Editor’s Note: The International Business Etiquette Series is designed to help students at the David Eccles School of Business navigate different cultures and countries as they conduct business around the globe.

Did you know that Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world? With a population of 146 million people, this makes Brazil a wonderful country to do business, but it’s tough if you don’t know the dos and don’ts of the culture. In this post, we will explore the business etiquette of Brazil along with several cultural aspects of the Brazilian culture.

Note: These etiquettes tips are generalized, so be aware and sensitive when you’re doing business in Brazil. Not all Brazilians are going to behave this way, so be adaptive and conscientious of your situation.

What should you wear if you do business in Brazil?

• Gentlemen: Wearing a three-piece suit will send out a good connotation. The Brazilian people will view you as “executive material.”
• Ladies: It’s important to wear conservative attire so a combination of a suit and slacks would be appropriate. You can also mix and match with a long skirt and a button-up shirt.

How should you behave or act when doing business with Brazilians?

• When scheduling business meetings, make sure to do it at least two weeks in advance.
• Brazilians value establishing strong long-term relationships, so be prepared to commit your resources for successful business.
• During business meetings, wait for the host to start off the discussion. Typically, these meetings begin by having casual discussions.
• Giving gift is not required at the first meeting, but lunch or dinner is expected.

How should you communicate with Brazilians?

• Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, so it would be superb if you can speak a few words or two. Most Brazilians will be impressed by it.
• Handshaking is very common. Shake hands to say hello and goodbye and use good eye contact.
• For women, they exchange kisses by placing their cheeks together and kissing the air.
• First names are often used, but it’s important to respect titles.
• Some good conversation topics are family, children and soccer, while some bad conversations topics are Argentina, politics, poverty and religion.

Other things to consider:

• Tipping is typically 10 percent in Brazil
• Purple flowers are used at funerals, so don’t buy purple flowers
• Toast = Saude or Viva (Sah-OO-Day, VEE-va)