Question

Search the Internet to find out more about the different ways in which people greet and take leave of each other in Spanish-speaking countries. Then, based on your research, write a short essay in English of about 100-150 words comparing and contrasting expressions of greeting and leave-taking used in Spanish-speaking countries and in the United States.

Answer 1

Answer:

Answers will vary. Your answer should include some of the following points:

In formal business situations and meetings, firm handshakes are the most common greeting.

When you’re introduced to a relative or a friend, you generally offer a kiss, or beso, on the other person's cheek (or into the air just putting both cheeks together). The beso is conventionally exchanged between females or a male and a female. In some countries, you give two besos, one on each cheek. This gesture has no romantic significance, but it is common in Spanish and Latin American cultures.

Men who are meeting for the first time or don’t know each other well typically shake hands. If they are friends, they may hug each other.

Women usually kiss each other on the cheek even if they are meeting for the first time. Friends may also hug each other.

Explanation:

Spanish I

Answer 2

There are a lot of similarities between greetings in the US and in Latin America, as probably the most common greeting is "¿hola, qué tal? " which means "hi, what's up".
It can actually be "strengthened" into "¿hola, qué tal?¿cómo estás? "- which repeats the question of "how are you" twice in two different ways -in fact, which was the most common greeting I heard in Mexico.

Some regions in Latin America also have their own, special greeting, for example in Mexico you an also hear ¿qué onda? which is no heard in other places (it literarily means "what a wave"! or "what is the wave bringing"