Habits That Are Normal In The U.S. That Are Rude In France

Jolie Porter
ILLUMINATION
Published in
3 min readJul 18, 2023

--

Photo by Leif Christoph Gottwald on Unsplash

Most of us are trying our best to be polite and courteous to others. Despite this, being polite can sometimes be tricky when traveling abroad since social rules can change from country to country. I have lived in France for years and have noticed some habits that seem well-mannered in the U.S. can be seen as rude in France. Sometimes I see American tourists in France and wish I could help them. In this article, I hope to do just that! With this article by your side, you’ll avoid offending the French and can enjoy life in France.

Photo by Vinicius Wiesehofer on Unsplash

Being overly chummy

Warning: being overly chummy or smiley can give off the wrong impression in France!

If you want to make French friends, this is good to keep in mind! It can even be seen as fake or insincere and make them uncomfortable. I think as Americans, when we feel enthusiastic about something, we want to share it with the world! Unfortunately, this instinct can be quite misinterpreted in France.

I still struggle with this living in France, as I often smile, but it is helpful to understand French people’s perspectives. Whereas a smile and a nod would be…

--

--

Jolie Porter
ILLUMINATION

American girl living in France. I love meeting new people and discovering different cultures. If we are brave enough to live boldly, life can be an adventure!