Are parisians unfriendly?

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Heidimax

the Parisians I experienced were very friendly. If you don't act like an obnoxious American and are polite, there is no problem. Treat others as you want to be treated. How would you like someone to approach you and start speaking in a foreign language without asking if you understand first?

MrPhelps

Parisians are not really unfriendly, but the contact is difficult. The default attitude towards someone they don't know will be to ignore him completely, which may seem rude. Once the first contact has been made, they will be as friendly as anyone else. This is especially difficult with cafÃ© waiters :-)

One thing that will make them unfriendly though is the tourist caricature wearing flashy shorts and hat and talking loud, especially if he is american. So wear the same clothes as the natives, learn to say "bonjour" and "merci" and it should be alright :)

blake_hanson_2005

Some ARE and not all women are hairy and NOT ALL OF THEM SMELL OF BO!!

Gina

Hi, I'm french and I used to live in Paris, and yes, Parisians are unfriendly, but with everybody... in fact they get angry to be in the subway or in the traffic jams!
But if you meet parisians in the dance-floor, when they have fun, no problem, they're nice!
And I don't understand this thing about hygyene, don't you know that french girls are the most beautiful and hottest in the world... ;-)

cozjeanda

not all of them are but in general they can be even to other people from different parts of France

Rillifane

The short answer is no.

Paris is a big city and like all big cities has its share of unpleasant people and even criminals.

Parisians also have to deal with millions and millions of foreign tourists who are often seem to think that every resident is there to provide directions, explanations, and translation services.

While a Parisian is more likely to speak English than a New Yorker or Londoner is likely to speak French, the fact is that not everyone speaks English or has any interest in learning how. (Its always amusing to hear some American complain bitterly about the French "refusing" to speak English as if everyone in the world were required to speak it)

France is not the United States and social customs are different. The French are more formal than Americans, What an American sees as being friendly and open is seen by a Frenchman as being crude and boorish. By the same token, Americans see the French as cold and aloof. Both are misunderstanding the cultural differences between the two countries.

That being said, I have never had a problem meeting people and making friends in Paris. It helps that I speak French but most of my French friends also speak English.

I have traveled all over the world and found that keeping an open mind and paying attention to your surroundings, taking your cue on behavior from local people, and maintaining your sense of humor will get you thru almost anything.

Sidsassenach

No they're not unfriendly, they're always in a hurry, which is different.

French unpleasant attitude toward foreigner, mostly American, is not at all true. Now see the problem the other way around. How would you feel if a French person came to ask you something directly in French (without greeting you, and making sure you speak the language), and wanted to pay in euros. Well that's where the problem lies.

Now a person can not speak all the languages, but when I'm traveling in a foreign country I try to at least have a dictionary on me and make an attempt with the basic words.

As I say with the tourists I'm in charge of and who are worried about that, try to say "Bonjour" first and you've done the biggest step.

One thing as well to understand is that French are much straightforward. If they don't like you they won't make an attempt to disguise it, but if they take their time to help you it generally comes from genuine interest

Finndo

compared to some americans who greet you with a riffle yelling at you not to come 10 miles from their property, then parisians are VERY friendly.

christophestahl

I used ot leave in Paris for 8 years. I can tell: yes they are unfriendly to answer your question. I have been in LA for 4 years now and I can tell that the first contact, or warming up is much easier in the US.
However, once you have contact it works fine, but that more like a mid long-term thing....

sobrien

yes. well, to americans they are. to other europeans, not so much. they also smell of BO and their women are hairy.

AJK

Most of French people are unfriendly to foreigners. And most of them will not try to speak a foreign language.

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