Brazilian - Etiquette (2024)

FAQs

What is considered impolite in Brazil? ›

Burping and making noise with plates and cutlery is considered to be poor etiquette. Brazilians tend to finish all the food they put on their plate. Taking more food than one can eat and leaving unfinished food on one's plate is considered impolite, suggesting that the person did not enjoy the food.

Start with small talk, showing genuine interest in all participants and maintaining eye contact. If you are invited to someone's home, it is considered polite to bring flowers or a small gift. But avoid giving handkerchiefs or anything purple or black as these colours are associated with funerals and mourning.

Brazilians use a thumbs up and thumbs down to convey approval or disapproval, respectively. Avoid using the American “o*kay” sign, which makes an “o” shape with index and thumb touching. This is a rude symbol in Brazil that translates roughly to extending your middle finger in the us.

Who uses 👌 Ok Hand emoji? The OK hand gesture doesn't have a universal meaning. In Brazil, Greece, Spain, and some Middle Eastern countries, the OK gesture can be seen as obscene.

Never Inquire into Someone's Skin Tone: Especially for those who are black or natives this is offensive (Cultural Atlas). Avoid Using Sarcasm, Irony, or Making Fun of People in a Mocking Way: Brazilians are generally warm and light-hearted and this extends to their sense of humor.

Brazil has many unique traditions related to New Year's Eve, from wearing white to bring good luck in the following year (some people wear underwear or accessories in red for love and yellow for money) to jumping seven waves on the shoreline for more good luck.

avoid entering unpaved, cobbled or narrow streets which may lead into a favela - tourists have been shot after accidentally entering favelas.

Avoid walking on beaches after dark. Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs. Use caution at, or going to, major transportation centers or on public transportation, especially at night.

In Thailand and Brazil, purple is customarily worn alongside black when mourning of the death of a loved one, and in Brazilian culture, it is considered unlucky to wear purple when not attending a funeral or related service.

Are Brazilians physically affectionate? ›

As a whole, Brazilians are very affectionate. There's a whole lot of kissing, touching and hugging that goes on between loved ones, family members, and even strangers.

If you'd like to say “hello” in Brazilian Portuguese, you would generally use “Olá”. You can also use “Oí"—which is often considered more informal. Here are a few other basic phrases you'll find useful: Bom dia. / Good morning.

Usually men and women simulate kisses in each other cheeks, but usually the kisses are in the air. It is rare that a Brazilian man kiss a woman cheek. That would be a synonym of greater intimacy, but not necessarily sexual intimacy. Usually it will be considered a sign of strong affection.

If a person waves their hand like in the “come in” gesture but in the opposite direction, they're telling you to go away or get out, probably angrily.

In California, the shaka sign may be referred to as "hang loose" or "hang ten", both associated with surfer culture. In coastal Brazil, the shaka sign, known as the "hang loose" (also derived from an eponymous clothing brand, which uses the shaka as a logo), is a common gesture.

It's important to maintain steady eye contact because its considered rude to break eye contact in the middle of a conversation. Brazilians use many gestures, however the “o*k” sign (using your first finger and thumb to form a circle) is considered vulgar so avoid using it.

Avoid wearing any attire that combines the colors of the Brazilian flag (yellow and green).

This looks like an 'OK' sign, but not in Brazil

Making a circle with your thumb and your index finger is how to signal "OK" in the US. But make the same gesture in Brazil, and you're giving the equivalent to the middle finger — the gesture has "insulting and scatological connotations," as the New York Times put it.

Brazilian people are open and friendly. They often use hand gestures in communication and are not put off by touch. It is not uncommon for women and children to link arms when walking and men may use both hands to shake hands to add warmth and sincerity to their greeting.