Good to know
Good to Know
- Brazilians are very physically affectionate—expect frequent touching, hugging, and cheek kisses even among acquaintances. This is normal and not inappropriate.
- Arriving 15-30 minutes late to a home invitation is expected; arriving on time is considered overly formal and rude.
- Accept offers of cafezinho (black coffee) graciously—it's a key symbol of Brazilian hospitality.
- Finish most of what's on your plate; leaving significant food suggests you disliked the meal.
- Brazilians often say 'maybe' to invitations and later don't show up or decline—this is culturally normal and not considered rude.
- Avoid discussing politics, poverty, religion, and Argentina as conversational topics; soccer, beaches, and family are safer subjects.
- In business settings, use formal titles and respect hierarchy strictly, despite the casual social culture.
- WhatsApp is the dominant communication platform—text messaging is rarely used.
- Confirm business appointments in writing several weeks in advance, as cancellations are frequent.
Greetings
- Description
- Brazilians are very affectionate and physical in greetings
Common Practices
- Brazilians often greet with a kiss or hug, and both men and women frequently touch you when speaking
- Men greet with an open hug, using one hand to shake hands and the other to grab the man by the shoulder
- Kiss-on-cheek norms vary by state; Rio de Janeiro uses two kisses, São Paulo one, and Minas Gerais three
- Maintain eye contact during greetings to show respect and interest
- Guest etiquette demands you greet everyone, even in large groups, as someone may be offended if not greeted warmly
Punctuality
- Description
- Brazilian attitudes toward time differ from many Western cultures
Key Points
- Brazilians have a more fluid notion of time and are often late to meetings, though they expect foreigners to be on time
- It is considered impolite to arrive on the designated time to a home invitation; come 15-30 minutes after the designated time
- Plans are made to be broken; unless made at the last minute, advance plans frequently do not happen
- Make appointments two or three weeks in advance and always confirm in writing, as cancellations and rescheduling are common
Sensitive Topics
- Other Considerations
- Avoid wearing revealing clothing when visiting churches or religious sites
Avoid
- Soccer, family, Brazil's beaches and rapid growth are appropriate conversation topics; politics, poverty, religion, Argentina and deforestation are not
Business Etiquette
- Hierarchy
- Brazilians can be strangely formal in business situations; titles matter and hierarchy is followed strictly
- Face Saving
- Do not embarrass a Brazilian; criticizing an individual causes them to lose face, and the critic also loses face by breaking this unwritten rule
- Problem Solving
- The jeitinho (finding a way around a rule without breaking it) is a very Brazilian concept; creative problem solving and persistent conversation work best
Florianopolis Specific
- Hitchhiking
- Hitchhiking is quite common and generally safe in Florianópolis and safer cities of Brazil
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this culture & etiquette research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Florianópolis
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.