Spanish Phrase
¿Se dan besos en la mejilla?
Meaning
This phrase is an inquiry about local social etiquette regarding greetings. It uses the impersonal 'se' to ask about general cultural norms rather than a specific person's behavior, helping the speaker navigate physical boundaries in a new environment.
When to use
Use this when you are unsure if you should greet someone with a kiss in a Spanish-speaking country. It is appropriate for social gatherings, meeting new people, or entering a household for the first time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Sedanbesosenlamejilla?
Se impersonal
The word 'se' is used to talk about general actions without specifying a subject, similar to saying 'one does' or 'people do' in English.
Dar (dan)
The verb 'dar' is conjugated in the third-person plural to agree with the subject 'besos'.
🗨In Conversation
Mañana voy a la fiesta de Elena. ¿Se dan besos en la mejilla?
Tomorrow I'm going to Elena's party. Do people give kisses on the cheek?
Sí, en España siempre nos damos dos besos al saludar.
Yes, in Spain we always give each other two kisses when greeting.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Dan ustedes besos en la mejilla?
Using 'ustedes' makes it sound like you are asking if those specific people are currently kissing, rather than asking about the general social custom.
¿Se dan besos en la cara?
'Cara' means face in general; 'mejilla' is the specific term used for the cheek-kissing greeting and sounds more natural.
↔Alternatives
¿Cómo se saludan aquí?
How do people greet each other here?
¿Es costumbre saludarse con un beso?
Is it a custom to greet each other with a kiss?
Cultural Tip
In Spain, it is customary to give two kisses starting with the right cheek. In most Latin American countries, only one kiss is given. Generally, this occurs between women or between a man and a woman, but rarely between two men unless they are very close relatives.