Is the French Stereotype true?

Question

Are the French really rude and mean to people? I have wanted to travel to France, especially Paris, for a long time now but after hearing such stereotypes I am not sure that I do.

Answer 1

I feel the same way you do. Just today I was telling my sister that I don't think I would like to visit there anymore.

Answer 2

I lived in Paris for six years.  French people in general are not rude but they can seem that way in Paris.  If you understand that they have a different culture and are not always 'warm' to strangers then you'll be fine.  I loved my time there and have some of the best memories of my life picnicking along the Seine river on the pont des arts.  If you're eating out in a tourist area just be firm with the waiters without showing too much emotion.  They will respect you and you'll get what you want.  Learning a couple of words of French would be a giant plus as well. They appreciate it when Anglophones make a sincere effort.

Answer 3

Not really. Im an american who lives in switzerland but right next to the french border ( about 5 minutes away ) and French people tend to be friendly and helpful

Answer 4

Hi, I am living in south of France and am from Ireland.

Yes and No.

Honestly.

I have had both experiences, and my partner is French.

Basically dont arrive here with no french, if you dont try then they snub you. They are very proud of their country, and their heritage. They are a socialist country, they believe in their country, its all countryside, wines, breads, honey, rolling landscape, it is a beautiful country. But they want to keep it that way. Its larger than England and yet with less people in it and thus has retained a lot of beauty. Now a lot of English are moving down south to buy property as the currecny exchange means its possible for them to buy a summer house. But in the end the English come over here, buy property, upping the housing martket, arrive and speak english to everyone expecting the locals to speak the language. Its like going to Timbucktoo and expecting them to speak Russian, or Japaneese. If you were to travel anywhere its best you learn some basics, as i have found if you try with the french they help you along. They love to hear people try and speak their langauge, they are helpful and also a lot love to hear a foreginer speak french with an accent!!!

I hope you make it to france, but dont just visit Paris. ITs like going to America on holidays and just going to Washington DC and then heading back and judging the whole country on that one visit. Take the cheap and great trains and travel south, west, or east. Just get out and enjoy what is here! Cheap wine, good coffee, great views and a life experience!

Answer 5

Is any stereotype true?

Paris is a big capital city, and you can find rude people and nice people there. Many people are stressed and in a hurry, just like in any big capital city.

It is probably important to make an effort to try and speak French to French people. Some people can be rude to tourists who just assume that everybody in France speaks English.

Don't hesitate to go to France and to Paris. It is a beautiful place and the food is wonderful.

Answer 6

A story of my experiance.  Please bear with me.  We were staying at the Holiday Inn Express at the Grand Canyon in Arizona.  I got up early and went to get coffe.  The dinning area was not open yet and in the lobby waiting was a seniors travel group,  The doors open and they worked thier way in, helping those along that needed help.  I wen to the coffe stand and these two men where standing in front of the doffe pot talking, they looked at me and said " Go ahead young man we are in no hurry."  Everyone was polite and friendly.  Later I went back for seconds on the coffe and by then it was families with kidds. Again everyone was polite and friendly with the kids acting like kids.  Went a third time for coffe (family was still asleep) and now there was a French tourist group in the dinning room.  I was in shock at what I saw.  They would go to the fruit bowls and deposit all the fruit in the bowl into thier day bag and not just one or two people that where gong to share the fruit with the rest of the travel group.  No.  Every person that went to get fruit would take every piece of fruit in the bowl.  A French lady was waiting for her toast to come out of the toaster and when it did this french guy took It.  She yelled at him, he yelled are her, made a gesture with his hand and walked away with toast.  At the coffe pot they were all pushing and shoving each other so that no one was able to get a cup and move on.  As I

walked away this french lady spilled creamer on my foot, made a comment to her friend in french that had something to do with Americans then looked at my as it were my fault.  Being the rude yank that I am I wiped my shoe clean on her trouser leg.  Later when we were leaving the french group was checking out and again it was a mad house they were all again pushing and shoving and waving thier pass key in the clerks face wanting to be the first one attended to.  Checking our entailed giving the clerk you pass key, they run it through the magnetic reader and the computer prints the bill, you sign and take your copy.  that quick that simple.  But with all these french tourist waving thier pass key in the clerks face and yelling it took them for ever to get out.  And I won't even get into the terrible experiance we had when we went on a tour of Europe.  go to Spain or Italy.  Spaniards come across as little snobish at first but are great people once they wanr up to you.  The Italian?  the are sbsolutly fantasatic.  Just keep an eye on you woman or your man cause there are all sorts of DOGGS there.

Answer 7

I've been to France many times and have some family there.

I don't find the French people rude, on the contrary,

I find them sweet and helpful.

I love visiting France! especially Paris!

Answer 8

There are rude people all around the world.  Not just in France.  I have a friend who is from France, and she says the french have no problem with other people (but of course that could just be her opinion).  I don't think all French are rude though.

Answer 9

The ppl in other French cities and towns tend to be more polite than the ppl in Paris.  It really must have something to do with being harried in a crowded city.  It also helps to be able to speak some French (a lot of French ppl are not able to or don't like speaking English and might feel put upon if ppl ask them to speak English). I have encountered some very rude ppl in Paris (also some nice ppl, usually students and elderly couples). The other respondent(s) are right-- there're rude ppl all over the world.  If you want to visit France (which is the most visited country in the world, though the no. 1 shopping destination in the world in terms of $/tourist spent is the US), you can just spend a couple of days in Paris (or none) and visit some other cities and towns.

Answer 10

I'm French and I'm not rude and not mean to people :D But in France, we use to say that Parisians are less polite than the other...but still, there are no monsters!

Come to our lovely country, you won't be disappointed ;) It would be a shame to be stopped by silly clichés!

Answer 11

yes it is said 1 out of 3 japanese people have to go to the japanese embassy to be flown home cus they cant cope with the french being so rude. that is true look at the japanese website of the embassy in france. and the japanese should know there the most perlight people in the world

Answer 12

im a american student who studys french and i can say from people i no and from my own experiences that they only are rude when they feel u are rude to them. they jest pefer to have manner unlik us americans

Answer 13

Seriously, it depends on who you talk to and where you are. In Paris they tend to be on the rude side...but it's not rude as much as it is that they are just extremely busy people and don't have time to chat. If you make NO effort in speaking them in French, not even Bonjour instead of hello, then they will probably be worse, especially if you say it in English. Just try your best to speak whatever minimal amount of french you know - they will appreciate the effort and see that you are actually taking an interest in their culture.

Answer 14

I've read some wrong comments above. Just plain stereotypes mostly from people who have never been to France... Xenophobia?

Americans are very proud, and will defend their ideas with convictions. French are just the same. They love politics, they are proud of their country and in Paris, like many big cities you'll find rude people just like NY or LA...

But try to speak 2 words of French, and they'll just be very friendly and help-full. Just go, you'll love this country full of history.

Answer 15

no i live in paris and they are fine.

they are a bit ruder than the brits in that they wouldnt say hello love what can i get you ? when you buy cigs, they just glare at you and say 'oui ??'

BUT this is just their way, if you ever neede anything , even from a total stranger they would always help you, ie i got locked out last week and 4 of my neighbours spent over an hour helping me in. In the UK I am sure they would have just said call a locksmith.

so there are different kinds of polite

the Brits are wonderfully polite to each other but wouldnt really put themselves out, but the french would put themselves totally out, but never feel the need to smile while doing it!

Answer 16

Like everywhere else there are good and bad.

I think the reason Anglophones find the French "rude" is because most French people love to talk and say what is on their mind. For one thing they are perhaps a little too direct compared to the Brits, like myself.

In the UK we are pretty standoffish and would rather keep anything we could consider offensive to ourselves rather than let it out in the open.

Being direct and open can be considered rude, especially when it can be unwanted advice. But I think the French are like that because they are open minded and generally kind - but we just don't interprete openess in that way, and would be inclined to say "mind your own business".

So it's not rudeness - just curiosity and an open spirit in most things.

The French really do love to talk, and spend hours at the dinner table doing so - something that is alien to people from English speaking countries.

It's really a different pace of life.

I live in the Paris area - which can often be an exception to the rest of France. People often don't have the time and can be rather selfish and suspicious of new people. But I've found the rest of France to be totally different, out in the "provinces".

Answer 17

I'm sure you're sick of getting answers like this, but ... it depends. If you go there and expect them to roll out the red carpet for you because you're American, they'll despise you. Conversely, if you're polite and try to learn a little French, they'll love you. I spent about 10 weeks there and never had a problem. I spoke as much French as I knew and did my best to learn more while I was there, and they respected me for that. Just try not to be obnoxious. THAT'S the stereotype they have of us. Try not to perpetuate it, and you'll be fine.

Answer 18

I think that it is not true. They are really nice and friendly people. Some may be rude, but you rarely bump into them! They really like how people try to speak their language and they enjoy how youre stuggling to say certain words. But of course, most are willing to help you, and make you feel welcomed! By the way, dont listen to what other people have to say. After all, it is just a stereotype right? Experience Paris yourself and then think something of it. Until you visit France, put your hands over your ears to whomever is trying to tell you that the French are rude and mean people.