Sorting game
La bise or a handshake? Sort French greeting situations
Kiss on the cheek, handshake or just bonjour? Sort twelve situations the way most French people would, then learn the unwritten rules of la bise.
- A2
- 12 words to sort
- 3 boxes
- Tap to play
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
In France, la bise (cheek kisses) is for friends, family and often friends of friends; a handshake (une poignée de main) is for professional and first formal meetings; a simple bonjour is enough with shop staff. Between two men, the bise is common in the family and among close friends, especially in the south.
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Tap a word, then the box it belongs in.
What are the rules of la bise in France?
| Region | Usual number |
|---|---|
| Paris and most of France | 2 |
| Montpellier, parts of the south | 3 |
| parts of the west (Nantes area) | 4 (less common now) |
| Brittany (Finistère) | 1 |
Start with the right cheek (your head goes to your left), and let the cheeks touch lightly: the kiss is a sound, not a kiss on the skin. If you're unsure, follow the other person's lead. Since 2020 many people offer a wave or an elbow instead, and saying on ne se fait pas la bise ? is perfectly polite.