Comments on: Are Parisians rude? 5 tips to minimize bad treatment

By: Carol Bratton

Carol Bratton — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:03:24 +0000

How racist

By: Carol Bratton

Carol Bratton — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:00:40 +0000

Try the Irish, you will never beat them anywhere

By: J Donovan

J Donovan — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:52:28 +0000

Best advice i can give you to avoid parisans rudeness is…Go elsewhere! I’ve tried it and it works wonders for me. Italians and English stand out as great hosts. You are welcome.

By: bernkastel

bernkastel — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:02:16 +0000

It’s not a myth, they are very rude. They don’t mind you even when you ask for something simpler, the only nice people from Paris are the tourists or the immigrants. The rest of the paris people very arrogant and rude.

By: bernkastel

bernkastel — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:57:23 +0000

I’m a 25 year old tourist who had been in Paris, and no, the older people are waay more rude than the younger people. The waiter was older and he give us the wrong oder on porpuse, the lady at the farmacy looked bad at us….the list goes on.

By: Shill

Shill — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:48:47 +0000

I have been to Paris quite a few times and have not found the people there to be any more rude than anone else in a big city. Sure, there are always a few folks with little “attitudes” but this is not just confined to Paris alone! Overall, I have found Parisians to be quite friendly as long as you are.

By: Ken NH

Ken NH — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:49:24 +0000

I never got the rudeness thing, though I’ve certainly heard the folk tale. My French is passable — and the listener has to be very patient with me — but I’ve been fortunate to have some very pleasant conversations with table mates over dinner. You know how close tables can be, you can’t help but overhear the conversation next to you. Especially if you are eating alone.

I would certainly agree that “Bonjour Madame” and those few other phrases go a long way. Should add that they are fun to practice too. Done well, there is a sing-song rhythm that just rolls off your tongue. You can easily practice the phrase 30 times a day, so can get quite good. It gets to be as automatic as an American “Hello” or head nod.

Can’t wait for the next trip!

By: MIchelle

MIchelle — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:14:47 +0000

Everyone talks about the Parisians being rude, but maybe they just find “us” to be rude and annoying, and react (or act first, just in case). My first experience in Paris was also my first in Europe, on my way to a year’s study in Spain. A lady berated me for stepping on the grass in a park – probably Luxemburg – which being a green Yankee, I was unaware that’s normal in most formal “gardens”. I’ve visited several times over the years and also worked for two months on the Eiffel Tower, and have pleasant experiences every time. If I were to see Paris only once, I would definately recommend seeing it WITH the Parisians there.

By: Kay

Kay — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:02:20 +0000

Generally, I have learned to approach older women to ask for directions and to avoid those younger women who appear to be immigrants as they usually don’t know the answer nor do they speak French very well. In busy commercial areas, the under 35, nicely dressed working people will all speak English but I do approach them first with my limited French. And yes, do be extra polite.

By: Alisa Morov

Alisa Morov — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:10:04 +0000

fabulously written article! will pass this to all my visitors… Only thing to add – try to curb the natural inclination of Americans to speak loudly…projecting your voice – not so well regarded in France.