When traveling, one of my biggest fears is to offend the culture of the country I am visiting. I don’t want to follow the stereotypes of “a dumb American” or “a clueless tourist.” I want to blend into the society as much as I can. With that said, I want to share the top ten ways to polite German etiquette.
1. Correct Address
--- The correct address of a person’s title is the key to a good first impression. There is nothing worse than starting on the wrong foot!
- Herr (Mr.) or Frau (Ms.) + title + last name. Example, Frau Doktor Meier.
- “Du” is reserved for friends, family and younger people.
- “Sie” is used for strangers, casual acquaintances, business partners, and elders.
2. Don’t be late
--- Germans are very punctual and do not enjoy people who are “fashionably late.” Even if you are a few minutes late, they might be offended. Plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early to an appointment.
3. Hand-Shaking
--- Germans are great hand-shakers, so go ahead and give them a shake.
