If you think knowledge of the language is enough to communicate with Spaniards, think again. You need a lot more than just the language in order to start a conversation with Spanish speakers. It's a good idea to know what Spanish people are like culturally. Translation Agency Perfect is happy to help you along. On this page, we will tell you about Spanish people's habits, take a look at Spanish culture and provide some interesting tidbits about the language. If you take this information to heart, communicating with Spaniards will become a whole lot easier.
Enjoying life
Spaniards are known for enjoying life to the fullest. The men in particular are veritable bon vivants. They will not let themselves miss out on a good party for example. No parties going on? Don't expect them to stay on the couch at home with their partner. Many Spanish men will head to a pub or a restaurant. This is where they will enjoy - with family and/or friends - some traditional Spanish dishes like paella or tapas. Spanish people aren't picky eaters. From pigs’ ears to bull testicles, and from squid to baby lam, they will eat virtually anything. This isn't limited to food alone, because good food is usually accompanied by drinks.
Bureaucracy
When communicating with Spaniards, you need to take into account bureaucracy. In Spain, things are done very differently than you might be used to. In some countries, things get solved as quickly as possible and this is rarely the case in Spain. You might hear a Spaniard say ‘mañana, mañana’. They're effectively saying they'll do it tomorrow. Just don't expect it to actually get done the next day. You might be waiting until next week or next month before a Spaniard actually gets around to doing what it is they said they'd do. In some cases it will never get done. Spaniards are never in a hurry and don't know the meaning of time pressure. So don't be surprised when a Spaniard doesn't stick to appointments, dates, opening hours and deadlines.
Spaniards and foreigners
Most Spaniards get along swimmingly with people who aren't originally from Spain. However, they don't like people who live in tourist places. Luckily, these areas are often far away from the ‘real’ Spain, so the average Spaniard usually doesn't have to deal with this issue. Spaniards also get along well with the Portuguese. Despite them often being the butt of their jokes.
Not all Spaniards live in harmony with foreigners though. Sometimes conflicts arise between the native population and the ‘invaders’. In nine out of ten cases, this is a result of Spanish bureaucracy. It's often difficult - if not impossible - to make appointments with Spaniards, which can lead to frustrations with people from other countries. This can lead to misunderstandings and even conflicts.
The class system in Spain
Similarly to England and France, a class system exists in Spain. It might be less complex than it is in the former two, but it is no less present. At the top is the Spanish aristocracy. There are only a few hundred of them. They are followed at a respectable distance by smaller nobles, middle class professionals, the lower middle class, workers and farmers. At the bottom rung of the Spanish class system you will find the gypsies, also called ‘gitanos’ in Spain. The average Spaniard doesn't hold this group in high regard. It's so bad, in fact, that most Spaniards would prefer living next door to Moroccans than gypsies.
11 Spanish habits
- Children are at the core
Spaniards love children. Their hearts will melt when children are around, especially when they're very young. They will not hide their enthusiasm, because children will have their full attention. This doesn't just happen at home, but in public as well. Don't be surprised if Spaniards are entirely focused on any children present at a restaurant, for example. For families with only one child, this is even more extreme. The child is usually pampered even more.
- Everyone gets a kiss
In some places, if you know a person, you will greet them with three quick kisses on the cheek. If you don't know the person? Then a handshake is the default greeting. This is quite different in Spain, because there everyone gets greeted with kisses. Instead of three, in Spain there are always two, one on each cheek. And don't think it's only people of the opposite sex doing this. In Spain it is entirely normal for people of the same sex to kiss each other on the cheek as well for a greeting.
- Late dinner
When comparing typical breakfast, lunch and dinner times to those in Spain, there are some major differences. Other than breakfast, every other meal takes place significantly later than you might be used to. Whereas lunch happens between 12:00 and 13:00 in most places, in Spain it often takes place between 14:00 and 16:00. Dinner in Spain also takes place a lot later than you might be used to. Instead of it happening around 18:00, most Spaniards will eat dinner between 21:00 and 23:00. Dinner can go on until well into the night. Do you want to head out for dinner in Spain? Don't go to a restaurant at 19:00, because the kitchen will often not even be open yet.
- Late bedtime
Because Spaniards eat so much later than most other people, it will come as no surprise that they tend to go to bed much later as well. This doesn't just apply to adults, but children as well. Don't be surprised if you still see kids playing outside at 23:00 when you're in Spain. Even when Spaniards don't eat out they often go to bed late. They might watch TV until 02:00 in the morning. Because they go to bed so late, you might think they get up late the next day, but that's often not the case. They're usually up bright and early so they can resume their daily lives.
- Siesta culture
Spain is synonymous with the word ‘siesta’. This is a Spanish custom that takes place every single day. During the siesta, it's not just stores and museums that close, but offices and city halls as well. The siesta lasts for two hours and takes place between 14:30 and 16:30 or 15:00 and 17:00. Most Spaniards use this time to take a nap, but there are also people that will go for an extravagant lunch or go for drinks at a bar.
Even though siesta culture in Spain is slowly declining, there are plenty of Spaniards that uphold this custom. As a tourist, make sure you are prepared for this. Don't plan any outings during typical siesta times. If you do so anyway? Chances are the places you planned on going to will be closed.
- Lazy? Not at all! Working full time is the norm
Spaniards are often accused of being ‘lazy’. Not just because the siesta, but also partly because of the ‘mañana’ culture. This does not mean that Spaniards cut corners, however, because working full time is the norm in this southern European country. The average Spaniard starts work at 08:00 and works until the end of the afternoon. This applies not just to the men, but the women as well. Even women with (young) children often have a full-time job in Spain. In some cases they can leave their jobs a little early in order to pick up their children from school or day care for instance.
- Bad weather? No activities
In Spain, the weather is pleasant most of the year. However, that doesn't mean the sun is always shining, because bad weather can happen. In some countries people will just take out their umbrellas and go about their business, but don't expect this to happen in Spain. Many Spaniards will put their activities on hold if the weather is bad. They'll wait until it's stopped raining before they head out.
- Meeting up: at someone's home or in public?
In most places, if you're meeting up with someone, it's customary to invite each other into your home. This is a lot less common in Spain. In this country people are more likely to plan on meeting up in a public place, like a bar or a restaurant. For dinner too, the same applies. People won't invite you into their homes very easily, especially if you're a foreigner. If they do? Then don't turn them down, because this is quite an honour. Moreover, turning them down might be seen as an insult by a Spaniard. If you're inviting a Spaniard into your home, don't forget to show them the entire place. They will do the same if they invite you to theirs.
- Good food is important
Most people have a tendency to wolf down their breakfast, lunch or dinner as quickly as possible. This is completely different in Spain, because Spaniards take the time to enjoy their food. For example, a lunch on a Sunday or a holiday can easily last multiple hours. There are multiple courses and people have drinks as well. Because good food is important to Spaniards, they will easily eat up to five meals a day. Breakfast between 07:00 and 09:00, a morning snack between 10:00 and 11:00, lunch between 14:00 and 16:00. Then before dinner, which usually takes place between 21:00 and 23:00, most Spaniards will eat another afternoon snack between 17:00 and 19:00.
- Talking loudly, noise in the streets and cursing
When you're listening to a conversation between two Spaniards, it may seem like they're shouting at each other. This isn't actually the case, though, because Spaniards simply talk a lot louder than people in most other countries are accustomed to. This doesn't just happen when they're speaking to someone in person, but it happens in phone calls as well. Everyone within earshot will hear every single detail of their conversation. Because most Spaniards speak so loudly, there is a lot of noise in the streets. And don't be surprised if Spaniards swear a lot in conversation. Cursing in Spanish seems to be entirely normalised.
- Norms and customs in traffic
Are you driving through a Spanish village or town? Then you're likely to notice a car with flashing lights parked on a pedestrian crossing, near a bus stop, or on a street corner. This may not be common in a lot of countries, but it definitely is in Spain. This is most likely because Spaniards don't bat an eye at hindering other people in traffic. Moreover, they don't tend to use their turn signals very religiously. In the UK, it is customary to indicate when approaching a roundabout, but this definitely doesn't always happen in Spain. Additionally, Spaniards are known to hit the brake pedal constantly.
Doing business in Spain
By now, you will know quite a decent amount about communicating with Spaniards. However, we have not yet touched upon business communication. When you're doing business with a Spanish company, it's good to know how best to communicate with Spaniards. This is why we're also covering the topic of doing business in Spain. After this, you will know all the dos and dont's about doing business with Spaniards.
Working hours and holidays
Spaniards with an office job often work from 10:00 until 19:00. They don't work throughout the entire day, because they have some free time between 14:00 and 16:00 due to their siesta. Nevertheless, more and more companies are moving away from this. For example, in many large cities, most companies open at 09:00 and close at 16:00. They're open for all that time, meaning the siesta no longer happens. The average Spaniard with a full-time job works an average of 40 hours a week. Still, there are more and more companies that adhere to a four-day work week (32 hours).
Just like any other country, people don't work year round in Spain. Spaniards have a right to holidays. Most people with a full-time job in Spain are entitled to 22 paid holidays per year. Many Spaniards will take time off in August, meaning most companies will be less available during this month compared to the rest of the year. In addition to paid holidays, Spaniards also get time off during national and local holidays. There are nine national holidays in Spain, but the number of regional holidays varies.
Work/life balance in Spain
Spaniards are often accused of being ‘lazy’, but they are anything but. Most people in this country work incredibly hard. They don't just work for themselves, but they work to support their family or parents. Some Spaniards even work (a lot) longer than they're legally allowed to. As a result, they can be overworked or even burnt out. Chances of this happening are still fairly small. This is because Spain has a number of laws to protect employees from being overworked or exploited. Spaniards are not allowed, by law, to work more than nine hours per day. In addition, Spanish companies are required to track employees’ hours worked, so they can be compensated for any overtime.
Business etiquette, appointments and culture.
Etiquette, appointments and business culture are three important things to keep in mind when doing business in Spain. For example, it would be good to know what to wear to a business meeting. Spaniards often dress traditionally and formally for such occasions. In summer, choose bright colours and wear darker outfits in winter. Whatever you wear, make sure you aren't wearing anything too distracting. Dress codes in major cities are often a little more ‘flexible’ than they are in smaller towns. Many companies allow employees to wear clothing they find comfortable and appealing.
Meetings and other business gatherings in Spain are usually less formal than they are in many other countries. Keep in mind, though, that some Spanish companies have a strict company hierarchy. For example, it may not be appreciated if you speak up during a discussion if it's something that you shouldn't have much to say about given your position. Additionally, Spanish business meetings are often much slower than meetings in other cultures. So don't expect to be out of the meeting quickly if you get invited to one.
It is not part of Spanish etiquette to exchange gifts after a meeting has concluded. This happens in some cultures, but in Spain this might be considered an attempt at bribery. If you absolutely must give a present to express your appreciation for a business deal? Choose something small and of little value. This might help to nurture a long-standing business relationship or to strengthen a new one. Such relations are held in high esteem in Spanish business culture. As such, they appreciate it when people are honest towards each other. After all, honesty is the foundation of a long-lasting business relationship.
Networking, socializing and eating in a business environment
Are you going to work in Spain, or are you doing business with Spanish companies? We can imagine you're interested in learning about how networking, socializing and eating in a business environment happens in Spain. Because we'd like to paint as complete a picture as possible about doing business in Spain, we'll dive into some of the facets below.
Starting with networking. As is the case in a lot of other countries, networking is something that is becoming more and more digital. Platforms like LinkedIn are used more and more for networking by professionals. Still, there are plenty of networking opportunities that take place in person. One important thing to note is that traditional Spanish companies often use a very conventional style of networking. Companies that operate like that will often prefer to network with local parties they already have a connection with.
If you want to socialize with entrepreneurs or employees of Spanish companies, you will often end up at a restaurant. Business contacts are often established over a meal in Spain. Spaniards love food after all, making this an excellent venue to get to know one another in a natural setting. One thing that might differ between Spain and other countries is that Spaniards aren't very direct when it comes to business. Early on in a meeting there might be a lot of small talk before the topic turns to business.
Are you going out to eat with a Spanish professional? This often happens late in the evening. Dinner usually starts at around 21:00 and can last well into the night. So don't expect to be home in just a few hours if you have a business dinner. Not all business is conducted over dinner either. In Spanish culture, it's customary to continue the talks after dinner once the food is finished. This is also called ‘sobremesa’. The host is often the one who traditionally pays the bill. Want to improve your standing with the person in question? Then make sure to invite them to a meal in future. In that case, you will be the one covering the expenses, and you will be ‘even’. This also lays the foundation for a long-term business relationship in Spain.