why do English people say 'pardon my French' when they swear?

Answer 1

This phrase, in which French refers to "bad language", is employed
when the speaker feels compelled to use an obscenity despite having listeners who might be offended. It's a late 19th century euphemism which first appeared in Harper's Magazine in 1895.
It is thought that the term French is employed in this sense as it
already had a history of association with things considered vulgar. As far back as the early 16th century, French pox and the French disease were synonyms for genital herpes, and French-sick was another term for syphillis. The OED [Oxford English Dictionary] also equates the adjective French with "spiciness", as in French letter for "condom", French kiss (1923) and French (i. e. "sexually explicit") novels (from 1749).

Answer 2

It's only a saying, asking for forgiveness for swearing or using foul language that is not part of everyday vocabulary.
'Pardon my French' is apologising for using swear words because to us English French is a foreign language.

Answer 3

Because French is a language.... pardon my language.... pardon my French.... it's just something that caught on for no real reason other than it sounded good. That and we all swear at the French anyhow ;o)

Graham

Answer 4

What is the origin of the phrase pardon my French?

This phrase, in which French refers to "bad language", is employed
when the speaker feels compelled to use an obscenity despite having
listeners who might be offended. It's a late 19th century euphemism
which first appeared in Harper's Magazine in 1895.

It is thought that the term French is employed in this sense as it
already had a history of association with things considered vulgar.
As far back as the early 16th century, French pox and the French
disease were synonyms for genital herpes, and French-sick was another
term for syphillis. The OED [Oxford English Dictionary] also equates
the adjective French with "spiciness", as in French letter for
"condom", French kiss (1923) and French (i. e. "sexually explicit")
novels (from 1749).

Answer 5

This phrase, in which French refers to "bad language", is employed
when the speaker feels compelled to use an obscenity despite having
listeners who might be offended. It's a late 19th century euphemism
which first appeared in Harper's Magazine in 1895.

It is thought that the term French is employed in this sense as it
already had a history of association with things considered vulgar.
As far back as the early 16th century, French pox and the French
disease were synonyms for genital herpes, and French-sick was another
term for syphillis. The OED [Oxford English Dictionary] also equates
the adjective French with "spiciness", as in French letter for
"condom", French kiss (1923) and French (i. e. "sexually explicit")
novels (from 1749).
http://www.takeourword.com/Issue058.html

Answer 6

Because English people dream to swear like us. How many time a Anglophone ask me to show him a few swear words in French. I don't have enough of my two hands.

P.S LOOBY how many french do you really now????

Answer 7

Because French was considered so saucy and libertine, as a culture, that anything in that language became a euthamism for smutt! I'm talking about the Victorian/Edwardian age - cf the works of W S Gilbert!

Answer 8

It's because we think that the french are rude ignorant people.

We're not wrong - they are.

Answer 9

I'm not sure but I think it may be something to do with the Anglo/Saxon words in our language?

Then again, maybe we just like to blame others for our own failures.

Answer 10

Not sure but I know the original v sign as in F off came from the battle of Agincourt, when the french used to cut the fingers from captured English archers so they became obsolete so before the battle the English stuck two fingers up at them to show they were able to shoot, and a damn fine job they did to.
maybe the answer to your question comes from around the same time.