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Frenchie here. I think it is a very common misunderstanding. My bet is that if you got a blank stare, the person just had no idea what you were saying. It has n

Frenchie here. I think it is a very common misunderstanding. My bet is that if you got a blank stare, the person just had no idea what you were saying. It has nothing to do with your proud or protection our language. I got a lot of blank stares when I moved to the US 10 years ago ;-)

omginternets 11y ago
Autre Frenchie ici-présent. I concur. A tip to foreigners: it's considered exceptionally rude not to say hello to someone behind the counter, or when entering a store. I often cringe when I see Americans order something at a café counter: they have the best intentions, they're trying hard to be polite, and right off the bad they commit a huge faux-pas by immediately saying "un café s'il vous plait!". tl;dr: always start with "bonjour"
- Rexxar 11y ago
  I think "Hello" will work too if someone has difficulties to pronounce "Bonjour".
- robbiemitchell 11y ago
  My last time in Paris for a few days, _every time_ I said "Bonjour," the person replied with "Hello".
  - seszett 11y ago
    Well even French people between themselves occasionally use "hello", so it's quite natural to answer hello to someone who seems to have a foreign accent.
- baby 11y ago
  That's my theory as well. I've heard many horror stories about American being served by racists french, but most of these starts with the American not knowing you have to start with "Bonjour". Extremely unpolite not to start by "Bonjour" in France, even when you enter an elevator with complete strangers you will have to say Bonjour.
- switch007 11y ago
  Only the French could describe asking for a coffee with "please" on the end as "exceptionally rude". It's almost petty. You will forgive any other faux-pas as long as you start the interaction with "bonjour"? And if you mis-pronounce "bonjour"? Do we need to seek forgiveness from the President? I like flying over France and going to Spain and Italy where none of this nonsense exists.
  - oblio 11y ago
    Bonjour is easy mode. You should see how many words you have to say when you leave a store :D
    - omginternets 11y ago
      Two? Au revoir?
  - song 11y ago
    If you go to Japan and do not take off your shoes in certain you'll be considered exceptionally rude. Are you going to criticize the Japanese now? Different countries have different cultural expectations and customs. In France not saying Bonjour is considered rude (and hello works in Paris by the way), in other countries other things are considered rude. It's not because you're traveling and a tourist that you do not need to try to learn and follow the local customs.
    - omginternets 11y ago
      >Different countries have different cultural expectations and customs. Thank you! I'd also like to point out that this yahoo seems unaware of his own cultural baggage. I bet he'd consider it extremely rude for someone to cut in front of a line at a bus stop, whereas such things are perfectly acceptable in other countries (in France we hardly have lines at bus stops). Just like cutting a bus queue can be taken as a disrespect, engaging in a transaction without acknowledging that the person behind the counter is ... well... a person can be taken as looking down on people who serve you. Just as I don't assume foreigners are conspiring to pounce on unsuspecting tourists who cut lines, I expect our friend switch007 not to assume we're doing the same with respect to saying "hello". This kind of blatant ethnocetrism betrays self-ignorance that borders on comical, and invites ridicule hereabouts.
- ubernostrum 11y ago
  It varies a lot. Last time I was in Paris there were people who were easy to deal with, and people who weren't. I can typically start a conversation in French, and carry out simple tasks like ordering/buying things, asking for directions. And that seems to help a lot, as does the fact that I've been told I have a Québecois accent (my first immersion in French was on a trip to Québec) and so I probably get taken for Canadian rather than American. But there are still many people whose entire attitude changes when they hear someone walking in and holding a conversation in English before switching to French, and I've actually been unable to get a table at a restaurant, or get help finding something in a store, when that happened.
- minipci1321 11y ago
  And make eye contact! Then, if you cannot continue in French, smile, people will figure out.
  - omginternets 11y ago
    >And make eye contact! I'm about 99% sure this song is supposed to be satire. If you speak French, you'll get a kick out of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-VYdBKwSLc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-VYdBKwSLc
Grue3 11y ago
I've been to many countries and French are by far the hardest people to communicate with. Every time I'd ask something, I would be completely misunderstood. Like this time I tried to order a set menu in a fast food restaurant (Quick). You'd think it would be the easiest thing ever? Except the cashier brought out 2 identical burgers for some reason. It took me 5 minutes to explain that I only need one burger, all the while a huge queue accumulated behind me. I can't help but have a suspicion they're just fucking with me.
maxxxxx 11y ago
In most countries I have been to people tried to help me when I spoke their language badly. In France (especially in Paris) I just get a blank stare or they are amused when I mispronounce something but still won't help. Maybe they are not used to people with an accent?

omginternets 11y ago

Autre Frenchie ici-présent. I concur. A tip to foreigners: it's considered exceptionally rude not to say hello to someone behind the counter, or when entering a store. I often cringe when I see Americans order something at a café counter: they have the best intentions, they're trying hard to be polite, and right off the bad they commit a huge faux-pas by immediately saying "un café s'il vous plait!". tl;dr: always start with "bonjour"

Rexxar 11y ago
I think "Hello" will work too if someone has difficulties to pronounce "Bonjour".
robbiemitchell 11y ago
My last time in Paris for a few days, _every time_ I said "Bonjour," the person replied with "Hello".
- seszett 11y ago
  Well even French people between themselves occasionally use "hello", so it's quite natural to answer hello to someone who seems to have a foreign accent.
baby 11y ago
That's my theory as well. I've heard many horror stories about American being served by racists french, but most of these starts with the American not knowing you have to start with "Bonjour". Extremely unpolite not to start by "Bonjour" in France, even when you enter an elevator with complete strangers you will have to say Bonjour.
switch007 11y ago
Only the French could describe asking for a coffee with "please" on the end as "exceptionally rude". It's almost petty. You will forgive any other faux-pas as long as you start the interaction with "bonjour"? And if you mis-pronounce "bonjour"? Do we need to seek forgiveness from the President? I like flying over France and going to Spain and Italy where none of this nonsense exists.
- oblio 11y ago
  Bonjour is easy mode. You should see how many words you have to say when you leave a store :D
  - omginternets 11y ago
    Two? Au revoir?
- song 11y ago
  If you go to Japan and do not take off your shoes in certain you'll be considered exceptionally rude. Are you going to criticize the Japanese now? Different countries have different cultural expectations and customs. In France not saying Bonjour is considered rude (and hello works in Paris by the way), in other countries other things are considered rude. It's not because you're traveling and a tourist that you do not need to try to learn and follow the local customs.
  - omginternets 11y ago
    >Different countries have different cultural expectations and customs. Thank you! I'd also like to point out that this yahoo seems unaware of his own cultural baggage. I bet he'd consider it extremely rude for someone to cut in front of a line at a bus stop, whereas such things are perfectly acceptable in other countries (in France we hardly have lines at bus stops). Just like cutting a bus queue can be taken as a disrespect, engaging in a transaction without acknowledging that the person behind the counter is ... well... a person can be taken as looking down on people who serve you. Just as I don't assume foreigners are conspiring to pounce on unsuspecting tourists who cut lines, I expect our friend switch007 not to assume we're doing the same with respect to saying "hello". This kind of blatant ethnocetrism betrays self-ignorance that borders on comical, and invites ridicule hereabouts.
ubernostrum 11y ago
It varies a lot. Last time I was in Paris there were people who were easy to deal with, and people who weren't. I can typically start a conversation in French, and carry out simple tasks like ordering/buying things, asking for directions. And that seems to help a lot, as does the fact that I've been told I have a Québecois accent (my first immersion in French was on a trip to Québec) and so I probably get taken for Canadian rather than American. But there are still many people whose entire attitude changes when they hear someone walking in and holding a conversation in English before switching to French, and I've actually been unable to get a table at a restaurant, or get help finding something in a store, when that happened.
minipci1321 11y ago
And make eye contact! Then, if you cannot continue in French, smile, people will figure out.
- omginternets 11y ago
  >And make eye contact! I'm about 99% sure this song is supposed to be satire. If you speak French, you'll get a kick out of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-VYdBKwSLc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-VYdBKwSLc

Grue3 11y ago

I've been to many countries and French are by far the hardest people to communicate with. Every time I'd ask something, I would be completely misunderstood. Like this time I tried to order a set menu in a fast food restaurant (Quick). You'd think it would be the easiest thing ever? Except the cashier brought out 2 identical burgers for some reason. It took me 5 minutes to explain that I only need one burger, all the while a huge queue accumulated behind me. I can't help but have a suspicion they're just fucking with me.

maxxxxx 11y ago

In most countries I have been to people tried to help me when I spoke their language badly. In France (especially in Paris) I just get a blank stare or they are amused when I mispronounce something but still won't help. Maybe they are not used to people with an accent?