What do Americans think of French people?

The usual stereotypes, least from my fellow Americans. You are cowards and the women don’t shave. More of it was a joke, but I am sure some actually believed it. Or maybe it is totally true. Hell I don’t know.

Me personally. I do not think anything of the French people. Neutral is how I feel. Then again I don’t stay updated with you guys.

Romance did come to mind. That is about it.

In essence I think nothing.

When I think of the French I think of arts and culture, a romantic people, appreciative of the good things in life, and a lot of pride in who you are. The French I’ve meet over here (US) have always been very friendly and willing to engage in discussions or conversation. I went to college with two French nationals (fraternity brothers) and I really liked both of them. I don’t think of cowardice. The tactics might be a little suspect. The French took a fearful beating in WWI, got beaten badly in WWII and in Vietnam. But we had similar problems as well.

I think of open marriages, good food, classy people with great clothes, art.

My French pen pal in school, and our exchange student, both very nice people, are what convinced me I needed to take French as my language art instead of Spanish like everyone else.

I think that whatever we think of the French if the French ever needed extreme help again we would be there.

@Neodarwinian Agreed. Our allies, and I never stopped calling them French Fry’s either. :)

I think the badmouthing of the French when they didn’t support our intentions was over the top, but look who’s laughing now.

Bienvenue à Fluther et ne vous inquiétez pas ce que certains de ces gens’’ Fluther “disent…
(Translation…Welcome to Fluther and don’t worry what some of the ’‘Fluther” folks say…)
My French is very rusty…
I had had a French girlfriend who lives in Rouans the Pays de la Loire province. Sadly distance ended our relationship.
I love French people, can’t say I have ever met a French person who I did not like.
Love the food and the culture.

I personally agree with @Adirondackwannabe, but there is quite a bit of divergence in the opinion on France within the US. There were a lot of negative comments over lack of participation in the Iraq War- ten years later we know that the French were the smart ones about the war.

OK then I am just anxious to say that the stereotype of the French woman who doesn’t shave himself comes from World War II (I examined after this first answer) and that can be in a period they didn’t shave themselves but now I believe don’t know it a who doesn’t shave himself. ;)
Later as for the cowardice I am not going to make for you a course of history, just you have to know that it is general de Gaulle (French) which released France with the allies.

I think they are talking about women not shaving their legs and under arms. Not men.

I’ve always believed that there are horny, talking skunks in France and a lot of female cats that don’t know how to read “Wet Paint” signs.

Other than that, y’all know how to eat and drink very well.

@Blondesjon hahaha, she’s probably like “Talking skunks, what are these Americans smoking?” It’s a cartoon here with a French skunk named Pepe LePeu.

Well, it depends on where you go but generally you’ll be very well received anywhere here. Most Americans tend to look at the individual and not the origin. A french or any european accent is attractive so be prepared for that.

My son lives in Paris and I travel in France frequently. Basically, while I think there are some broad cultural generalizations that can be made, they are fairly useless and there is a greater variation between individual people than among nationalities.

@antimatter variant of the candian girlfriend?
everything I think about France is encapsulated by my favorite movie

@drhat77 I’ve eaten in the cafe where she worked.

List of French words and phrases used by English speakers
Two themes here: 1) Life in the moment 2) Academics and sofistication

You say coffee or cafe? I’m lost. At the school we learn to say coffee.

I drank coffee at the cafe

Haven’t had time to read all the responses yet but my initial response is to say that it would most definitely depend on what part of the US you are going to be in. We are a huge country and, despite all the corporate and federal government (or is that redundant) efforts to make it all homogeneous, there is a great discrepancy in the way Americans percieve and treat non-Americans.

That being said, I think you will find most are friendly and welcoming.

Hm…in the circles I frequent the French are those ‘crazy democratic socialists.’ But that’s really just a matter of semantics—the U.S. doesn’t have a radically different political scene, we just have a stigma about the word socialism. (shudders)

I think most Americans associate French women with elegance, class, and beauty. But maybe not intelligence or strength of will. But hey, gender typing is bad. So are ethnic stereotypes. Booo.

I’m reminded of the woman who played Bruce Willis’ wife in Pulp Fiction. What was her name? Fabienne? Whewwwwwww. Haha. Didn’t exactly defy the aforementioned stereotype despite my lightheadedness. XD

Thoughts about the French:

Sexy accents.
Beautiful art.
Rich, magnificent food!
Wonderful music (I love Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf).

I don’t care for their government, but I think the French are a wonderful people.

I think of Christine Lagarde.

I’ve been to Paris and to Rouen, Bordeaux, Marseilles and Lyon. It’s a beautiful country with a warm and fun-loving population that know good food, exquisite wine and fine fashions. I loved France. There are some clods here in America who got mad at France for having the good sense to stay out of George Bush’s ill advised and illegal invasion of Iraq. There are those that hold a grudge against the French who joined the Vichy regime. But for the most part, Americans love to have French visitors and expatriates who settle here are welcomed with open arms. Welcome to Fluther, @badmanda_navy and enjoy the trip to the USA.

Of course you have, @ETpro. Of course you have.

@drhat77 In my first career, I was an engineer working on automation for electronics miniaturization. My final assignment in that, in the 80s before everything moved to China, was traveling worldwide training staff on how to use and maintain my company’s products, and doing more complex maintenance when required. Why would you think I am lying about that?

This American (moi) loves the French. One of the best experiences of my life was spending the summer with a French family just outside of Beaune in their ramshackle château. They owned a small, high class vineyard so even the watered wine I had for lunch (I was only 17) was heavenly.

I spoke casual French pretty well which helped make the summer so much fun. And there were a dozen or so kids of my own age (both American and French) so I was also able to fall in love w. a young Frenchman…a very good way of improving my language skills, je vais vous dire.

I got drunk all over France. Lots of us Yankees do it.

I’m indifferent towards the French. Damn near all the people I met there spoke English once I butchered French first.

I will get some shit for this. But, if you come here stick to the west and east coast. Stay out of the middle.

@ETpro not acusing you. I’m just jealous. Its like, how did I NOT know that debonaire man went to France.”

@drhat77 I was one lucky MF for sure. The job was far easier than actually designing the robotics, and fantastically more fun. Funny, the only exciting place I never went except passing through was China.

There was a time that there was a prejudice against the French due to foreign policy differences, but that is long past. I always found it odd that all those people talking about supposed French military cowardice never considered that the U.S. owes its independence to French support.

I have never been to France but have met some French immigrants. The main impression that I have of the French is an interest in cultural matters. There are not that many French speakers in this country, but if you visit a museum there is a fair chance that you will run into some.

I agree with the person above that said you should visit the coasts. In general people on both coasts are more open-minded to foreign people and ideas than people in the interior of the US. I’ve been to about 25 states and have found this to be generally true across the board. Cue the midwesterners screaming they’re not close-minded. Yawn.

Yeah. The East Coast is full of love for the differences in folks.

And just try to get a German to visit Florida even now, ten years later.

L.A. is also quite wonderful whether you are visiting from Europe or one of our neighbors to the North.

I guess I just don’t understand such advanced metropolitan attitudes.

They have really good food, but really small portions.

No, it is not true @dxs. We eat just decently.