Hi guys!
Let’s get something straight. I have no idea why you’d want to annoy a French person. I wouldn’t. I love French people.
But perhaps you want to know how to avoid annoying them. So here are a few tips, with the help of Veronique from the hit blog French Girl in Seattle.
You can listen to the episode by clicking play right below, and scroll down to get the gist of what she had to say.
You may annoy French people if you:
Mistake France for Paris
There’s a lot more to this country than just Paris. Try going in soft on the other cities before declaring your undying love for the capital.
Think they’re all geography experts
On the flip side, if you just assume they’ll know about that tiny little place where you spent a charming week – you may just be mistaken.
Expect them to understand your French accent
Of course, French people will generally be very glad that you’ve tried to speak their language. But as all language learners know, sometimes a native might not understand that VERR-SAY-LEES is actually Versailles (which actually sounds more like Ver-SYE).
Keep reminding them about their French accent
French people typically know they have a French accent, so don’t feel the need to tell them how cute theirs may be. As Veronique says, you’re just giving them a reminder that they are a stranger. Of course, these kinds of comments are intended to be compliments, but going overboard can have the opposite effect.
Leave the stereotypes alone
Of course, there’s not much of a better way to irritate anyone than to use stereotypes about their country. The French are no exception. You have been warned.
Well, that’s it for now. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and anywhere else you get your podcasts for new episodes like this every Monday.
And if you want to here the second part of Veronique’s chat, where she discussed being a tourist in her own city of Paris, please support the show on Patreon here.
Lastly, follow French Girl in Seattle on Facebook here – or follow her site here.
Well once again another great episode and as a Sauvignon Blanc drinker one I will remember!
Also have to say….GREAT IDEA that Veronique gave you about the trip and THE CAR!…think about it…and how generous JIM is!..anyway Fabulous as usual…till next week…kerrin and Leia..xx
Good show, as usual, but making an 88-year-old lady climb five storeys is a bit, shall we say, annoying.
🤣🤣🤣
WHA-AAA-AAT!! You are going on a road trip around France? That’s awesome Oliver!! 😎 You’re definitely going to enjoy French countryside, I’m sure of it! You’ll basically doing what I have been dreaming of doing since I have lived in Australia. Can’t wait for you to share this with us all. About the episode, this one is part of my favorites I guess ; it was really good! I didn’t know French Girl in Seattle so I’ll make sure to check her site and all!
Plus, for the names, I so much agree! My name, Floriane, is totally not understandable by English people!!! They consistently write it “Floraine”, which of course annoys me, or “Florence”, “Florian” the male version, and some even understand “Gloria”!!! Some days I feel like telling I am called Mary 🤣
Aaaand, you’re getting married soon! Congrats 🙂
Thanks for the tutorial!