Language/French/Culture/Les-clichés

Clichés, stereotypes of nationalities seen by the French

and stereotypes of French seen by the rest of the world

If "cliché" is a French word, it's probably because the French are loooving to judge each other. 😉

A cliché is an idea of something thought by a lot of people about something they never have seen (or heard or smelt or touched or ate...), generally wrong.

It's a stereotype. It aims to generalize in a simplified way objects, groups of individuals, behaviors, without taking individual differences into account.

Here are some countries as seen by many French:

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: French Culture → French History and Society → Major Events in ..., French Culture and Arts: French Cuisine and Gastronomy, Cameroon Timeline & French Major Historical Dates.

United States

Probably the people seen the most negatively by the French. The American are seen as fat (because of the fast food that came from this country), dumb and too rich (which is not really appreciated in France). But the american influence is however appreciated (films, music, stars).

United Kingdom

The French think that English people are living in the whole country. So the clichés are about them. They are seen as snobs, weird and people who don't know how to cook. French people love the Queen Elizabeth II and like to know more about the royal family.

Japan

The Japanese are quite appreciated by the French, for their culture, especially japanese food, mangas and animes, but also traditional culture as well. They are perceived as quiet, introvert, polite and hard-workers.

Germany

They are seen as always eating sausages and bretzels, drinking too much beer and speaking a weird and complicated language. A lot of german tourists come to France especially during summer, so the cliché of the fat german tourist coming only for summer is widely spread in the country.

The Germans are all blond with blue eyes! Apart from that they are tall, do naturism and drink beer... And the socks raised up to the knees in the sandals. 🍻

Italia

The biggest clichés about Italia are that they eat pizza, pasta and ice cream, living in beautiful cities like Venice and Roma and riding Vespa scooters. They are seen to be more catholic, talking loudly and making a lot of gestures. Italian language is seen as romantic as well as italian men.

Italians are also seen as macho. They think they are superior to women. Yes in Italy, women have to stay at home and take care of their companion... Honey you will prepare me a carpaccio, a risotto and a latte macchiato. Okay... what else? 😎

Spain

The inhabitants of Spain are seen as living near the beach, always eating paella and turron, eating at 3PM and going to bed very late; men are attractive too.

Spaniards always take a siesta. If you've ever taken a flight to Spain, you must have realized that most shops are closed in the afternoon... for the simple and (very) good reason that Spaniards take a siesta.

Russia

The people of the country is seen very bad; corrupted, drinking a lot of vodka and very conservative. The newspapers write badly of this country; it is cold, there is few democracy and freedom, and Russian love to put themselves in weird or dangerous situations.

On a more positive note, it is well known, Russian women are considered the most beautiful in the world. Anna Kournikova, Irina Shayk, Viki Odintcova... On the other hand, the same cannot be said for Russian men... 😜

Canada

Canadians are all loggers and hunt caribou.

Aside from their funny accent, Canadians are often pictured wearing red checkered shirts, axes in hand chopping wood from morning till night. Yes Canadians are all loggers and hunters of caribou, whose heads, stuffed, are found suspended above their chimneys.

Portugal

• The Portuguese are hairy...

On the Mediterranean side, the Portuguese are actually quite brown and their hair is more visible.

• ...And the Portuguese women even more!

For centuries, Portuguese women have endured the worst jokes about their supposedly abundant hairiness. However, this is not a generality!

• The Portuguese have a mustache

It's to go with the plumber look: overalls, cap and mustache. How do you look like Mario?

The Netherlands

The Dutch are all tall. It's proven, the Dutch are the tallest men on the planet. Not hard to believe, they are all 3 meters high!

Ireland

In Ireland it's simple, no matter where you go, on every street corner and in the pubs, they are all, I mean ALL redheads! If you're taking a flight from Paris to Dublin, consider getting a dye to blend in with the crowd 😉

China

The Chinese only eat rice and spring rolls. If they work 24 hours a day, the Chinese still take the time to eat. And when we think of Chinese gastronomy, we think of rice, rice, and more rice, accompanied by spring rolls of course! And yet the nem is a Vietnamese specialty....

Australia

Australians all surf. And all have blond, long hair. Yes you see this guy with blond hair from the sun who carries his surfboard against his muscular and beardless chest... Hmmm... Surfing is indeed a real institution in the country, it is even THE national sport.

France

and the French how are they considered by the rest of the world??

• French people are dirty: We have the Americans to thank for the stereotype that French people are dirty and smelly.

• French people are rude: Sometimes you have a reputation for a reason. You just need to sit at the terrace of a Parisian bistro and try to order from a French waiter to ascertain that the stereotype is rather on point.

• French people are amazing lovers

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That's all for the moment!

Hope you'll look "more French" right now!

Are those clichés correct? Tell us in the comment section below:

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