I’ve heard all kinds of assumptions about French people via my blog and YouTube comments as well as in person. They range from stereotypical things both positive and negative to more off the wall assumptions… and many times the people saying these things have never been to France and don’t actually know many French people or anything about French culture. Go figure. Let’s put these French people myths to rest once and for all!
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Salut! I’m Diane, an American who has lived in France since 2012 and the creator of the blog/YouTube channel Oui In France. My channel’s focus is “Everyday French life and beyond.” I make videos on French culture topics, France vs. US culture comparisons, with a sprinkling of food, travel, and language topics and give you my thoughts about what it’s like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!
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B I’m Diane welcome back to we in France and let me just say wow are people opinionated now over the years I have heard all kinds of assumptions about the French via my blog here in the YouTube comment section as well as in person and they range from stuff you’ve heard
Before the stereotypical stuff that’s positive and negative to the more crazy off-the-wall assumptions and many times the shocking part is that people saying these things they’ve never even been to France and they don’t even know a single French person or at least not well so to
That end I want to get into five myths about the French that I hear over and over and we just need to put them to rest and for the record they’re not just coming from Americans so with that let’s go all right myth number one all French
People have Beday in their bathrooms now funnily enough the only Standalone bedet that I’ve seen in a private home was back in New Jersey one of my elementary school friends she had a bathroom with a bedet which is not typical of American homes might I add and I have never come
Across one in France accepted hotels and that’s not to say they don’t exist they do but they definitely aren’t as mainstream as the media would lead you to believe or as a bathtub or a sink they’re not as common as those things and they’re usually seen in very old
Homes unless a homeowner specifically wants one in their bathroom now my house it was built in the 1950s it does not have a bedet and most new builds they really don’t have Beday either but something gaining popularity in the US that I’ve seen are Beday that are
Attachments that you kind of clip onto your toilet seat and some of my family members that’ll remain nameless they Rave about theirs it it heats the seat so your buns don’t get cold if you go stumbling into there into your bathroom at 3:00 a.m. they had LED lights around
The rim different colors that um act as a nice touch and a nightlight but bedday in France in everyone’s house no that’s old school all right number two that all French people are well-dressed and this is a definite no definitely not there are people all over the world who have
Super stylish looks you know they look put together at all times those who don’t care at all and then a whole bunch of us who fall somewhere in the middle and France is no exception that said just like New Yorkers parisians generally tend to be better dressed in
Their day-to-day lives and people from you know suburbs or out in the countryside so that holds true and I would also say that French people’s regular casual is often a step up from what you you might find the average American throwing on just to go out and run errands now you’ll probably never
See a French person I’ll Never Say Never but you really would not commonly see a French person just running out to the store in their flannel pj bottoms I used to see that a lot in college in the US but just to set the record straight not
All French people look like they just stepped off a Runway and just a little PS they’re not all slim either although you will see fewer obese people in France than the us and it might really surprise you to know there’s a lot of diversity in how people dress dress
Especially outside of big French cities you know French women they’ll dress for their own personal style or lack thereof in some cases the region the climate um budget what their activity level is going to be and a bunch of other factors as you’d probably expect a point I want
To stress is that French people don’t all dress any one way and they’re certainly not all these upper class um or even upper middle class fashionistas like they’re not Emily in Paris you will see the French in sneakers and shorts in baseball caps and casually clothes you
Know you see people in tracksuits with dirty sneakers believe it or not I regularly see French folks out in workout wear this is a newer development you know here in my small town going to the grocery store still enclosed from the gym their yoga pants and their gym
Sneakers and there are loads of French people who dress sloppily and couldn’t care less about labels or looking trendy or even put together so it exists and I have a a separate blog post all about French style and how to dress in France if you’re coming to visit that you might
Like so L that blog post below all right number three all French people speak English and they just pretend not to to annoy tourists if you visited other countries in Europe you might get the impression that all Europeans speak English really well but the French they’re not really in this group they
Aren’t known for being great at English like Nordic countries or maybe the Dutch or some Germans you know there are definitely French people who studied English in school at some capacity at least but the majority they aren’t anywhere near fluent now I’ve also heard people say that the French pretend not
To speak English as a way to just annoy the tourists but I don’t think this is the case maybe some French people out there have a chip on their shoulder but most of the time the vast majority of the time people’s inability to speak English it comes from a genuine place
They either aren’t capable or they aren’t confident and don’t be swayed by all these French people seemingly speaking English well in a tourism capacity that is normal if they’re working as a tour guide or at a hotel yes you’re going to get the impression that French people speak English really
Well but if you kind of go outside that tourism bubble you’re going to see that’s not the case overall and just back to confidence what I just said French teachers can be a bit harsh I used to teach English in French schools and I’ve heard from French people that
They were often afraid to speak up as students because they’ve been ridiculed as a kid for just kind of making mistakes in front of others for trying right and then they stay silent so as an adult they’ve kind of ingrained that act of being reprimanded and they’re a bit
Hesitant to try and they they fear sounds stupid in front of others and just to this point I recently asked my French YouTube followers if they’d help me out with an upcoming video now that’s been put on the back burner but I asked them to record a quick video clip in
English like 10 seconds and I only got a couple of responses so thank you to the two of you who actually sent me a clip I appreciate that but commenters explained something I didn’t expect that they’re too self-conscious to speak English publicly and didn’t want to risk making
A mistake and be on video and that made me really sad every time I speak French every time I open my mouth I make a mistake so yeah and there are French people who speak great English my husband Tom he’s never lived in the US and there are Americans who speak great
French but they’re in the minority but they do exist all right number four that French people hate Americans and I see this one in my YouTube comments all the time usually it’s a justification for why someone won’t visit France and it’s not true it’s total BS really I’ve never
Felt hated by the French for being American if anything I would say French people are actually pretty happy to meet their first American in person remember I live in a small town and then they go on to ask questions about Hollywood New York City things they’ve heard on TV and
I can’t understand why an American would trade in New York for small town friends and they’d ask me you know why are you here again but yeah I’ve had rud comments over the years but they’ve come from people who I feel are projecting their own insecurities and Hang-Ups onto
Me and it’s not actual hate for Americans and even about me at all be like that projection thing it goes for rude comments in general but if anything the not like American politics I mean heck a lot of Americans don’t like American politics you know where they
Don’t like the policies they don’t like our government but on an individual level I don’t think the French people hate Americans just because that has not been my experience at all although I will say there are hateful people in all countries I just don’t find them to be
In the majority okay myth five all French people are experts about wine and cheese and are expert chefs and this is not the case French people they are not all born with innate knowledge about selecting the perfect wine or properly cutting breed they don’t all know how to
Prepare French dishes from scratch and I say that kind of laughing because I hear this stuff all the time people honestly believe that and even an uncle of mine I won’t tell you which one he asked Tom to help him pick out some wine at the liquor store for Thanksgiving and he was
Baffled why my French husband Tom couldn’t really help him with the wine well Tom doesn’t really know much about wine he doesn’t drink wine and yes he’s French you know eating habit drink habits they are learned like anywhere so if you’re not really a cook and you
Don’t really care for food you’re not a foodie you’re not just going to know this stuff like the back of your hand and I feel silly saying that but I feel like people assume that France is some kind of Utopia where citizens do everything perfectly and have this specialized Knowledge from birth that
Like other nationalities don’t have and that is not the case it depends on the person their upbringing their habits their interests and not all French people like to cook they don’t even know how in some cases and they certainly don’t shop at the farmers market make every meal from scratch and believe it
Or not McDonald’s is very popular in France I think the second or third leader after the US worldwide in terms of Revenue so yeah McDonald’s is popular here and to a degree the idealistic Meal Time notion in France it’s kind of faded I feel like french food culture is
Changing but when it comes to French meals and eating I will say the French get a lot right I’ll I’ll give them that and I think I even made a video that I’ll link here about my favorite French Meal Time habit and and speaking of the biggest myth about French people that I
Purposely left out you’ll hear that they’re rude they’re arrogant I’ve done recent videos on that so I didn’t want to repeat all that and I’ll link that here or down below and as always I want to hear from you in the comments about what other myths about the French that
You’ve heard that aren’t true or maybe they are in your experience and if you’re planning on visiting France soon I have an EG guide that’s just a few bucks it has all kinds of tips to help you be more prepared in France and to interact with the French 75 beginner
France tips for a standout trip you’ll find tips on transport money culture that kind of thing and the ‘s a way to support my channel so if you like what I do here I appreciate you checking it out every sale it helps me to continue being able to make content here content that
Will remain free not behind a pay wall not with a paid membership and not on patreon so if you purchased my guide and it’s helped you out I’d love to hear from you in the comments let me know and with that I’ll leave it here for today
Thank you so much and I’ll see you back here on WE and France soon salute
31 Comments
Have you heard about the syndrome where people come to France thinking it is going to be perfect and have breakdowns when they find it isn't? Crazy.
Haha, I didn’t know myth 1 was a thing. Now I’m going to subconsciously think French people should have a bidet in their home. Merci! 😂
We Love American people actually… But, as a matter of fact, it would require a bit a humility from "some" americans. Trust me, we can spot that red MAGA hat from CDG Airport Arrivals, not the best ice-breaker… 😉
I have enjoyed my visits to France.
As french, I think my english is pretty good. Thanks to movies in OV with subtitles.
Great video Diane. Multiple people have matched the experience I had in Paris with a taxi driver… “speak French”. The exception that proves the rule. Most everyone else we met in tourist areas were very tolerant as long as you start with “Bonjour”. Sorry to see the L’Ducs didn’t get farther in the playoffs, but great hockey to watch.
I haven't been in France in more than 10 years, I lived in France from 1983 to 1995. bidets were pretty standards. they were not in every home or hotel room but they were in 80% of residential homes…
The French family I lived with in 1958 and 1959 had a bidet bin the bathroom. My French partner has a built in one in his toilet. Very handy. Heated water and a dryer. 👍👍👍
Thanks for the one about French people speaking English. My wife an I moved to France 18 months ago. We speak a little French and find that sometimes some people here seem to not speak english until we hit the limits of our French; then they chime in with some English to be helpful. They invariably apologize for their English, even when it is better than our French. I love the French; they are like New York City people (where I am from): direct, no nonsense, funny, helpful when you need it, and leave you alone when you don't.
Another pleasant and accurate presentation. We are expats that live in France and have always found the French to be kind and friendly. Just trying to get by like the rest of us.
We learn to write english at school but not to spleek it
On of the réason of our unwilling to speek it
On hollidays in Italy or Spain, natives won’t Like frensh to speek in english, bécause they went us to mâke thé effort of understanding thèm (as latines)
On thé ôther Way, some like to practice théir english
If we’re very found of eating snails , not thé same for frogs
Your description of the wine knowledge 🤣
About English teachers in France. Our family spent a whole year in California in the 80's. Our older daughter went to kindergarden, made friends, learned English to the point that she started talking to us in English. She also learned to read in English. Back to France she went to a school where 6 years old kids were taught some English. The very first day, the English teacher told my daughter not to say a word "because of her awful American accent"! You can imagine the reaction of both the class and my daughter for being publicly ridiculed… She probably spoke English better than the teacher! My daughter decided to stop studying English at all… until she was in her teens! She's now perfectly bilingual and works mostly in English with foreign customers.
Another interesting point about English studies at school. The official recommendation from the Ministry was to emphasize grammar and written expression over oral exercises. I remember having to recite alphabetical lists of irregular verbs without any context!
I think the movie Amelie shows french people without the stereotypes.
I'm French and English -French translator (not interpreter) and you're absolutely right ! ^^…No bidet at home! We don't really appreciate it eventhough I already "met" one in a house we were renting in the past !…We don't hate Americans (and I have some friends in Florida and Maine) or anyone else ; we just don't like idiots wherever they come from !..Wines? I'm not expert at all : I'm just not fond of them. And cheese with some kind of 1,200 varieties over here…Well, well.
It is always the same: Speaking three words of French (I speak fluently) they assume you are a fluent French speaker and then they start talking to you in a very quick manner and sometimes in argot. But the English speaking people do exactly the same.
Even when the French dress casually or even sloppily, they do it more elegantly than Americans who dress similarly. French people also tend to speak their minds and not use so many empty euphemisms as Americans. You can get into serious disagreements for a bit, but when its over, it's over. Americans are such snowflakes.
I have visited Britain often and find them to be much ruder. As an English friend once told me, the French rather like the British but don't realize that it is not reciprocate.
I must agree that all these stereotypes are completely wrong .
Especially all French dress with style – obviously the origin of that one confused Macon with Milan
As for the French hate Americans – go to Normandie and see how much they welcome you . I think the origin here confused Americans as a nation with their politicians .
As far as being perfect English speakers – why should they ? – try speaking French non
And as for cheese and wine experts .. not experts but always happy to share a bite and a glass of what makes them proud of their regions ..
Heu (french questioning himself) I don't get it, what is wrong with having bidets… I wish I had one…
How many language textbooks include deliberate mistakes? The people in textbooks may have a vocabulary of 10 words, but they never make a mistake in meaning or grammar.
3- all french people can speak english but they don't because they want to piss off tourists -> They don't because they have a superiority complex!
4- all french people hate american -> Don't flatter yourselves americans, the world doesn't revolve around you! French people hate everyone else including other french from other regions…
5- 😂 … Myth buster, every food that has the world french in it has not been invented in France***
6- extra content for ya all – definitely not all the french people, but the vast majority of them feel as entitled as americans when they go to another country (again, not all the americans, but the vast majority) 👍
When I try to speak Italian in Italy, Italians really appreciate it and become really friendly. In France the French more stoic or indifferent.
Ahhh When my French is better than their English,,,,, I speak French, but!
I've found that most Europeans have the wonderful ability to separate a people from the politics of their country (unlike … most Americans!)
Thank you so much. This was fun. Most of my French friends love Costco hotdogs and really retro American food: Ruben sandwiches, etc.Curiously, I did find a lot of bidets in Spain, which I loved, loved, loved. Now, when you talk about the French that don't speak English that well, does this go for school-aged kids as well now? In other words, is the younger generation more like northern European kids in their English-speaking abilities?
We had a bidet in the bathroom in my parent's HLM (public lodging) apartment but it was removed a dozen of years ago in renovations. I think it was a thing 50 years ago but is not really any more. This was a small thing completely independent of the toilets, contrary to what you then describe, which are modern Japanese toilets.
Hi Diane, thanks for another interesting video 🙂
I think many of these stereotypes are holdovers from previous decades that people repeat and believe because they're not aware of how much things have changed…
Bidets were a common feature in some older buildings – mine was built in the early 60s and came with one, but my parents had it removed when they renovated the place in the early 80s because we never used it. Incidentally, bidets are still very common in Italy!
As for clothing styles, until about the 90s (my guess) people did tend to dress up more – generally speaking, of course. For instance, these days it's hard to even find a woman on the street wearing actual shoes*, as opposed to sneakers or some kind of boot! (I'm guilty of living in high-heeled ankle boots, myself). It's also become rarer to see people – particularly women, but even some men – wearing proper business suits. People definitely dress *a lot more casually than they used to around 30 years ago, wearing things to work that they wouldn't have dreamed of wearing back them, such as sneakers, jeans, hoodies, sweatshirts… but as Diane said, dressing down doesn't mean looking sloppy – outfits are carefully put together and accessorised.
I'm a totally atypical French person, myself – I'm chubby, I don't drink wine, I don't like most cheeses, I like my meat super well done, I can't cook to save my life – I microwave and make toast – and my idea of torture is listening to Edith Piaf – oh, and I don't smoke, either 🙂
All of these are true! I am French, overweight (remember, we have great food), I mostly dress casually, and I don't know much about wine or cheese as I hate both. I am totally fluent in English, though. Mind you, I majored in British and American studies in college, then lived in England and in the US.
We shouldn't have to speak English, its France!
Les deux choses que nous n’avons pas trop chez les Étatsuniens, c’est le French bashing et leur politique étrangère. Par ailleurs, l’Amérique ce n’est pas seulement les États Unis.
I’m Canadian and have been living in France for several years. People will sometimes assume I’m American if they’re not super familiar with the differences between the two accents, but as soon as I say I’m Canadian rather than American, their whole demeanour will change and they will suddenly become extremely friendly. They weren’t rude when they assumed I was American, but they were far, far more friendly after realizing I was Canadian instead! So I agree they don’t hate Americans, but they like Canadians more. Same with Irish vs English. My colleague is Irish, and people will become much friendlier once they learn she’s Irish and not English. They weren’t mean or anything before, but they just increase their niceness a lot!