Brazilian Body Language Etiquette

  Body Language in Brazil

• When conversing, good eye contact is important. To not do so is considered impolite.

 

• In a marketplace or store, if a vendor puts his thumb down it means, “There isn’t any left; I don’t have any more.” It can also be used to say that you are not feeling well, didn’t like something or to say that something went wrong.

 

• A good, warm handshake is traditional and totally acceptable in Brazil, but it’s  considered a more formal greeting. Handshakes are used mostly on business settings or when people are meeting for the first time in social settings. 

• The Brazilians show affection easily. In social occasions the greetings that are used the most are a kiss on the cheek or a hug. The most common is to greet friends and family with a kiss on the cheek. But frequently brazilians kiss on the cheek even people that they are meeting for the first time, like a friend of a friend. Hugs are mostly used with close people in these situations:

•  when we don’t see someone for a while, as if we were saying “I missed you”, 

• with someone you have seen lately but that you really like, as if we were saying “You’re special to me”.

• to congratulate someone for his birthday or for an achievement. 

If you choose to greet someone with a kiss on the cheek, you don’t need to do like this:

There’s no need to touch the other person's cheek with your lips. The picture above shows more intimacy and it’s mostly used between boyfriends and close family (mother and daughter, for example).

This is enough, just touching cheeks:

 

• People in Brazil will also shake hands when arriving and departing. There may also be a touching of the forearm or elbow, and often a pat on the back. The intention is to show affection. But it’s always a risk because even if brazilians are warm in general, there are people who don’t like to be touched and may feel it’s invasive. So it should be done only with close people. 

• If you are conducting business, be certain to bring some business cards because these are always exchanged. Digital business cards are also well accepted and used.

Also, during business meetings expect to be served (often) small cups of very strong coffee.

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• Since this is more of a touching society, people stand close together when conversing or when standing in lines.

 

• You may think they are blowing you a kiss, but when Brazilians bring their hand towards their mouths and kiss the tips of their fingers, then expand the fingers in an outward motion, it merely means that – probably the meal – was delicious.

 

• In Brazil, just like in America, people use the time out sign. It’s used specially in sports but it can be used in other places as well in order to ask for some time. 

• Brazilians also use the stop sign, to ask someone to stop doing something or to say “wait a minute”.

 

• There are many common friendly gestures in Brazil. One is the thumbs up gesture, which is also popular in America. In Brazil it is meant to mean “good” or “positive.”

Thumbs up is also used to ask for a ride.

 

• Making a hand movement that traces an imaginary horizontal line right above the line of their eyes means that person  does not have any more patience, like saying “I can’t take it anymore, I have it up to here”.

• Sometimes nonverbal communication can be very different than what is expected in other countries. One example is the “O.K.” symbol one can make with their hands. It is regarded as just meaning “O.K.” in the American culture. In Brazil it depends on the situation. Sometimes this may be seen as a very obscene gesture, equivalent to giving the middle finger in America.

• Showing the middle finger is seen as a very rude gesture, equivalent to saying “fuck you”.

• Another obscene hand gesture is called the “corno” which simulates a horn and historically means “your wife is cheating on you.” It is popular in Brazil and is often used when disagreeing with a football referee and it looks just like the “rock on” american gesture.

• One gesture that is also used is one to say “screw you.” It consists of making a fist with one hand and slapping it on top of the other hand once or twice. It is used commonly around Brazilian friends but can be rude if used any other time.

• Same as in Argentina, a close friendship or an incipient relationship is indicated by rubbing the two index fingers together.

• Just like in America, the brazilians make the letter L with the thumb and the index finger in the forehead to say someone is a loser. But it is considered a rude gesture and should be used only with very close people, like a teen with friends or brothers and sisters (not with your parents).

• A very unique body language in Brazil is the “figa”, represented by inserting the thumb between the middle and index finger. This gesture is supposed to keep away pain, suffering and envy and it is an amulet that protects against the “evil-eye” and it’s also used to express hope, when you have a strong wish.

• The “dar uma banana” or “give a banana” gesture in Brazil is an extremely offensive and rude gesture and it consists of bending the right arm at the elbow with the hand as a fist while making a chopping movement with the left arm towards the right elbow as in a forearm jerk. This gesture is also used on other countries of Latin America, in France and Italy with different names, of course. It is the equivalent of giving someone the finger.

 

• When you are far from someone and want to ask her to "come here." Extend your arm with the hand turned up and flex your index finger a few times. 

You can also flex all of your fingers at the same time

• In Brazil, to indicate that something is expensive or that you need money, hold your hand up towards your chest or a little higher and rub your thumb against your index finger.

Contributor, Gabriela Vassimon has been working as an etiquette consultant for over a decade. As Civility Expert’s Brazilian exclusive affiliate, Gabriela majored in Psychology, and has over 10 years of experience working with children, teenagers and adults in different sectors (clinic, school, orphanage, companies). Gabriela wears several hats as a psychologist, etiquette consultant and entrepreneur. She is a certified Children’s Character, Confidence and Courtesy Coach as well as Master Civility Trainer, member of ICTC (International Civility Trainer’s Consortium) and World Citizen Alliance, holds an MBA in people management, Gabriela is a continuous learner and eternal observer of human behavior. Recognizing that her passion is helping others to find the best versions of themselves, and aiming to build a kinder and more considerate world, Gabriela has launched Escola de Gentileza – civilidade e etiqueta (School of Kindness – civility and etiquette). The school offers training and classes in grooming, decorum, social graces, etiquette, and civility for all ages.

 🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia