10 things you should never say in France (but tourists always do)
"Do you speak English?" is the least of your problems.
France is famously unforgiving of tourist faux pas. While the French are generally warm and welcoming, certain things will instantly mark you as "that tourist" — and may earn you a Gallic eye-roll or worse.
Here are 10 things you should avoid saying (or doing) in France.
Walking into a shop without saying « Bonjour »
This is the #1 mistake. In France, greeting the person is mandatory before any interaction. Walking straight to the counter and saying "I need…" is considered shockingly rude. Always, always start with "Bonjour."
« Do you speak English? » (without trying French first)
Start with a few words of French — even badly. "Bonjour, excusez-moi, parlez-vous anglais ?" will get you 10x better service than walking up and speaking English. The effort matters more than the result.
Asking for ketchup at a nice restaurant
In casual places (burger joints, etc.), ketchup is fine. But at a sit-down restaurant, asking for ketchup on your steak frites is considered an insult to the chef. Mustard? Fine. Ketchup? You might get a look that could curdle milk.
« Can I get a to-go box? »
Doggy bags are slowly becoming accepted in France, but it's still unusual. Meals in France are meant to be savored — the idea of taking leftovers home in a styrofoam box feels wrong to most French people.
Saying « Je suis excité(e) »
In French, "excité" has strong sexual connotations. If you want to say you're excited about something, say "J'ai hâte" (I can't wait) or "Je suis enthousiaste" (I'm enthusiastic). Never, ever say "Je suis excité" to your French host family.
Tipping 20%
Service is included by law in France. Leaving a huge American-style tip can actually make waiters uncomfortable. A few coins or rounding up is appreciated. 20% makes people think you don't understand how things work.
Rushing through a meal
Asking for the check before you've finished your coffee? Eating in under 30 minutes? In France, this is bizarre. Meals are social events. The French will never bring you the check unless you ask — because rushing you would be rude.
« French fries aren't really French, right? »
The French have heard this joke approximately 17 billion times. Fries may or may not be French (Belgium claims them too), but bringing it up in conversation is not the icebreaker you think it is.
Speaking loudly in public
Americans and Australians are often perceived as "loud" in France. The French speak at a much lower volume in public — on the metro, in restaurants, on the street. Adjusting your volume is one of the easiest ways to blend in.
Using « tu » with someone you just met
"Tu" (informal you) and "vous" (formal you) are very different in France. Using "tu" with a stranger, an older person, or in a professional setting is a real faux pas. When in doubt, always use "vous."
The golden rule
The single best thing you can do in France: try. Speak bad French. Make mistakes. Laugh about it. The French respect effort. What they don't respect is assuming everyone should speak English for you.
Practice what you just learned
Practice speaking with Emma, your 3D AI tutor — available 24/7.
Download Emma — It's Free →