Travel Blog Colombian Culture: 10 Ways to Describe Colombians

May 26, 2020, 8:10 am

Colombians, like their motherland, are a unique bunch of people. Of course, you can't generalize a whole group of people just because they are from the same country. However, these are some interesting cultural observations you might note about Colombian people during your holiday in Colombia. 

1. Polite

Colombians are extremely polite by nature, some regions more than others. "Please," "thank you," and "you're welcome" are words you'll definitely want to use frequently here and they are also words you'll hear quite frequently in many different ways. The variety of ways you can say and will hear "you're welcome," in particular only goes further to show how highly Colombians value politeness. A few of the ways you can say "you're welcome" are:

• de nada (of nothing)
• fue un placer (it was a pleasure)
• para servirle (to serve you)
• a la ordén (at your service)
• con gusto (with pleasure)

2. Coffee Lovers

Being one of Colombia's most famous national products, coffee is everywhere in Colombia, and Colombians can't get enough of it. Most Colombians have a tinto, a small serving of black coffee (about the size of a shot), with or without sugar, several times a day. And, Colombians love coffee so much that there are even traveling coffee vendors who walk the streets selling tintos from around 5:30 am until about 9 pm.

3. Soccer Fanatics

Not only do Colombians love their coffee; they also love their soccer—A LOT! Most Colombians have his/her own favorite team, which most likely corresponds to the Colombian department they were born in. The soccer rivalries in Colombia are fierce, and Colombians are very passionate about showing pride for their team(s).

4. Happy

Colombia was deemed the happiest country in the world in 2013, and Colombians demonstrate that happiness all the time!

5. People Centered

Colombians as a whole put people before anything else. By that, I mean they will be late to an appointment if it means finishing an important conversation, because the person they are currently with is more important than an appointment regulated by time. In fact, Colombians are so people-centered that punctuality almost always takes the back seat.

6. Very Nationalistic & Patriotic

Colombians are VERY proud to be Colombian. You'll find many Colombians wearing bracelets, earrings, and other pieces of jewelry, as well as carrying key chains, bags, and wallets with national emblems and the flag colors on them. You'll also hear the national anthem played everyday at 6 pm, no matter where you are in the country.

7. Regionalistic

Now, this may seem a bit ironic considering I just described Colombians as nationalistic, but Colombians are both—nationalistic and regionalistic. While Colombians love their homeland, they also love the specific regions of Colombia they hail from—the regional foods, traditions, dress, sayings, accents, and manners.

8. Family Centered and Oriented

Just like coffee and soccer, Colombians also love their families. Most Saturdays and Sundays are devoted to family time and most Colombian families are tight knit with as many as 3 or 4 generations living under the same roof.

9. Clean

Colombians are very clean. Colombians might be the most shower/bath-oriented people I've ever come across. A daily bath is important here, as it is in most places, but many Colombians bathe multiple times in the day. And, in some regions, if you don't bathe multiple times in the day you're considered dirty!

10. Creative

Colombians are a very creative group of people. Even when there are supposedly no jobs, for instance, Colombians create new jobs. You're sure to come across some of the most oddball, out-of-the-norm jobs during your holiday in Colombia. And, the amazing thing is, most of these crazy jobs are created based on some sort of unique demand that's been seen, and they turn out to be at least somewhat successful.

Get to know this warm group of people during one of our exciting tours in Colombia! 

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