Spanish habits
Everything you need to know about Spanish people
The most common mistakes foreigners make when greeting people in Spain
Saying hi and goodbye in Spanish can’t be that hard, right? Well, if you’ve been using your home country as your frame of reference you may be getting some simple Spanish greetings wrong.
Are Spaniards really that bad at queuing?
While the British are famous for their love of forming orderly lines, the stereotype from abroad is that Spaniards are impatient and incapable of queuing properly. Here's why foreigners have it all wrong.
'Nobody listens here!' Ten common complaints foreigners make to their Spanish partners
Cross-cultural relationships are as interesting as they are complex. Here are some of the ten most common moans foreigners have when talking to their Spanish partners.
Why do Spaniards eat so late?
Ernest Hemingway famously said that Spaniards “delay the day”, and when it comes to eating, this is certainly applicable.
Why does the birthday person pay for everyone's food and drinks in Spain?
One of the traditions that foreigners in Spain don’t get is why the birthday boy or girl is expected to pay for friends' meals and drinks when they go out to celebrate. What's the protocol for this habit?
All the different ways you can say 'cheers' in Spanish
You may be familiar with the basic way Spaniards say ‘cheers’, but there are other Spanish expressions and habits associated with clinking glasses and making a toast that you’ll be happy to learn.
Why do Spaniards find it 'embarrassing' to eat the last bite?
You may have noticed that your Spanish friends refer to the last bite of food on a shared plate of tapas as 'la de la vergüenza' (the one to be ashamed of or embarrassed about).
The quirky habits you can't help picking up when living in Spain
If you've moved to Spain, chances are you have picked up some Spanish habits. How many of these do you do?
Why do Spaniards dress for the season rather than the weather?
If you've lived in or visited Spain in autumn or winter you may have noticed that Spaniards often dress according to the time of year and not how hot or cold it is. We asked our readers to share their stories as we find out why this could be.
17 ways your eating and drinking habits change when you live in Spain
One of the highlights of moving to a new country is immersing yourself in a new culture, and Spain certainly does things differently when it comes to eating and drinking.
Why don't Spaniards use kettles?
If there’s one thing that Brits, Irish, Aussies and other tea-drinking foreigners find frustrating about Spain, it’s the absence of kettles for their morning ‘cuppa’. Esme Fox explores why the Spanish don't really care for kettles.
Why a mouse called Pérez is Spain’s tooth fairy
When a child loses a milk tooth in Spain, it’s not a magical fairy that comes to collect it in the night, but a little mouse instead.
Who are Spain's 'domingueros'?
This colloquial term is used to describe a certain kind of person you're likely to see out and about in Spain on Sundays.
Eleven ways your social habits change when you live in Spain
When you really settle into life in Spain, you start noticing some of your social habits changing, from not drinking to get drunk to how long it takes to say goodbye to your friends.
Why are Spanish homes so dark?
Despite being known for its year-long sunny weather, Spain is the EU country with the fewest homes with natural light, often intentionally. Why is it that when it comes to spending time at home, Spaniards seem to love being in the dark?
Ten Spanish lifestyle habits to adopt in 2025
If you're thinking about what new year's resolutions to keep up with in 2025, why not follow in the footsteps of the Spanish and adopt some of their traditional lifestyle habits? After all, they have really it sussed when it comes to living well.
Why do some Spanish homes have bottles of water outside their door?
Many observant foreigners in Spain have been quick to pick up on this bizarre practice. What’s the reason behind bottles of water being left outside buildings and houses here?
EXPLAINED: The rules of kissing in Spain you need to know
What are the unwritten and written rules of kissing in Spain? We explain everything you need to know.
Why do Spanish parents pierce their babies’ ears?
Piercing babies' ears is a controversial subject and one that people in many countries are very much against. In Spain however, it's common to see baby girls with pierced ears, so why do the Spanish do this?
Madrid mulls opening restaurants earlier to adapt to tourists
Madrid’s regional president wants bars and restaurants in the Spanish capital to open earlier for lunch and dinner to cater to foreign tourists and their eating habits.
Why do people in Spain say 'Jesus' when someone sneezes?
Something foreigners often pick up on while in Spain is that it's common for Spaniards to shout out ‘¡Jesús!’ when somebody sneezes. Why is this the case?
Why do they pour cider like that in Spain's Asturias?
The green northern region’s drink of choice is cider but it’s the method waiters have of pouring it from a great height that catches the attention of ‘out-ciders’.
The habits you will never be able to truly master like a Spaniard
It doesn't matter how long you live here or how hard you try, there are just some things that you will never be able to do as well as a Spaniard.