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Doing Business in Spain – Business Etiquette

Culture influences language and language, in turn, influences culture. This happens in ways both obvious and almost imperceptible. TJC Global understands that being fluent in a language also means being fluent in the subtleties and intricacies of the culture and business etiquette associated with it. To ensure that no embarrassing misunderstandings occur in a professional context, all our translators and interpreters are experts in the business culture and etiquette associated with the languages they work with.

Language

Most of the population of Spain speaks Spanish, which is better known as “Castellano”, although other official languages exist in different parts of the country. Amongst these are: Galicia, Basque, Catalan, Valencian and Aranese. But you need not worry: even if you are conducting business in one of these parts of the country, you will be able to communicate in Spanish with most people.

Spanish people’s level of English can vary from proficient to very basic. You should prepare yourself for the fact that even business men and women might not speak English at all. It is, thus, recommended to hire an interpreter if you are not a Spanish speaker.

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Addressing People

Spanish names are usually very long, being composed of two first names followed by two surnames (The father’s and mother’s family names). An example of this is this typical Spanish name: Carlos Jesus Rojas Herrera.

Another common way to address people is through the word “Don” for men and “Doña” for women, followed by their first name. This symbolises respect and can be used in formal occasions. It is also correct to address man with “Señor Don” and the complete name of the person (name and surname). However, be careful not to use the word “Señor/Señora/Señorita” with the first name or “Don/Doña” with the surname, as this would be a mistake. Both ways of addressing can be used in verbal as well as written communication.

Meeting and Greeting

When meeting for the first time a firm hand-shake and good eye-contact is appropriate. However when people become well-acquainted with each other, it is common to say “hello” and “goodbye” with a friendly hug and a little slap on the back for men, and with two kisses for women, (similar to the French style of greeting).

It is recommended to arrive on time to meetings. In the past Spanish people were thought to be not as punctual as the rest of Europe. However, the customs of the Spanish people have changed considerably during the last few years and the Spanish nowadays are as punctual as those of any other European country.

It is good to bear in mind that business procedures can take a while in Spain.

Presentation cards are widely used; they are usually given out during the first meeting. It is a good idea to have them printed in both Spanish and English. Business cards should include all your degrees and professional certifications, as this shows the expertise and capacity of the person in their area. It is also a good idea to provide a presentation card with the Spanish side facing the recipient.

Spanish people tend to speak loudly and to make an extensive use of body language in conversation. This should not be taken as an expression of anger. Spanish people go straight to the point and will expect you to do the same.

In meetings it is common for people to speak at the same time or for someone to be interrupted when speaking. This should not be interpreted as impolite, as it is merely a cultural difference.

It is acceptable to discuss business during dinner or in a café.

Dining

Dining protocols are the same as those of the rest of Europe. Much of the food, including fruit, is eaten with a knife and fork.

A tip of 5% in restaurants is considered enough. Tipping in other situations follows the same rules as in other European countries.

Lunch and dinner times in Spain are usually later than in many other European countries. Lunchtime is between 2 and 3 p.m., while Dinner time is between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. (or even later). Dinner in Spain is as important as lunch.

It is appropriate to arrive on time if invited to a lunch, dinner or party as the host might be waiting for you to start the event.

Unlike other Spanish speaking countries, the toilets are called “servicios” (services).

If you do not wish to be served more food you can express this by placing your fork and knife parallel to each other with the handles facing to the right.

Conversation Topics

Avoid starting conversations about politics and football since they are very controversial topics and can lead to endless arguments. A good conversational topic would be your country’s traditions and customs.

It is common for Spaniards to amiably slap one anothers’ shoulders or arm when having an informal conversation.

Gifts

In Spain if you receive a gift you are expected to open it immediately and act as if you are pleasantly surprised.

It is acceptable to give gifts to business partners. It is common to send cards or little presents to business partners at Christmas and New Year.

Red flowers mean love and may be misinterpreted.

National Holidays

You should expect most offices and some businesses to be closed on the following days:

Other Traditional Days

January 6th “Dia de Reyes” (Wisemen’s day): Similar to Santa Claus’s tradition in other countries, parents buy toys for their children and put them in secret in the living room late at night on January 5th. Some people celebrate this day with their families with a traditional hot chocolate and “Rosca de Reyes” (traditional Spanish bread).

December 28th “Día de los inocentes” (Innocent’s day): Day in which it is acceptable to make practical jokes. You shouldn’t believe anything you are told this day and you should not lend money to anyone, as you risk never receiving it back.

Working Hours and Opening Times

The “siesta”, which is an afternoon nap after lunch, intended for relaxation from work, is not very common nowadays. Nevertheless, some businesses, especially shops, close at lunch time for two or three hours and open again during the afternoon. In general, businesses open from 10:00 to 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. and open again in the afternoon at 4:00-5:00 until 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Offices open from Monday to Friday at 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. having lunch from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. approximately.

Banks and government offices tend to close early in the afternoon (around 2 or 3 p.m.) from Monday to Friday.

Restaurants, bars and clubs can be open until very late at night, with some of them not even closing at all. Many businesses are opened on Saturday, but not on Sunday.

Appearance

For social occasions such as dinner, theatre, etc, the style of dress tends to be more casual than in other European countries, which is probably due to the Spanish hot weather.

What forms of interpreter services can TJC Global provide?

Dutch arbitration interpeter video

Video/videoconference interpreting: (Video remote interpreting is also available) TJC provides language interpreting services to support events such as business meetings, conferences, legal/court/arbitration/litigation, and other online business interactions in the industry.

Participants can communicate via video or voice calls using computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc. These can be recorded should you wish to take minutes. Our professionally qualified interpreters can join your online virtual meeting, event, or proceeding, for example, and interpret remotely in the language pairing you require to facilitate smooth communication between all parties. They also provide relay interpreting.

Telephone interpreting Dutch arbitration

Telephone/teleconference interpreting is a practical way to bridge any language barriers. The interpreter is either located remotely (away from either party) or is with one of the parties. In both cases, they deliver interpreting services through telephone conferencing.

Telephone interpretation is helpful for clients who cannot travel to their counterparts’ countries but still wish to hold business discussions or communicate progress updates. At TJC Global, we are pleased to provide professionally qualified interpreters in almost any selected language combination.

Simultaneous & Consecutive interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting (also available with Video Remote Interpretation (VRI))

is used for international conferences, critical business discussions, seminars & symposiums. In this case, two to three interpreters are usually situated in a booth, away from the audience, and take turns to interpret at high speed, changing over every 15-20 minutes to avoid fatigue and the lack of concentration, which affect the quality of interpretation.

The interpreters listen to the speaker’s message using headsets and repeat it immediately (practically “simultaneously”) in the target language to benefit relevant audience members. They also provide relay interpreting, which is helpful if the speakers give presentations in several languages.

Consecutive interpreting

Consecutive interpreting (also available with Video Remote Interpretation (VRI)) is the most common type. It is used for business discussions, negotiations, contract exchanges, commercial, legal and technical meetings, medical or court hearings, or on-site inspections or audits. The interpreter listens to the speaker, often making notes, and later delivers the meaning in the target language.

The interpreter may wait until a pause or the end, at which point they deliver a translation relatively quickly. Consecutive interpreting may also be used at conferences for panel discussions, Q&A sessions or private discussions between parties – at a stand or elsewhere.

Looking for translation or interpreting assistance?

TJC Global provides specialist interpreting and translation services in various specialist fields. Whatever your requirements, we can find the right linguist to assist you. If your industry or project type is not listed here, please contact us directly with your enquiry.

Our language specialists utilise their knowledge of subject-specific terminology to deliver precise, unambiguous translations, whatever the context – enabling you to communicate effectively with the rest of the world. We are also able to adapt to almost any type of project.

What to do next?

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