In addition to basic table manners mentioned above, there are a few things one should know about dining in restaurants in France. How to Place Your Hands and Silverware at the French Table Sit up straight, chew quietly and don’t laugh or speak too loudly. Women do not pour wine for themselves the man sitting next to them does. However, the French keep both hands on the table, rather than in the lap. The food is speared by the fork and brought to the mouth with the tines down.Įlbows on the table is considered bad manners in France, just as in America. The French use the continental style which means the fork is held in the left hand with the tines down, and the knife in the right. The French tend to be more reserved, especially with strangers.Ħ French Greetings Faux-Pas That Make You Sound Rude And rein in any overly enthusiastic impulses. Stick with the formal “vous” to be on the safe side. If you plan to try out your beginning French language skills keep in mind the difference between “tu” and “vous”. They were pleased we made an attempt to greet them in French and then were more than happy to switch to English rather than hear us butcher their beautiful language. We found that almost everyone we encountered in hotels, shops, restaurants, etc. A simple “bonjour, Madame/Monsieur” (hello, good morning) or “bonsoir” (good evening) rather than “hello” will help you get off on the right foot. One of the most important things to understand is how to greet someone. Let’s take a look at some of the basic rules of French behavior.ĭisclosure: This post contains affiliate links. When in Paris we did our best to follow these standard rules of behavior and found the French to be very polite and courteous in return. It is not uncommon for Americans to consider the French rude yet much of that impression comes from a lack of knowledge of French manners and rules of behavior. Considering the word “etiquette” comes from the French that shouldn’t come as a surprise. France is one of the countries with rather formal manners. Each culture has its own rules of etiquette, some more formal than others.
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