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title: Which are true in Switzerland?
---

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**Answers: A, C and D**

**Greetings, titles and names**

In Geneva and other French-speaking areas, the greeting for a male associate is *Bonjour, Monsieur* (or *Bonsoir* if a meeting takes place during the evening), and for a woman, *Bonjour, Madame.* In German-speaking areas, use *Herr* and *Frau* respectively. You may say *Guten tag*, good day, or the more informal *grüzi*, *grüssech*, or other dialectal form of "greetings!" It is customary for women over age 18 to be addressed as *Madame* or *Frau,* not *Mademoiselle* or *Fraulein*. In Italian-speaking areas, use *Signor, Signora*, or *Signorina*. *Ciao* is a common, informal way to say good-bye throughout Switzerland.

The Swiss, like most Europeans, greet each other with a firm handshake upon meeting and leaving – be sure to look the other person in the eye as you shake hands. If seated when someone enters the room, rise and be introduced by a third person, then shake hands. In German areas, women and men who are better acquainted sometimes brush cheeks, always three times. In French and Italian areas, men and women embrace each other; and the French will kiss each other on the cheeks – again, three times. However, you should refrain from kissing or embracing any of your Swiss counterparts until you are well acquainted and feel you have reached an appropriate level of intimacy.

In more public settings, such as entering or leaving an office or store, you should issue a general "good day" or "good-bye" in the appropriate language.

**Titles**  
The business climate is similar to much of Europe, and is more formal than in North America. The Swiss are very conscious of rank and title. Include your corporate and academic titles on your business card. Use all the titles shown on an associate's card, such as "*Herr Doktor Professor Schmidt*."

***First names vs. use of courtesy titles***  
In general, first names are not appropriate for business situations and are reserved for close friends. Starting out on a first name basis is still risky in Switzerland as the unspoken rules are currently in flux, such that the Swiss themselves are not even sure of them. In general, using first names requires an invitation to do so from your Swiss counterpart and takes place during an unwritten but time-honored toasting ceremony. Younger people, however, especially those who have trained or studied abroad, use first names more than the older generations.

With older people and most business acquaintances, use titles and the appropriate equivalent of Mr., Mrs., or Miss plus the person's surname when addressing someone – for example, Monsieur Legrand, Fraulein Schenck, or Signora Bruno. Swiss businesspeople typically identify themselves on the telephone by giving only their last name.

***Forms of the second person ("you")***  
The French and German languages have two forms of "you," a formal and a familiar. Once people have agreed to adopt the familiar form of "you," first names are generally used as well. In most public gatherings, formal names (e.g., Dr. Wagner, Mr. Braun or Mrs. Schaeffer) are used along with the *Sie*form if speaking German. There is no equivalent to "Ms." The informal or *du* form is largely reserved for family, children, and very close friends.

**Excerpted from Living Abroad's Switzerland Report: Daily Life / Social Customs.**

*Written by Michael Cadden, SGMS-T, VP International Operations*

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