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It maybe rather curious to the visiting North American to see just how status conscious Mexico can be. It has been compared to the social etiquette of 1950’s America. What car you drive, clothes you wear, and even the kind of coffee you purchase can state where you stand in the social realm. It is all observed and noted. One foremost way to respect dignity of others, in this aspect, is to acknowledge their education level through the use of titles. It is a practice that gives due to those who have worked for their title. It can also be of great importance when forging business relations and other relationships as well. This is especially important if you are trying to find a job in Mexico.

Getting Started

A good practice to adopt, is to use Senor or Senora, along with the surname, for most people you encounter. This shows respect to those without titles. To jump straight to using a first name automatically without invitation is presumptuous and possibly even degrading in the eyes of some. It is better to error on the side of being too polite rather then too informal. However, be observant as to who you are talking to. Is this a business meeting? If so, most likely they will be introduced with a title or even a business card. Be quick to note the title and use it, possibly along with the surname. To continue saying Senor or Senora after knowing the title would be rude.

Common Titles

Profesor- teacher
Doctor- can refer to Medical or a PhD
Ingeniero- engineer
Abogado- lawyer
Arquitecto- architect
Presidente- In case you ever get to meet the president…
Perhaps a less understandable title is Licenciado, which basically means that this person has a license of some sort. Although a vague title, it is comparable to someone who has a Bachelor’s degree. It is used a bit more loosely though. For example, this is what you would call a business partner whether or not they have that level of merit. You will see it quite often on business cards, and it is a great title to use when you haven’t quite figured out what the person is yet. If it’s not the right title, believe me, they will correct you, but they will also appreciate the gesture.

When in Rome…

Using titles may be a little against the grain for Americans or Canadians at first. After all, no one misses the feudal system. However, the beauty of this custom is that no one gets left out. Everyone is shown respect. Those who have worked hard to get education like to hear it said, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We always try to show the same level of respect to the people we meet on the street as we do to the Doctor or our Licenciado friends. With every attempt made to use Mexican culture, the idea of characteristic rudeness of foreigners slowly evolves into something more positive in the minds of those we deal with.

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