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49 Comments
Hey guys 👋👋 I had a lot to say in this reaction so if the pausing was a bit too much then please check out the original video here if interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkxzKuL5gP4
It’s more a
‘Paris/any major city eg London New York’and then the rest of the country disparity. Big city rudeness v mostly polite everywhere else.Italian here. I travel to Paris very often and never found Parisian rude anymore than other European cities. Definetly not as rude as New York.
I will add to things : the first is about the stereotypical rudness of French people. In France when someone is rude towards you, you either respond to him rudely to match his rudness and make him understand he is being rude, or you respond to him overly poletely so he would feel really bad and change his attitude. So if you ask something at someone in an entilted way, you will have a lot of rude answers.
And it is particularly true for saying Bonjour (Hello), which is the basics of French politness. If you not saying it when you ask something, as a French we view it as if you were saying "Hep servant" and then procceed to ask. And if you omit it, some people will repeat angrily Bonjour untill you say it and excuse yourself. And as we do it between French, we do it with stranger to, some French may be less because they understand that's a cultural differences, but in turisty areas it wiil be worst with the stranger because people are fed up with it.
And the second thing it's about the way we say "Ça va" (How are you doing). As she said on the video, saying "ça va" to a stranger is a way to say "do you need help".
But with people that we know, like familly members and friends, we can say "Salut, ça va" (Hello, how are you doing) and in this case it's not really a genuine question and we generally respond "Salut, ça va bien et toi?" (Hello, I'm fine and you ?) even if sometimes we respond really by and so we can say "ça ne va pas" (I'm not doing well).
The strangest it's that if we are asked by a friend or familly "Comment ça va", instead of "ça va", the question is genuine and we are expected to give news about our life. But both sentences are translated the same way : "how are you doing" (because "comment" means "how")
Bonjour Connor ! You had a lot to say but it was relevant
and I think you have a good state of mind and could be at ease here (in France ).
I must say that I'm a big corrector when people make a mistake when speaking ,and it never occures to me that it would be rude :it's just the only way to learn !
( as a mother of 3 I had to correct a lot , when children learn to speak ,it's by repeating the "good" way ,not reading it in a dictinnary )It became a second nature .I think that ,if I was hearing a mistake and say nothing ,it would be like I didn't care of the person and let it be ignorant.
by the way : we don't say the T at the end of chocolat….(see)
The word you search at 11:00 is respect.
WE don't wear béret anymore, it's a cliché and is to be weared in a spécial way… Always used to roast us…
It is not all French people who are rude it is just the Parisians. I went with my husband and a couple of friends and we went into a cafe and because one of our group did not want a drink we were told rudely to get out.
If you're Welsh just go to Brittany, I used to go a lot when I lived on the SE English coast and the second you mention Wales you're treated like royalty, so so so friendly, because we share a common Celtic heritage, you get treated like a member of the family.
For those Anglos out there on French pronunciations. Typically if a word ends with a consonant it is silent. In this case both the n and t are silent: Etudiant (Student masculine ) VS Etudiante (Student feminine)
".. je ne crois pas que Paris suffise à faire la France".
".. I don't think Paris makes the whole France"
Victor Hugo (Notre Dame de Paris) 😌
I tried really hard for the traduction, hope I did well 😁 Kuddos from France you G, love your content 🔥
is she really a local ?
remember that prejudices are made by people who don't have a clue on what they're talking about.
french people speak english, but tourists should make an effort, and learn some french words.
if they don't, THEY are the rude ones…
(french is the official language in 27 countries + 12 french overseas territories)
I went to France once, stayed at an Airbnb. The host picked me up from the airport without me asking out of kindness. On the journey he said he was a health and safety inspector. He said that the French have the worst health and safety in Europe because they are so arrogant. They refuse to listen or do what other people want, so they have accidents and get injured 😅
Some would say that France was one of the most important countries in the world for hundreds of years, but haven't done anything significant for the last five decades, and so they're bitter and rude as about it, but I don't know if that's true
Dlaczego cudzoziemcy KOCHAJĄ Polskę? Why do foreigners LOVE Poland?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIw3bfQDEt8
Dlaczego Polska? Pytania cudzoziemców, dlaczego przeprowadzili się do Polski… Why Poland? Questions from Foreigners Why They Moved to Poland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tdWQwrEDj4&t=18s…
Niesamowity POLONEZ | Studniówka 2025 | I LO im. Feliksa Fabianiego. Amazing POLONEZ | Prom 2025 | I LO im. Feliks Fabiani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VP28CI3wUg
The main thing to remember is that Americans are taught to be kind, smiling, and friendly toward strangers, while the French are taught to show respect first through essential polite expressions. That's why every interaction with a French person should begin with a polite greeting. Otherwise, it is you who started by being rude and disrespectful to the French.
We, in France, have Karens too (male or female, doesn't matter) but the "call the manager" thing isn't common at all.
Sure we don't have the same tipping policies as in the US or even other European countries but you can cleary tell how your date, friend, business partner or acquaintance thinks by observing the manner he/she deals with "servant people".
For me, treating them as "servants" is a big no no.
P.S : There is a lot of hierarchy in France. Yet most bosses will side with their employees regarding customers. "The customer is king" isn't a thing at all overhere.
I lived in rural France for 12 years and found them friendly and helpful. Indeed, my neighbours were quite surprised when I thanked them for their assistance. 'C'est normale', they would say. As if it didn't warrant any comment.
if you talk to younger french, as myself a french, they are more than awful, but wild, not even Human, they are rude and really mean, I won't say much because of YouTube but, really, I wasn't expecting them to be so not-educated people at that point
The part with "Une pain au chocolat":
1 ) This is not "Une" but "Un" because the pain is masculine.
The correct full sentence you should use in that situation is:
"Bonjour, un pain au chocolat, s' il vous plait"
"Hello, a chocolate bread please" (notice that I started the sentence with Hello and finished with please, very important)
2) When the seller corrects her by saying "Un !", this is not rude, this is her way to help her to speak better French! She is actually being nice to her, she takes the behavior of a teacher to make sure her experience buying bread will also improve her french skill
3) we don't pronounce the "t" at the end of "chocolat"
4) @McJibbin, special information for you, there is a big debate in France regarding the world "chocolat" and "chocolatine", I'm sure you can find videos about this topic…
In paris you say "chocolat" bug if you go in some other regions of France, they will use "chocolatine" and if you use "chocolat" they will know instantly that you are not from their location : )
Paris is for business, you have a million cars coming in every day and a million people coming in by RER every day, you have 2 million people coming in every day
If you want to enjoy France, go to the provinces. I am in Little California in the southwest of France, the European and world capital of surfing.😊
29:30 She's essentialy treating a foreign country as a theme park. Not the way to go.
Parisians are just like Londoners. Desperately trying to live a normal life, but can't because… Tourists!
Many foreigners speak in english without any salutation ! It’s very rude for French people because it’s seems to say them « you are my colony and you have to speak my language and I don’t need to say bonjour or merci because you are nobody or my servant ». So, they have a rude return because french are proud. But, if you practice a minimum of « savoir vivre », no problem even french people is shy and even the country is not a them park.
Have a Nice trip in France
It's very easy to criticize a way of thinking that's CULTURAL!!! we're taught at school:
– to think critically
– to be honest and frank.
so, if a friend goes out dressed like a sack, I'm not going to smile and say “great!” no because I don't want anyone to make fun of her outfit so I say “that's not right, you're badly dressed”, it's not being "dry" and “rude” but a truth because we're worried….
From North of France
I have lovely French friends in France, we all speak a bit of English and a Bit of French and we get along with lots of laughs.
I remember how that girl got roasted, and it's not surprising. I think the worst thing she said is that she "felt stupid for coming and spending money", as if people should be super grateful that she spent money to buy her own food in this place, instead of bringing it with her in her suitcase… And the thing with the "French hat". What did she expect? After hearing this, she doesn't come across as a nice person at all, and I wonder how she actually behaved while interacting with some of the locals. She must have felt (and acted) super entitled "because she spent money". No wonder people weren't very friendly.
You should not confuse "server" and "servant",
This is sometimes the cause of the reaction of the one who serves you …
Issue is, most people don't visit France, they just visit Paris and then people tend to think all french are like parisians, luckily that's not the case.
Also people from Paris and its surroundings tend to have a bad rep an be hated by most of France.
Although not been to Paris I have driven and stayed in France 4 times now. I resisted going for many years due to the perceived view I would be unwelcome. I was totally wrong, 99% of the people I met were lovely, helpful, friendly and made me very welcome. The one thing I learned was to try and speak French. I murdered it of course, but I tried and then usually the locals would laugh or giggle and help me out and I think (not sure) that they appreciated that I tried.
Every time I hear someone (tourists) say French people are mean or indifferent etc… My first question (in my mind at least) is : DID YOU SPEAK FRENCH TO THEM, OR AT LEAST TRIED ? If you go to a country and don't bother to learn the language or at least the basics of that language and culture (like say hello, excuse me… in their language, or really big no nos)… Then YOU ARE the rude and mean one ! The people in that country are at home, why should they be the one to ADAPT TO YOU ? You should adapt to them !
I'm French and I speak English, obviously. But like she said in that video, French people are attached to their culture, and their language. I love the French language, I find it beautiful and love a lot about it and how it's come to be what it is now (old/archaic french, Latin…). So I will almost always be nice to tourists, and I'm used to them because there are a lot of them in my city (AND i used to work as a sales person). BUT I will not be nice anymore if you are NOT ! If you only try to speak French with a "Bonjour", and a little sentence, and fail. I wouldn't laugh, I would be SO HAPPY you tried, and say "If you want we can speak English". I did it a lot when I was in sales, I was the one in the shop who took care of EVERY tourist, because I was the only one who spoke English and could do an entire sale in that language. AND EVERYONE tried at least to say "Bonjour" and to say what they were looking for, even if not successfully. That is respect ! For the country you're in, and the people you are visiting. Because you are the visitor ! You shouldn't expect them to respect you if you don't respect them in their own home !!
English is an international language (what language do pilots use worldwide) but the French dislike that is so.
People from all over the world come to Scotland but if they don’t speak the language they are still treated with friendliness and courtesy.
visiting another country with another alone is definitely an experience. yes it can be lonely some times, and it is tiring because of the other language. sometimes you feel in the wrong place and you don´t understand what´s happening. at that point, you go through a down moment, we all do. as long as it is just temporary, it is OK.
Through french history, we fought to have equality, it is written at the front of every public building in france. Liberty, eqality, brotherhood. these are our core values, we are all equal and we stand united for each other. but each of us has his own life and it is his business. as long as it does not disturb your life, don´t interfere and the other will do the same. I agree that this can be different from other countries.
Regarding pain au chocolat, it is masculin, so you use un. une is for feminine words. and on top, french prononciation "un" is not pronounced like U and then N, but like 1 in french.
And it is true, roasting is part of it. actually, when someone starts roasting you personnaly, it means you are getting accepted
I hate it when people stay on the left side on elevators… In Budapest people still don't know. And I noticed teachers don't even teach this to children! When there's a school group with children and teachers, they're all scattered all over the elevator stairs… 😤😤😤
@McJibbin your reactions made sense and the fact most of the advice that Lucille was giving seemed obvious to you shows that being ready to adapt while travelling is not rocket science. It's just like you said: it's just a matter of self awareness, willingness to learn and empathy. And agreed also when you said "I am the variable in this new environment". We just need to open our eyes and ears and everything will be fine, in most countries we may visit really.
A lot of the stereotypes Americans have about the French are about Parisians, and antiquated at that.
I am a French teachers living in the US for 30 years. I went back to France for the first time last year. Any change in 30 years? YES, just 1 change: I was amazed by the kindness and politeness of people, vendors, bus drivers, clerks, etc. They didn't know I am French and some even spoke to me in English LMAO. Actually, I was surprised, remembering how French people were 30 years ago .. hm hm .. they were not nice and polite. Now, if an American visiting France TODAY says "French are rude", there are 2 reasons: very bad luck or YOU American didn't do any effort to learn a few French words and adapt to their civilization. Imagine if you were not speaking English in New York City. GOOD LUCK! By the way, ALL my American students back from a trip to France are telling me that French people are quite nice and helpful.
12:50. Like anglophones don't have the need to learn foreign languages, it used to be the case for francophones as well, and still is to a certain extent. We can travel to many places in the world and just speak French, we had colonies on all continents and until the raise of America after WWI, French was the primary language of diplomacy. Also French is still a favorite second or third language in many countries. In many countries, French was used among upper class citizens, to distinguish them from the lower classes, etc
Besides, English was the language of our main historical ennemy: England. Keeping French strong vs English was a patriotic duty. This changed only after WWI. So if you wonder why the French don't speak English as much as other countries, it's the same reason why anglophones don't speak other languages. It's not an absolute necessity.
We are not rude. We are reserved and cautious.
Oddly enough, I only want to be rude to Anglo-Saxons, especially when they are noisy, look down on me, don't say hello and are also rude… Et puis bon, cela serait aussi bien qu'ils lâchent la grappe à la France aussi. Comme si nous étions obnubilés par eux aussi…
https://youtu.be/LZtgWpfaI9A?si=aVbBRXnlpcDf8yLE
French are not rude, you know . But tourist do not know rules. And if we make the effort to tell them, we are rude. For exemple , into one of your vidéo, you take one stone if normandy beach but it’ s forbid to take them. You think, I m rude but no . This is for you , and I don’t want you to be blames or judges for that . The rudness is sympatise. 😊 ( sorry for My poor english)
"Frites" is short for "pommes-de-terres frites", which mean "fried potatoes". Frites is the past participle of "frire" which mean "to fry".
Le jour ou les americains comprendrons que Paris c'est pas la France…au même titre que Washington ne représente pas les usa dans son ensemble, alors les touristes americains auront fait de gros progrès cognitifs…
"on est en France on parle français"
Sébastien Chabal
I'm British and I have been to France a couple of times. Neither time did I feel that the French people were rude at all. Maybe it was just an experience that someone had that isn't shared by many other people.
You are assuming that everyone is brought up with good manners and courtesy, unfortunately the majority of children over the last 20yrs have not.
She has culture shock and can't sort it out in her head ,a delusion being shown as a delusion some people just can't cope with it.
I agree with you every human interaction is different so putting a label on someone before you know them defeats a good experience 😂😂😂