Eye contact is expected and respected in Germany. Uninterrupted eye contact can be awkward for those not used to such etiquette and misinterpreted as staring. However, it shows attention and interest in a conversation. It is polite to make eye contact with superiors at work as well.
In Germany, it's considered polite to maintain eye contact almost all the time while talking to another person. This is especially important during business meetings. Eye contact is a sign of attentiveness, and you don't need to be afraid of threatening someone with this.
It is rude to chew gum or keep one's hands in one's pockets whilst talking with someone. Cross your legs by putting one knee over the other. It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture. Tight punctuality (Pünktlichkeit) is expected in most professional and social situations.
Non-Verbal
Personal Space: Germans usually keep about an arm's length distance between one another when talking, and sometimes a little extra between men and women depending on how well they know each other. Standing too close to someone can be seen as an invasion of their privacy.
If you're generally happy with something or want to let someone know that you agree with them, in the U.S., we simply give a “thumbs up.” This is done by making a fist and pointing the thumb upward. But when you make this sign in Germany, people will just think that you're counting.
What does the law say? Showing the middle finger to another road user in road traffic is an offence in Germany under Section 185 of the Criminal Code (StGB). It's punishable by a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine.
A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting. Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname.
In Germany you will probably see couples holding hands or kissing openly on the streets. Do not feel uncomfortable or angry about this as it is considered normal.
German people tend to be thrifty, be sensible, and respect one another's privacy, and they typically respect the structure and laws of society to an above-average degree. There is no place that this sense of 'order' is more apparent than in German business culture.
The most common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.
Flirting In German: It's All In The Eyes
It just means sexy eye contact could involve a little more “innuendo” than usual. This does not mean it'll necessarily be accompanied by a smile, or that you'll be invited with a lingering gaze. A favorite move when flirting in German is the “look, but then quickly look away.”
For example, in African-American cultures, eye contact with authority figures may be viewed as disrespectful. Similarly, among some Asian groups, eye contact between strangers could be considered shameful. In some Latino cultures sustained eye contact may be viewed as disrespectful.
Germans might be famous for many things, but their flirting skills are not on that list. If you're trying to flirt with them, chances are they won't realise it since they tend to be reserved.
Attachment to order, organisation and planning is a stereotype of German culture. Germany is perceived to have an abundance of rules (for example, copyright trolls often come from Germany) and Germans are generalized as enjoying obeying them.
Almost half of the German population has blue eyes, and many also have blonde hair and pale skin. Many German people also tend to have square jaws: a.k.a., jaws that are about as wide as the rest of the skull. German people also tend to have quite high, prominent cheekbones – and overall, quite angular features.
Physical characteristics of German people include light complexions, above average heights, square jaws, and sharp facial features. The stereotypical character traits most associated with German people include their efficiency, punctuality, desire for order, using very few words, and having no sense of humor.
3 In public
Even a kiss on the cheek is acceptable. Anything more tends to drift towards awkward territory.
In Europe, PDA is also fairly acceptable, especially in major cities. However, people tend to be more reserved in Germany and the German-speaking part of Switzerland, as well as the Netherlands. Eastern Europe and Russia are also somewhat more reserved.
While a handshake may be the preferred manner of business greeting in Germany, the two-cheek kiss is making inroads among younger generations. But figuring out just who to turn the other cheek for remains a mystery.
While in other cultures, burping or smacking might be a signal that the food was good and enough, in Germany you try to eat as quietly as possible. That doesn't mean you're not allowed to talk; quite the reverse, you should talk as much as you can to boost your German.
German Values
Order and organization: Germans are often considered highly efficient and matter-of-fact people. They value punctuality, rules, and order. Privacy and space: Personal information is often kept private, and it is common for Germans to keep a clear distinction between their personal and professional lives.