Do we consider people living in London or Tokyo too proud to speak an other language beside English or Janaese ? This has nothing to see with being pround. It's just a question of person not trying to "walk in someone else shoes". As a French woman I have to stand here for my country and force English speaking persons to realize that it is not an insult not to speak english. I've lived in several non french speaking country and never NEVER wondered why noone would speak french. Can one day english speakers try to learn an other language and realie how hard it is... Here is a good tip : try to catch some polite and frendly sentences in french and you'll see that any french person is ready to help. Trust me !!!

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Jean-manuel F. says :

Jan 27, 2009

Well, if a parisian doesn't answer to your english (chinese or japanese...) question, it simply means he doesn't know how to speak english (chinese or japanese...). If you were french and traveling in the states, what would you do? Personnaly I wouldn't spend time looking for a french speaking dude? I think it's a false idea to think parisians are too proud to speak other languages besides French. I'm a parisian and when someone asks me it's way I gladly help or send him the opposite way (just kidding lol).

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Lê A. says :

Jan 8, 2009

I don't think so. People from Paris and from France can not speak english as well as the sweden people (for example) just because the english learning system is to poor in France. I am one of them, I love english language but I can not speak it very well.

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Jen C. says :

Oct 18, 2008

I have found the vast majority of people in Paris to be wonderfully tolerant of my woeful french, most people speak English to me as soon as they work out I don't really understand them. Sometimes they get a little frustrated with me but it's always frustrating trying to communicate with somebody who doesn't really understand you. I do however think it's different if you just walk up and expect them to speak to you in English. I have found it entertaining that when you ask if they speak English they say "a little bit" and then proceed to speak to you in fluent English! When I say I speak "a little bit of French" I really mean a little bit!

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Jen R. says :

Sep 6, 2008

Parisians are no worse than New Yorkers. Please.

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Edouard H. says :

May 2, 2012

How does a frenchman say "Good Luck" to an american (without snickering)?.

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Nadia N. says :

Dec 28, 2011

No. I have just returned from Paris a week ago and as my French is not very good they spared me by speaking back to me in English. I have to Paris 6 times throughout the last 20 years and every time I go there it seems to get better. The people are much more helpful, friendly and really warm. Many actually speak about 3 languages... do not underestimate them.

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Diana C. says :

Dec 28, 2011

No t at all, It's a prejudice towards the French. I Really believe that the French in general like speaking English but they are afraid of making mistakes simply because they are not good at it especially the older generation . The younger generation on the other hand , has a completely different outlook towards foreign Languages They have realized the importance of learning English and are willing to practice it when the opportunity arises.

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LAGARDE M. says :

Sep 17, 2009

French people are usually bad for speaking other languages, and maybe they're asahmed. I'm French but each time I travel ( except in Japan ! ),I'm proud of speaking local language when it's possible, you can share so much more with people !

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Fredy M. says :

Sep 1, 2009

Thats not thrue. Those who speak english are not French ones, they are foreigners and they speak good english but French people they do not speak French, they can not even watch a TV programm in english with french subtitles they always translate all american and english fils and tv in to French. Sorry but your question is not thrue or you are just making a joke about French people

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Bárbara M. says :

May 21, 2009

Many french people can speak english they just don't want to haha. It's true though, if you're at Paris, a big city, you will manage to walk around fine, but you know, sometimes you can meet some hostile people...but I guess that's everywhere.

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Mary C. says :

Feb 17, 2009

I've rarely encountered difficulties in Paris. I do my best to speak French, they do their best to speak English and we usually figure out a way to converse. I once had a 40 minute conversation with a French Algerian gentleman (we talked politics, religion, family); still not sure how we did it, since he spoke almost no English and I speak just a smattering of French, but we did!

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Jean-manuel F. says :

Jan 27, 2009

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Barbara K. says :

Nov 5, 2008

i don't know if it has anything to do with pride, but it is true that the French not so often speak english, but the younger generation (teenagers, students) do. And after all they get extremely happy if you know at least few words in french :)

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May K. says :

Nov 3, 2008

Everybody is proud of his native language. Nowadays we live in a global village, so we should be able to communicate in different languages.To not fall behind and broaden our knowledge we shouldn't be imprisoned within the limits of our own culture and language.

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May K. says :

Nov 3, 2008

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Jenny P. says :

Nov 1, 2008

I agree with Lisa B. They are very modest in their ability. The other side of it is that you are in a french speaking country and are asking them to speak a language that is not thier own. Imagine if a frenchman walked up to you in London, New York or Sydney and just expected you to speak french...

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Lisa B. says :

Oct 21, 2008

most french are very fluent in english -- but are prefectionists -- so think that if they do not say it correctly -- then it should not be said at all. If you ask if they speak english -- most will say " a little bit" -- as a polite thing to do -- is ask -- do you speak english -- rather than to assume.

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Teresa R. says :

Oct 20, 2008

No, everytime I tried to speak french they would answer me in english and wouldn't even speak french. Besides that its France what language do you think they should speak chinese?

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Carla C. says :

Oct 19, 2008

I totally disagree. I found Parisians soooo friendly and helpful and their English was top notch.

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Mark Z. says :

Oct 17, 2008

I think tourists should give the same respect to the french as we give to others who visit our countries when they attempt to speak English. Have you ever seen a french foreign not attempt to speak English while visiting USA, England or Australia? The least they do is attempt to speak the basics of the English dictionary and we should give them the same courtesy in french. So as much as i get annoyed at their attitude to English speakers, i can understand why the french in Paris are more annoyed over the lack of effort put into speaking basic french. Lets all give the French the respect of at least saying thank you in French!! After all we travel to experience, and if we cant attempt...how can we experience?

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Ann-Marie O. says :

Oct 15, 2008

I have always heard two opposing answers to this question 1. French people will only speka French to you and 2. They will only speka English to you you will never learn French living there. Since moving here 7 months ago I have more often than not had the experience of being spoken to in English when I attempted to speak French. It use to really bother me because I was trying to learn French. Now however that my French is better I am always spoken to in French. I think if you are in an incredibly touristy area of the city e.g around Notre Dame, Champs ELysee etc then you will be spoken to in English if you are an English speaker becaue it is just easier for the French person whose English is probably a lot better than your French. Having worked in very busy restaruant with 95% english speaking tourists I know for a fact that this is the case. But as a French person already said try and learn a few small polite phrases. It really is appreciated.

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Barbara R. says :

Oct 10, 2008

Its not an insult not to speak English but if you try to speak French and people are not making an effort to understand it gets difficult. I was in France once before I knew French well and it was very hard, then I have been back several time since I speak French well (worked in a hospital in Geneva for two years) and all the doors opened for me and people were totally friendly.

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Nadia N. says :

Oct 8, 2008

A few years ago I found the French not wanting to speak any other language besides their own even though they can see that you are a tourist. These days they are pretty flexible. Maybe due to the fact that it has become even more of a melting pot of cultures and traditions. I have been to Paris about 5 times now and most recently a few months ago. I love Paris and the French are warming to the tourist trade and quite unique people. So go with an open mind and maybe it would help to pick up a word or two from them. They are more receptive to you trying to utter a word or two in French and they will stop you by replying in English. That should do the trick. It worked with me.

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Margot B. says :

Oct 4, 2008

No way! I've always found the French to be lovely, despite my terrible attempts at their language. But, just like any other place, if you're rude to people, they tend to respond rudely. Just learning the basic greetings and courtesies really helps getting you on the right road wherever you are.

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Sylvain O. says :

Oct 2, 2008

Trust me, some french people don't even know how to speak french properly. Don't ask them to learn another language :P

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Le B. says :

Sep 20, 2008

I don t think it s about being too proud, it s more about thinking that people coming in your country can put a bit of effort in speaking your language(just the minimum polite word).As a french person use to travel, I always try to speak few word of the local country I am in, and it s always been a good way to have a good interaction with people, cause they see I m trying...Lots of people from non english speaking country think that english speaker assume that you ll speak english and don t really like it...So I guess that both side have to do effort?!!!

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Stephane P. says :

Sep 9, 2008

In Paris, and France in general, the English has never been our favourite neighbour (too many similiraties in our characters). Anyway, it is true that we are not very good with foreign languages. That has to be blamed on the schooling system not starting foreign languages classes until junior high (things have changed since my junior high days), and at a rate of 3 hrs/week. That being said, I do not see the french being worse than Americans or British in that area. And to close it , just for the record, let me make 1 thing clear: French IS the most beautiful language ever. Anyone who can fluently understand it will tell you that much.

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Nils M. says :

Sep 6, 2008

The French, even in Paris, are not very good with languages. Parisians don't even speak Norman, Catalan or Basque. This has nothing to do with being proud - Try speaking French in London or Atlanta or English in Moscow..

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Linda E. says :

Sep 6, 2008

If you attempt to speak the language with at least a few phrases you shouldn't have a problem.

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Michel S. says :

Sep 3, 2008

I don't think it's pride that is the question here. Just like many other inhabitants of countries where they speak a language that is wide spread they just don't see the use of it. Don't be fooled by appearances, many French do understand other languages but they aren't used to speak it and therefore they don't speak it at all or do it very well.

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Beatrice Z. says :

Aug 31, 2008

french people often knwo English as they have to learn it at schools but they are not willing to speak it, as they are not very fond of the English, if you try to add a bit of french into what you say, they will be nice, but if you speak only english,hmmmm, good luck!

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Pamela S. says :

Aug 31, 2008

No, for a lot of French people, it is not a question of being to proud to speak another language but that they are terrified about embarassing themselves by saying something wrong. There are a lot of people that will speak to you in another language, but they prefer that you try to speak some French first. It makes them more comfortable. It is a bit rude to expect them to make the effort if you don't want to as well.

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Matthew L. says :

Oct 9, 2008

I don't think it's prideful, it's their language!! You're in France, what do you want the people to speak? That's like going to China and being surprised that people speak Mandarin. I mean, I'm not going to learn French just to make life easier on French tourists...

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Lila G. says :

Sep 3, 2008

In my opinion, Paris is still ok. In smaller cities in France, people are even less friendly if you don't speak french. But, of course, it's not a general rule. And, even though french people do understand some English, their language is very specific and it's hard for them to learn other languages, so they don't speak very well. And, also, they still partly believe that french is the most beautiful and most important language that everyone should speak :)

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