Why are French so snobbish?

Question

Well, I think i might get shot for asking this, but I think it is quite true. They refuse to speak English to foreigners , laugh at others who attempt to speak French, and their cities are just so not tourist friendly.

What do you expect? Not everyone can speak French, u know. But at least they like your country enough to visit. So for the very least, be nice to them ok....

Answer 1

I would answer you

1 - American people refuse to speak french or (German, Italian, Swedish, etc...) to foreigners who visits their country
2 -And many cities in USA are just so not tourist friendly. '
3- Fantastic kindness of the Americans customs officers when one arrives at the USA

And I tell you the same thing, be correct with French who likes your country and will visit it

PS: And the French people don't laugh at others who attempt to speak French, but don't forget, English is not the only language in the world

Answer 2

I am always astonished by the notion that Frenchmen are somehow obligated to speak English or that they all secretly know how but are refusing just to be nasty. Where do people get these crazy ideas?

Not that Americans are the only ones with such odd ideas. I'm a lawyer and was in court one day when I heard someone shouting in French. I discovered that a young French tourist had gotten a parking ticket and was outraged that no one working in the municipal court spoke French. This was in St. Louis, Missouri and she was certain that since the city had been founded by a Frenchman over two hundred years earlier, that everyone must speak French.

P.S. I do speak French so I asked if I could help out. When I explained the situation to the judge he dismissed the ticket saying that it was "in gratitude for the help we got from Lafayette during the Revolution."

Maybe Americans don't all speak English but we do understand gratitude.

Answer 3

french ar not so snobbish!! the fact is that if we don't make an effort to speak english, it's only because we have very, very bad accent.... Have you ever heard our french president speaking english on tv... oh my gosh!
And well, it may be that many french too are just too arrogant and believe EVERYONE knows french.
I agree with "always a friend", parisians are the snobs. They think they're the best, the only one in France. Others regions and other cities (even great one like Lyon, Marseille ou Lille) don't exist for them!! They depict theses cities as countryside cities, with peasants and so on...
Please comme and visit other cities than Paris!! And go talk with young people (pupils, students and young workers), many of them would love to speak english and don't laugh when you make an effort to speak our language.

Answer 4

Every country I visit I try to learn to say hello and thank you in that language. I have never been laughed at. In fact I have always been amazed at how warmly one is accepted for taking the trouble to learn these two small phrases. It is seen as a compliment, it says when I come to your country, I respect your culture and the ackowledge and accept that you are different. I am sure you would expect at least the same for foreigners visiting you.
Foreign languages are not so popular and also hard for in French speakers, the range of vowels is somewhat li,itedin French. Films are rarely broadcast in the original language. I am sure if you are willing to try, despite making mistakes, to speak their language they will be encourage to speak English back to you.

Answer 5

I don't find them snobbish at all, Yes they speak english very bad and it may be because they translate all english speaking movies to french. As for the french language it is very difficult to master so I can understand the raised eyebrows since every sentence sounds like one word that I think is due to the french lacks the distinct consonants that ends a word.

Answer 6

I agree with Agie !!

Well, why do American think that French or other people should speak english ? Where is the pleasure to visit a country ? Being abroad is a way to know an other culture. You should learn few sentences. I don't know, it's so cliché !!!
Americans are so obsessed with French who don't speak english. So it means that Japanese should be offended that French don't speak their language or Chinese and so on ....
I know that French should make an effort but Amercicans as well.

Answer 7

Hi

I'm nice with nice person ... I don't care if you're French, Spanish or English ...

It's true that many french people don't speak English ... but that's changing.

French is a beautiful language. before visiting our beautiful country (and not only Paris, please), try to learn french ... just some sentences, to say hello/thank you ... or ask informations ...

thank you ... :o)

Answer 8

i agree with u about this.

i never travel in france,but where i work now is a tourist place that there are people from all over the world. and of course lots of french tourist

yeah some of them are very nice,but most of them are very very arrogant and snobbish and very easily to get angry with no reason.

anyway even they are not nice,but french kiss and french fries are great!

Answer 9

It is the Parisians that are the snobs. Why,because they are from Paris,which they believe to be the greatest place on earth. This is like New Yorker believing that New York is the greatest place in the US. I live in Texas right now and of course everything is bigger and better in Texas. Does you think it is rude to call ourselves Americans and exclude all the other countries in North and South America?

Answer 10

Bored, are we? This has to be the first time I've ever seen someone answer their own question.

French people are twisted. Saved their lousy butts from the Germans in WW2 and now they thank us by being arrogant buttheads.