apretón de manos
/apɾeˌton de ˈmanos/
The Spanish phrase for "hand shake" is apretón de manos.
apretón de manos is the noun used to describe the act of a handshake. If you want to express the verb "to shake hands", the common way to do so is by using the phrase dar la mano. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, dar la mano can also mean simply to offer one's hand to greet someone, which may result in a handshake or a different gesture depending on the social setting.
How does it change in a sentence?
apretón de manos is a masculine noun phrase. Because of this, any adjective used with it must also be masculine, such as in the phrase un apretón de manos firme (a firm handshake).
How do you pronounce it?
/apɾeˌton de ˈmanos/
When do people say it?
When initiating a handshake in Spanish, it is customary to say Mucho gusto or Encantado/a.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a handshake is often accompanied by a 'beso' or a kiss on the cheek between women or between a man and a woman, making a formal apretón de manos less common in social settings.
- While English uses 'shake' to describe the motion, the Spanish apretón focuses on the pressure, literally translating to a 'squeeze' of hands.
- Depending on the region, dar la mano can be used figuratively to mean 'giving a helping hand' or providing support to someone in need.
Examples in context
- Fue un apretón de manos muy firme.It was a very firm handshake.
- El apretón de manos selló el acuerdo.The handshake sealed the agreement.
- No me gusta ese apretón de manos.I don't like that handshake.
Example conversation
Javier and María are at a business networking event.
- JavierHola María, ¿viste su apretón de manos?Hello María, did you see his handshake?
- MaríaSí, Javier, fue muy profesional.Yes, Javier, it was very professional.
- JavierParecía un apretón de manos muy serio.It looked like a very serious handshake.
- MaríaExactamente, transmite mucha confianza.Exactly, it conveys a lot of confidence.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry apretón de manos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
