faire la bise
to do the cheek kiss greeting
Intermediate Verb
🔊
Pronunciation
/fɛʁ la biz/
💡
Cultural Note
The social rules around la bise can be bewildering for foreigners. Men greet women and women greet women with la bise; men greeting men varies by region and closeness. In professional settings, a handshake is more common. The awkward moment of not knowing which side to start on is universally relatable in France.
📝 Example Sentences
En arrivant, j'ai fait la bise à tout le monde.
When I arrived, I greeted everyone with cheek kisses.
Tu fais la bise ou tu serres la main ?
Do you do cheek kisses or shake hands?