshakes or waves instead of la bise, though this is an evolving, context-dependent norm rather than a fixed replacement.
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Questions about this note
How many kisses is la bise in France?
It varies by region - commonly two, but some areas do three or four.
Do you do la bise with strangers?
No - it's for friends, family and social acquaintances, not typically first professional encounters.
Which cheek do you start with?
Usually the right, but following the other person's lead is the safest approach.
Is la bise a lip kiss?
No - cheek-to-cheek contact, often without actual lip-to-cheek touching.
Has la bise changed in recent years?
Some contexts shifted toward handshakes or waves post-2020, though norms continue to vary by setting and region.