Question for German users or for those who live or know someone from Germany: is it common for a German to hug someone he/she just met?

[menina]

My friend met a guy from Germany. It was the first time they were seeing each other and he asked her for a hug.

Is this common? I'm asking because I thought it could be a cultural thing. But I've never been to the country and she didn't either, so we don't know. 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

[EricSummer]

No, this is not usual in Germany. It would be seen as a flirty gesture in this context.

It is even a known difference to neighboring France. The French girls will hug you and kiss you on the cheeks but it is just a friendly greeting. German guys tend to think it means a lot and is even more than flirting (until they learn it).

There are individual differences, of course, and also regional differences. Hugs are more unusual in Northern and Eastern Germany and slightly more common in the South of the country.

Still, a German is a lot more likely to just shake hands.

[menina]

Oh, I see. So maybe he is from the South or lives in the South. Thank you for explaining the differences.

[menina]

Nope, I checked and he is from the North Lol

Either, thank you for your answer.

[menina]

*Either way

[EricSummer]

Definitely flirting thrn

[menina]

I told her that and she doesn't believe he was flirting Lol

[DryGermanGuy]

From my perspective, no. Hugs are for family or very close friends.

[Lionman95]

Yes but it's more something guys do more towards women than men. Because women over here great each other with a hug so it's something guys do when they meet a woman. It's mostly something guys do towards women they know but it could be something he just did because he doesn't know differently or if she's the only one he didn't know he might have wanted to avoid an awkward situation because he hugged other women and just shook hands with her.

[menina]

They were alone. So like you said, I guess he hugged her because that's how men greet women.

Thank you for your answer.

[Lionman95]

You're welcome. I hope it helped.

[menina]

It did. Thank you so much.

[runitupkai]

Im not entirely sure but I can ask my german friend at school since he's lived there basically his whole life.

[menina]

Thank you very much. I would appreciate if you asked him. Then let me know what he said please.

[runitupkai]

will do <33

[Vendela_]

Not sure but I could ask my German friend later and get back to you!

[menina]

Thank you so much. I would really appreciate that. :)

[Vendela_]

Of course!

[Fuentes]

Germans are also westernized so I assume they do whatever else does and hugs when they meet people lol

[menina]

I'm used to deal with western people and she is too. But I've never met someone who wanted to hug when we were meeting for the first time.

[Jennz6]

Sounds like something that they would do in Paris, France 🇫🇷, I guess maybe they do it in Germany too?

[DiegoO]

There is general culture then there is family culture, which don't match all the time in all aspects with the general

[Agape93]

Nope. That's for good friends, spouses and family.

[boobliker]

yes yes yes