Three kisses in a row, especially on the cheek, often signify a warm, familiar greeting or farewell in cultures like the Netherlands and parts of the Balkans, indicating closeness, while in digital communication (texting), multiple "x's" (like "xxx") or "XOXO" (hugs and kisses) express affection, with more "x's" showing greater warmth, though the specific meaning depends heavily on cultural context and relationship.
In the Netherlands it is considered quite normal for Dutch people to greet each other with three kisses on the cheek. It is also customary to do the same again when saying goodbye. It's just a friendly way of saying hello and farewell. It's not limited to the Dutch either.
In general, you kiss three times when greeting friends and family (also when saying goodbye) You start on the right side, then move to the left cheek, and finish with a kiss on the right cheek again. Women kiss both women and men, while men greet other men with a handshake.
Things You Should Know
An X at the end of a text message represents a kiss. XOXO means hugs and kisses, while multiple Xs are a sign that someone really wants to smooch.
In Serbia and Montenegro, it is also common for men to kiss each other on the cheek three times as a form of greeting, usually for people they have not encountered in a while, or during the celebrations (wedding, birthday, New Year, religious celebrations, etc.).
The "most intimate kiss" isn't one specific type, but rather a feeling defined by connection, often found in gentle gestures like the butterfly kiss (fluttering lashes) or a tender forehead/head kiss, which signifies deep care, or passionate actions like a neck kiss (showing desire) or a lingering, soulful French kiss, all enhanced by the right timing and setting for true intimacy.
A kissing face emoji is more likely to be friendly than a kiss mark emoji. Both can have romantic vibes, but 😘 is a sweet emoji you can easily send a parent or friend. 💋 is more often used in steamy, sensual messages—although you can still give it a platonic or sassy context.
The three crosses on Amsterdam's coat of arms are St. Andrew's crosses (or saltires). They appear horizontally on the flag, but they also appear vertically on seals and walls. St. Andrew was a fisherman and an apostle, who is said to have been martyred on a cross called a crux decussata (an X-shaped cross).
The custom of having an 'x' at the end of a message started as a way to symbolise a kiss. It was used between lovers. However, these days it is more often used as a way of implying you are being friendly, not formal. This is especially important now that so much communication is written, rather than spoken.
The <3 is a sign she's flirting with you.
Sending you a <3 might be her way of testing the waters before she admits to liking you. Notice if she's using other flirtatious emojis like a ;) or 😉 complimenting you more than usual. These could be signs she's flirting.
If a guy is interested, he'll text consistently, aiming for daily contact (a few times a day or every day), initiating conversations, asking questions, and sending good morning/night texts, but the exact frequency varies by individual style, so look for engagement and quality, not just numbers, as some prefer calls or in-person chats, while others are busy or shy. A healthy sign is communication that feels comfortable and creates connection, not anxiety, and it should feel like he's making an effort to stay in touch.
Social kisses demonstrate affection for acquaintances in social settings. Friendly kisses are light, close-lipped kisses between friends and family. Romantic kisses are often open-mouthed and last longer than friendly kisses. Sexual kisses make use of the tongue and even teeth along with the lips.
The kissing number k(3) is the maximal number of equal size nonoverlapping spheres in three dimensions that can touch another sphere of the same size. This number was the subject of a famous discussion between Isaac Newton and David Gregory in 1694.
"The French kiss is one of the more sensual and passionate types of kisses," says Agar.
In the Netherlands, it's common to greet close friends or family with three alternating cheek kisses, starting on the left cheek, a custom known as the “three kisses” rule. It's a warm, friendly gesture used on birthdays, holidays, or when seeing someone after a while.
What Does 😘 Mean? Known as the kissy face, this flirty smiley icon signifies sending a kiss to someone. You might use it as a form of gratitude, like saying "Thank you," or sending it when you want to show your affection for something.
xx is used to symbolize kisses. Usually, one x (one kiss) is used for friends, two xx (two kisses) for best friends or close friends, and three xxx or more (three kisses or more) for your partner or super close friends.
The researchers discovered there are three distinct stages people have to negotiate in order for their flirtatious behavior to succeed.
Nowadays, it's also commonly used as a symbol of affection and endearment — especially when it's paired with “O” to form “XO,” signifying kisses and hugs. But how exactly did “X” come to represent a kiss, and when did that originate? The origins of “X” being associated with a kiss can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
English: Flag of Amsterdam. The official city motto is Valor, Resolution, and Mercy. The three X's, saltires (St. Andrew's crosses), are taken to represent these even though the X's are older than the motto.
In slang, "x" most commonly means a kiss, used at the end of texts or messages as a sign-off, often with "o" (XOXO for hugs and kisses), and can be friendly or flirty depending on context; however, it can also mean ecstasy (drugs) or signify a variable/unknown, like in "X-factor," and "xxx" can imply pornography or censorship. The specific meaning relies heavily on context, from affectionate sign-off to drug reference.
Surenos affiliated with the Mexican Mafia (La eMe) use the number 13, X3, and XIII (for M, the 13th letter of the alphabet). The Vice Lords of Chicago are often recognizable by their tattoos of the number 312, which is the Chicago area code. The 18th Street gang of Los Angeles, not surprisingly, uses the number 18.
The kiss mark emoji 💋 is a flirty little symbol of a lipstick marking that can indicate affectionate or friendly kisses, love and romance, sexiness, cosmetics and beauty, and in some cases, sassiness.
A French kiss, also known as cataglottism or a tongue kiss, is an amorous kiss in which the participants' tongues extend to touch each other's lips or tongue. A kiss with the tongue stimulates the partner's lips, tongue and mouth, which are sensitive to the touch and induce sexual arousal.
The red heart emoji ❤️ means love, passion, or affection. It's a versatile emoji that can be used in different ways to express diverse types of love.