The biggest culture shocks when moving to France

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3. French Politeness: The Little Rules That Make a Big Difference when moving to France

You’ve probably learned bonjour and merci.

But French politeness is more complicated than learning a list of polite words.

There are small social rules that can completely change how an interaction feels.

And one of the most important is surprisingly simple:

Say « Bonjour » before asking for something

Imagine entering a small bakery.

You walk up to the counter and say:

Vous avez des croissants ?

Technically, the sentence is perfectly understandable.

But it can sound abrupt.

A much more natural approach is:

Bonjour ! Vous avez encore des croissants ?

The difference is tiny.

The social effect is much bigger.

« Bonjour » opens the interaction

Think of bonjour as a social door.

You acknowledge the person before asking them for something.

This applies in many situations:

At a shop:

Bonjour, je voudrais…

At reception:

Bonjour, j’ai rendez-vous avec…

At the doctor’s:

Bonjour, j’ai rendez-vous à dix heures.

When entering a small business:

Bonjour !

Even when you think the person obviously knows you’re there, the greeting matters.

« Merci » and « s’il vous plaît »

These are basic, but don’t underestimate them.

Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît.

Merci beaucoup.

Merci, bonne journée !

These expressions make interactions smoother.

« Vous » and « tu »

Choosing between vous and tu can be confusing.

Generally, vous is safer when:

• you don’t know the person;
• you’re in a professional situation;
• you’re speaking to an older person you don’t know;
• you’re dealing with a service provider.

Tu is used with:

• friends;
• family;
• children;
• people with whom you have established an informal relationship.

But there are many exceptions.

In modern France, people may move to tu quite quickly, particularly in informal environments.

If someone says:

On peut se tutoyer ?

they are suggesting that you use tu.

You can simply answer:

Oui, bien sûr !

Politeness isn’t necessarily about saying « please » constantly

French politeness is also about how you formulate requests.

Compare:

Donnez-moi ça.

with:

Je voudrais celui-ci, s’il vous plaît.

Or:

Vous pouvez m’aider ?

with:

Est-ce que vous pourriez m’aider, s’il vous plaît ?

The second version is softer.

Don’t forget the goodbye

When you leave a small shop or finish an interaction, saying:

Au revoir, bonne journée !

is natural.

You may also hear:

Bonne journée !

Bonne soirée !

Bon courage !

The last one can be particularly interesting.

Bon courage ! doesn’t literally mean « good courage ».

It can mean something like:

« Hang in there! »

or

« Have a good one! »

depending on the situation.

The golden rule

If you’re unsure what to do:

Greet first. Ask politely. Thank the person. Say goodbye.

These four little habits will make everyday interactions much easier.

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4. French Body Language: What Are People Actually Saying?

Learning French isn’t only about words.

French people communicate with their hands, faces, eyes, shoulders and body posture too.

And sometimes the body says something completely different from the words.

The famous French shrug

You may see:

Shoulders raised.

Eyebrows slightly lifted.

Hands open.

Maybe a little pursing of the lips.

This can mean:

Je sais pas.

« I don’t know. »

Or:

Qu’est-ce que tu veux que j’y fasse ?

« What do you expect me to do? »

Or simply:

« Who knows? »

The exact meaning depends on the context.

The « bof » face

French speakers often use facial expressions together with:

Bof…

This can mean:

« Not really. »

« Meh. »

« Nothing special. »

For example:

Le film était bien ?

Bof…

That’s not exactly « no ».

It’s closer to:

« It was… okay. »

The famous « mouais »

You may also hear:

Mouais…

This expresses doubt or lack of enthusiasm.

Imagine:

Tu penses que ça va marcher ?

Mouais…

The person is definitely not convinced.

Eye contact

Eye contact is an important part of conversation.

If someone looks at you while you’re speaking, it generally shows engagement.

But don’t overanalyse it.

Different people have different communication styles.

Gestures can reinforce meaning

French speakers may use their hands naturally while explaining something.

For example:

C’est juste à côté.

They may point.

Or:

C’est énorme !

Their hands may show the size.

Or:

J’en ai marre !

Their facial expression and body language may reinforce the frustration.

Don’t try to copy every gesture

This is important.

You don’t need to become a caricature of a French person.

Observe first.

As your French becomes more comfortable, many gestures will become natural because you’ll understand the emotional meaning behind them.

Watch the whole interaction

Never interpret one gesture in isolation.

A raised eyebrow could mean surprise, doubt, amusement or disagreement.

The words, tone, facial expression and context all work together.

That’s exactly what makes real-life communication more complicated — and more interesting — than textbook French.

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5. Why French People Seem Rude: Are They Really?

One of the most common complaints from newcomers moving to France is:

« French people are rude. »

Sometimes someone really is rude.

But quite often, something else is happening.

The first problem: expectations

People from different cultures have different ideas about politeness.

In one country, a friendly smile and enthusiastic small talk may be normal.

In another, a stranger may prefer to keep more distance.

Neither is automatically more polite.

They’re simply different.

The missing « bonjour »

This is one of the easiest ways to create a bad first impression.

You walk into a shop and immediately ask:

Vous avez ça ?

The shopkeeper may appear cold.

Try:

Bonjour ! Excusez-moi, vous avez ça ?

The interaction may suddenly feel completely different.

French people don’t always smile at strangers

In some cultures, smiling at customers or strangers is expected.

In France, a person can be perfectly polite without smiling constantly.

Don’t necessarily interpret a neutral expression as hostility.

Directness can sound aggressive

French people can sometimes be quite direct.

For example:

Non, ce n’est pas possible.

That can sound harsh to someone accustomed to more indirect language.

But the speaker may simply be giving you a straightforward answer.

The opposite can also happen

Sometimes French people use indirect language.

For example:

Ça risque d’être compliqué…

Literally:

« That risks being complicated. »

In context, this may mean:

« No, probably not. »

So you need to learn both sides:

• French can be direct;
• French can also be highly indirect.

Service culture can feel different

In some countries, customer service involves a lot of enthusiastic friendliness.

In France, service may sometimes feel more restrained.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the person doesn’t want to help.

The interaction may simply follow different expectations.

But don’t excuse actual rudeness

This is important.

Not every unpleasant interaction is cultural.

Sometimes someone is impatient.

Sometimes someone is having a bad day.

Sometimes someone is simply rude.

Culture explains some behaviour.

It doesn’t excuse everything.

Learn the social code

Instead of asking:

« Why are French people rude? »

try asking:

« What does polite behaviour look like in this situation in France? »

That’s a much more useful question.

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6. Small Talk in France: What Do French People Actually Talk About?

Small talk can be surprisingly difficult in another language.

You may know hundreds of French words and still have absolutely no idea what to say when someone asks:

Alors, ça va ?

What exactly are you supposed to answer?

« Ça va ? » doesn’t always require a real answer

Sometimes:

Ça va ?

simply means:

« Hi, how are you? »

You can answer:

Ça va, et toi ?

You don’t necessarily need to explain your emotional state.

But if someone genuinely asks:

Comment ça va en ce moment ?

that’s different.

The context matters.

The weather is always available

Yes, French people talk about the weather.

Especially:

Il fait chaud !

Il fait froid !

Quel temps !

C’est fou, cette chaleur !

Il va pleuvoir ?

It may sound trivial.

But small talk is often about creating a moment of connection rather than exchanging important information.

Talk about what is happening around you

If you’re at a café:

Tu viens souvent ici ?

At an event:

Tu connais déjà cet endroit ?

At work:

Tu as passé un bon week-end ?

At a sports activity:

Tu fais ça depuis longtemps ?

These are easy conversation openers.

Ask follow-up questions

This is the key.

Someone says:

Je suis allé à Arcachon ce week-end.

Don’t just say:

Ah, sympa.

Ask:

Ah oui ? Tu y vas souvent ?

Or:

Tu étais avec des amis ?

Or:

Tu as fait quoi ?

That’s how a conversation develops.

Don’t turn small talk into an interview

Questions are useful, but conversation should go both ways.

If someone says:

Je viens de Bordeaux.

You can say:

Moi aussi, j’habite à Bordeaux depuis trois ans.

Then:

Tu es du centre ?

Now you’ve shared something and asked something.

French conversation can become personal surprisingly quickly

Depending on the relationship, French people may ask:

Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?

Tu habites où ?

Tu es marié(e) ?

Tu as des enfants ?

These questions may feel more personal than they would in some cultures.

Context and relationship matter.

The secret to French small talk

Don’t search for the perfect sentence.

React. Share. Ask. React again.

For example:

Tu as passé un bon week-end ?

Oui, super ! Je suis allé à Lacanau avec des amis.

Ah, sympa ! Tu fais du surf ?

Oui, depuis quelques années.

Moi, j’ai essayé une fois…

Now you have a conversation.

That’s much more useful than memorising 50 conversation questions.

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7. Invited to a French Dinner? Here’s What You Need to Know when oving to France

Congratulations.

You’ve been invited to a French dinner.

You may now be wondering:

What time should I arrive? What should I bring? Should I help? How long will I stay? Why are we still eating three hours later?

Don’t panic.

Here are a few useful things to know.

What time should you arrive?

If you’re invited for:

20h

don’t necessarily arrive at exactly 20:00.

Depending on the context, arriving a little later can be normal.

But don’t arrive 45 minutes late without warning.

If you’re going to be late, send a message:

Désolé(e), je vais avoir une dizaine de minutes de retard.

Should you bring something?

If it’s a casual dinner, you can ask:

Je peux apporter quelque chose ?

Your host may answer:

Non, non, ne t’inquiète pas !

Sometimes they genuinely mean it.

Sometimes they may still appreciate a small gift.

A bottle of wine, flowers or something from your region can be a nice gesture.

Don’t assume dinner means one quick meal

A French dinner can involve:

Apéritif

Then perhaps:

Entrée

Plat

Fromage

Dessert

Café

And conversation throughout.

You may eventually look at your watch and discover that you’ve been sitting at the table for four hours.

This is not necessarily a problem.

The meal is often also a social experience.

The apéritif matters

The apéritif — often called l’apéro — is more than a drink.

It’s a moment to arrive, chat and relax before dinner.

You may have:

• wine;
• sparkling wine;
• beer;
• local apéro, like home made drink or something usual to drink in the area
• soft drinks;
• olives;
• nuts;
• small appetisers.

Don’t rush.

What should you say when you arrive?

A simple:

Bonsoir ! Merci de m’avoir invité(e).

is perfect.

If you know the people well:

Ça fait plaisir de vous voir !

Compliment the food

If you enjoy something:

C’est délicieux !

J’adore !

C’est vraiment très bon.

These are simple and natural.

What if you don’t like something?

You don’t need to announce:

« I hate cheese. »

at the moment the cheese arrives.

You can politely say:

Non merci, je vais passer mon tour.

« I’m going to skip this one. »

Or:

Je n’en mange pas, mais merci.

Or:

J’ai une intolérance au lactose
(The truth is, you can say almost anything if you say it politely or with humour. It all depends on how well you know the people you’re talking to. If you jokingly explain that you might be farting all day the next day and need to spare your colleagues or partner, people will probably laugh and understand. But of course, you wouldn’t make that kind of joke with a client!)

a couple I use myself as I don’t really eat dessert

 » Sorry, there is really no more space »

Désolée, je n’ai vraiment plus de place, le dîner était absolument excellent. (politicaly correct)

Don’t rush away after dessert

This is perhaps the biggest cultural surprise.

The meal may technically be finished.

But the conversation isn’t.

Someone makes coffee.

People continue talking.

Another bottle appears.

Someone tells a story.

You think:

« Surely we’re finished? »

No.

You’re not finished.

Conversation is part of the meal

A French dinner isn’t simply about eating.

It’s about spending time together.

The table is a place for conversation.

And that’s one reason why improving your conversational French can make such a difference to your experience of French social life.

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8. Understanding French Culture: It’s More Than Food, Wine and Baguettes

French culture is often reduced to a few familiar images:

Wine.

Cheese.

Baguettes.

Cafés.

Fashion.

Long lunches.

But if you’re living in France, the interesting cultural differences are often much smaller.

They’re hidden in everyday behaviour.

Time spent together matters

A meal can take longer than you expect.

A coffee can turn into a conversation.

An invitation for « un verre » may last considerably longer than one drink.

The point isn’t always efficiency.

Sometimes the point is simply being together.

Food is often social

Food isn’t only fuel.

People talk about food.

They discuss what they ate.

They compare restaurants.

They argue about the best way to prepare something.

They talk about regional specialities.

And yes, people can have strong opinions about cheese.

Conversation can be argumentative without being hostile

This is an important cultural difference.

Two French people can disagree enthusiastically about:

politics;

food;

football;

work;

education;

almost anything.

Raised voices don’t necessarily mean an argument has become serious.

Sometimes people simply enjoy debating.

Of course, there is a difference between a lively discussion and genuine conflict.

But don’t assume disagreement means the relationship is damaged.

There is a strong appreciation for nuance

French communication often contains expressions such as:

Ça dépend.

Peut-être.

Pas forcément.

Ça se discute.

Je ne suis pas sûr(e).

These phrases allow people to qualify what they’re saying.

Learning them can make your French sound much more natural.

Regional culture matters enormously

France isn’t culturally uniform.

Bordeaux is not Marseille.

Brittany isn’t Provence.

Paris isn’t the countryside.

Food, accents, traditions and social habits can vary considerably.

So be careful with statements beginning:

« French people always… »

There is almost certainly an exception.

The French relationship with bureaucracy

Yes, paperwork is a cliché for a reason.

But the more useful lesson for an expatriate is:

Don’t assume that the process will work exactly as it does in your home country.

Read documents carefully.

Keep copies.

Ask questions.

And, whenever possible, learn the relevant vocabulary in French.

Understanding words such as:

justificatif

dossier

pièce d’identité

attestation

rendez-vous

demande

can make administrative situations much less intimidating.

Culture is learned through participation

You don’t learn French culture by reading ten articles about France.

You learn it by:

• having dinner with French people;
• going to the market;
• talking to neighbours;
• attending local events;
• travelling around France;
• listening to conversations;
• asking questions.

And, of course, making the occasional cultural mistake.

That’s part of the adventure.

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9. How to Survive Your First French Dinner: The Unwritten Rules of French Society

You are just moving to France and your first dinner invitation in France can feel like an exam you didn’t know you were taking.

Do I arrive exactly on time?

Do I kiss everyone?

Do I bring wine?

Do I sit down immediately?

Can I start eating?

Why is everyone still talking?

Relax.

There aren’t actually 147 official French dinner rules.

But there are a few useful unwritten ones.

Rule 1: Say « Bonjour » to everyone

When you arrive, don’t simply walk into the room and start looking for the wine.

Say:

Bonsoir !

Then greet the people you know.

Depending on the relationship, this may involve la bise.

If you’re unsure, follow the host’s lead.

Rule 2: Don’t arrive empty-handed if you’ve been invited socially

You don’t necessarily need to bring something expensive.

A small gesture is enough.

You could bring:

une bouteille de vin

des fleurs

une spécialité de votre région

Or ask:

Je peux apporter quelque chose ?

Rule 3: Don’t start eating before everyone is ready

If there are several people at the table, wait.

The host may say:

Bon appétit !

Then you can start.

Rule 4: Don’t rush

This is probably the biggest difference for many expatriates.

Dinner is not necessarily a sequence of:

eat → finish → leave.

The meal is the event.

Conversation is part of it.

Rule 5: Participate in the conversation

You don’t need perfect French.

Listen.

React.

Ask questions.

Share something.

You can use simple expressions:

Ah bon ?

C’est vrai ?

Je ne savais pas !

Et toi ?

Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ?

These little phrases help you participate even when your vocabulary is limited.

Rule 6: Don’t panic if people talk quickly

This will happen.

Especially when several French people are talking together.

Don’t try to understand every single word.

Listen for:

• the main subject;
• familiar words;
• tone;
• names;
• repeated expressions.

If you miss something important:

Pardon, j’ai pas compris.

Or:

Vous pouvez répéter ?

There’s nothing embarrassing about it.

Rule 7: French people may disagree

Don’t panic if someone says:

Non, je ne suis pas d’accord.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the evening is ruined.

Discussion and disagreement can be perfectly normal parts of conversation.

You can answer:

Ah bon ? Pourquoi ?

and continue.

Rule 8: Don’t disappear immediately after eating

If you’re invited for dinner, expect to spend time together.

Coffee may come after dessert.

Then conversation.

Then another conversation.

Maybe another drink.

The meal may be officially finished, but socially it isn’t.

Rule 9: Thank your hosts

Before leaving:

Merci, c’était vraiment très sympa.

Or:

Merci beaucoup pour le dîner, c’était délicieux.

And the next day, a message can be a lovely gesture:

Merci encore pour hier soir, j’ai passé une très bonne soirée !

Simple.

Natural.

Perfect.

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