20 Most Common Stereotypes About French People

Do you know that there are many stereotypes associated with French people?

France – a country so beautiful that an average of 200 million tourists visit each year. No wonder we hear a lot of stereotypes about French people, some of which are facts while some are downright fiction.

20 Most Common Stereotypes About French People

Here are 20 most common French stereotypes to help you stay away from generalizations when you visit France.

You can also check these related stereotypes articles:

• 10 Most Common Stereotypes About French Men
• 12 Most Common Stereotypes About French Women

French Stereotypes You Shouldn’t Believe

1. Everyone in France wears a beret (and carry onions!)

This is a common perception and visitors expect to see tons of beret-wearing people on every street of France. Tell you what: Only people in the French military wear berets nowadays.

However, in the southwest of France, berets are still tied with local identity, so you might want to go down there to see locals wearing berets.

Another of these French people stereotypes is that they wear berets and carry onions. This notion was started among the British in the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, when beret-wearing onion peddlers used to do their business in Great Britain riding on bicycles.

2. The French are lazy people

This is one those negative myths about French people that foreigners, especially potential employers, should understand. The French are, in reality, very productive workers.

The stereotype that they are lazy probably came from the fact that they come in late and take longer breaks than usual (lunch breaks mostly because they like to enjoy their food).

However, the French employees work as long and as much as it takes when needed – and usually, the results are excellent.

3. The French only eat French food

While there’s no denying the French love their own food, they also eat foreign foods. Proof of this is the sushi restaurants that abound in major French cities and France being among the top countries with the most McDonald’s restaurants.

4. French people don’t speak English

English may not be very widely spoken overall in France, but you will find English-speaking French people in Paris and other tourist areas. English is also spoken in hotels and restaurants.

5. The French people are cheap

This negative perception came from the fact that tipping is not a must at bars and restaurants in France. Bar and restaurant staff have salaries and do not rely on tips.

Tipping in France is a form of courtesy and gratitude for good service. It is not expected and employees are not used to it.

6. The French have weak military 

The stereotype originated from the fact that in World War II, French forces surrendered to the Germans in just 46 days.

However, France has the 6th largest military budget in the world and the French Armed Forces are ranked number 6 as the world’s most powerful military.

French Stereotypes That Can’t Be Denied

7. French people are romantic

The world sees the French as being romantic – and it is true! Not only that, they also have a reputation for being seductive. Even in cartoons, romantic characters are usually French. The Looney Tunes’ Pepé Le Pew is one example.

8. French people are highly fashionable

There is no debate: France produces the best and most expensive designer clothes and cosmetics.

9. French people are smokers

France has one of the highest rates of smoking in the European Union. At least a quarter of the French population are smokers. Smoking is banned inside public spaces in France, however, so smokers do it outdoors.

10. French people are intellectuals

It can’t be denied that philosophy and literature are major factors of French culture that have created major impact on the world.

France has produced numerous intellectuals – Rousseau, Voltaire, and Descartes, to name a few. France is, in fact, one of the countries with the most Nobel laureates.

11. The French are obsessed with bread

It is widely known that French people love their bread – baguettes in particular. There’s even a baguette competition every year and a special law on making this bread. And yes, croissants are their favorite breakfast.

12. The French are big cheese-lovers

France is known for a lot of things, cheese being one of them. 96% of French people consume cheese and almost half of them do so on a daily basis.

On average, the weekly consumption of cheese by an average Frenchman is half a kilo. No surprise, France is among the world’s top 5 consumers of cheese.

13. The French are wine connoisseurs

France is third of the world’s top wine producers, after Italy and Spain. It is home to some of the most amazing wine regions.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that French people know a bit about wine. After all, about 60% of all alcohol they consume is wine.

14. French people have poor hygiene

Studies have proven the truth to this particularly negative stereotype. A study published in the French newspaper Presse-Ocean shows that just a little over half of the French population shower daily and they don’t shower for long, either – just about 9 minutes on average.

Another study found that only 49% of French people wash their hands before eating.

Parisian Stereotypes That Simply Aren’t True

15. Parisians are snobbish and unsympathetic

Parisians are perceived as snobs because they get uneasy around people – especially foreigners – who have a lack of reserve.

But calling them unsympathetic is untrue and this was proven after the terror attacks in the late 2015. Parisians were quick to open their doors and offer shelter to tourists stuck in Paris.

16. Parisian waiters are rude and disrespectful

Parisian waiters, or French waiters in general, have been stereotyped as rude and disrespectful to foreigners.

Granted, they prefer no chit-chat, but the lack of small talks is compensated with efficiency. They just want you to enjoy your meal and leave you in peace once the food is served. Some people actually prefer it that way.

17. Parisians don’t like it outside the capital

This is not true as most Parisians come from all over France. They go to the capital for work, especially the professionals.

Also, more and more Parisians have holiday homes outside Paris and they flee the capital on weekends.

18. Parisians are gourmets

While this is true at some extent, street food and food trucks are not uncommon in Paris nowadays.

Most Parisians are busy people! Some can even be seen eating with their hands, instead of a knife and fork.

19. Parisian women don’t shave

A big myth! Parisian women strive for “effortless” beauty, but they do shave, too! Shaving is an essential part of their beauty regimen as hairless legs are considered beautiful in France.

20. Parisians are always on strike

Parisians are seen by the world as the “striking employees.” The French people have the right to strike, something that is recognized and guaranteed by the government.

However, this becomes associated only with Parisians because strikes happen mostly in public squares at the capital. French citizens from other places march to Paris when they go on strike, not just Parisians.

Simply put, the people we see on demonstrations in Paris are not always Parisians.