Mexico Customs And Etiquette

Mexican social interactions revolve around a deep-seated sense of hospitality. The desire to make others feel as welcome as possible influences the way in which Mexicans speak to each other and how they treat tourists and foreigners.

Mexicans almost always use formal terms of address when speaking to one another. As in other countries, professional and academic titles convey respectability. Those who have earned a college degree may be addressed as licenciado or licenciada, and those with doctorates as doctor or doctora. When introducing yourself, a simple señor, señora, or señorita (for young or unmarried women) is appropriate.

There are two ways of addressing someone in Spanish: usted is formal and indicates respect and distance, while tú indicates a closer relationship. Traditionally reserved for people of authority, usted and its proper verb conjugations are appropriate for use with strangers. Tú and its verb conjugations are used to reflect familiarity and may be used toward tourists to suggest warmth and welcome. Locals use both, depending on location and establishment.

I Thought We Said 8 O’Clock

Outside of the business world, Mexico is notorious for its relaxed approach to fixed meeting times and schedules. This phenomenon derives not from a Mexican indifference to punctuality, but from a more relaxed attitude toward time and its pressures. So, if you find yourself tapping your foot and staring at the clock expectantly while awaiting the arrival of a friend, it might be more comfortable to pull up a chair.

Gringo Love

Originally reserved for those of European descent, the term gringo has recently lost its harsh association and welcomed all English-speaking visitors. Expatriates in Mexico have even taken to referring to themselves as gringos. Americans may sometimes find themselves labeled more specifically as yanquis (Yankees), and minority travelers may have to put up with racial epithets, but the gringo community embraces everyone. Minority travelers should also note that words like negro and chino are not meant as slurs, but rather as adjectives to describe race or nationality; they do not have the negative connotations that they might in other languages.