Combien de bises ? ~ How Many Kisses?

The number of kisses varies by region and by other factors that are more difficult to pin down.

• Two bises (one on each cheek) is the most common.
   
• Three bises is typical in Provence. And a friend of mine in Rouen gave me three bises the day I arrived and the day I left, but only two during the week in between.
   
• I've been told on good authority that four kisses are exchanged in Nantes.

This may sound confusing - it is! Sometimes the best thing to do is just hold still and let the French person do the bises.

Poll: How many bises do you give?

There are a couple of websites that claim to know how many bises are done in the various French départements, but since they don't agree, I'm sticking with letting le Français decide. :-)

• Combien de bises ?
• Combien de bises fait-on chez les Français ?

Faire la bise

1. Qui fait la bise ?
2. Comment faire la bise ?
3. Quelle côté ?
4. Combien de bises ?
5. Les bro-bises (Manly kisses)

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