French Phrase
Dans certaines cultures, on se fait la bise.
Meaning
The sentence states that in some cultures, people greet each other by giving a kiss on the cheek. It highlights a cultural practice rather than a personal habit.
When to use
Use this phrase when describing or comparing greeting customs across different societies, especially in a conversation about etiquette, travel, or cultural differences.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Danscertainescultures,onsefaitlabise.
Dans
Preposition meaning 'in' or 'within', used to introduce a location or context.
certaines cultures
Indefinite adjective + noun; 'certaines' agrees in gender and number with 'cultures' (feminine plural).
on
Indefinite pronoun meaning 'people', 'one', or 'we' in conversational French.
se fait
Reflexive form of the verb 'faire' in present tense; here it means 'do to each other' or 'exchange'.
la bise
Feminine noun meaning 'the kiss' (the cheek kiss used as a greeting).
🗨In Conversation
Dans quelles cultures on se fait la bise ?
In which cultures do people give each other a kiss on the cheek?
Dans la plupart des pays francophones, ainsi qu’en Italie et en Espagne, on se fait la bise.
In most French‑speaking countries, as well as in Italy and Spain, people give each other a kiss on the cheek.
✕Common Mistakes
Dans certaines cultures, on se fait le bise.
‘Bise’ is a feminine noun, so the article must be ‘la’, not ‘le’.
Dans certaines cultures, on se donne le bise.
Learners sometimes use ‘se donne la bise’; both are correct, but ‘se fait’ is more idiomatic in everyday speech.
Dans certaines cultures, les gens on se fait la bise.
Avoid using ‘on’ with a plural subject like ‘les gens’; replace with ‘les gens se font la bise’ for clarity.
↔Alternatives
Dans certaines sociétés, on se donne la bise.
In some societies, people give each other a kiss on the cheek.
Dans certaines cultures, on se salue avec un baiser.
In some cultures, people greet each other with a kiss.
Dans quelques pays, on se fait la bise pour se saluer.
In a few countries, people kiss each other on the cheek to greet.
Cultural Tip
The number of kisses varies by region: in France it’s usually two (one on each cheek), while in Belgium it can be three, and in parts of Switzerland even four. The custom is informal; in professional settings a handshake is still common. Remember that the gesture is gender‑neutral, but some people may prefer a handshake if they feel uncomfortable with physical contact.