bise • [bi:z] n.f.

Fam. “baiser” • “kiss” - Faire les bises • “(litterally) to make kisses”

1^ère attest. 1911 supra; déverbal de biser* « baiser ». [Source : TLFi]

What are these bises and what does it all mean?

As you may know in French culture people often kiss each other on the cheeks. So if you are in France and interact with some French people, you may be faced with this custom

When should one faire les bises • [fεRlebi:z] ?

Obviously you don’t go around “fairing les bises” with just anyone. Here are examples of people with whom you don’t need to faire les bises:

• taxi drivers
• le marchand de journaux • “news vendor”
• le boulanger • “bread vendor”
• etc.

So now that you know from whom you should not be receving any bises, here are examples of people with whom you may need to faire les bises:

• your friends
• friends of your friends
• family of your friends
• certain collegues*

Basics of les bises

Now that you know what these bises are and with whom you are expected to do them, how do you engage in this custom?

How many bises?

There is no specific rule and the number of bises may vary from region to region and person to person. The best bet is to try for 2, then sort of pull away to see if they are going for more. If you pull away too far the common response you may here will be, “c’est x chez moi” (x being the number of kisses to which they are accustomed). Normally they will say 3 or 4, so I like to say things like “c’est 18 chez moi” (it’s 18 where I’m from).

To bise or not to bise? That is the question.

Once again, as unfortunately I have come to learn, there is not a “Big Book of Bising” or a “Bising 101” class. Basically if someone starts giving you the bises on a regular basis, then you should do likewise. A common courtesy is to not faire les bises when you are sick.

Some bising is only circumstancial.

You may encounter certain times when someone with whom you do not normally faire les bises, bises you. What do you do? The important thing to remember is that there are certain cases which call for a bise. Normally when you receive a gift, you go around and faire les bises with everybody that offered it. This doesn’t mean that the next time you see that person that they will want to faire les bises with you.

The whole custom of fairing les bises is really confusing and can make you read too much into stuff if misunderstood or misused. My advice, just play follow the leader. Just let the people come to kiss you, and copy what they do.