6 Normal French things that seem odd to Americans

France, with its rich history, stunning architecture, and undeniable je ne sais quoi, is a dream destination for many of you out there. But before you pack your beret and practice your “bonjour,” there might be a few things you encounter that’ll leave you scratching your head.

It’s no secret that I love talking about French and American cultural differences here on Oui In France, and judging from your comments, you enjoy the topic as well. So today, let’s get into a bunch of French cultural differences that might not only lead to a sense of wonder but often bewilderment as well. 

OK, grab a nice pain au chocolat and a warm beverage and let’s get into 6 very normal French things that Americans might find weird or strange.

1. La Bise: The French cheek kiss greeting

If you’ve spent any time around the French, then you know that initiating a greeting in France often involves la bise, a kiss on the cheek, which can be a surprising custom to Americans.

We’re used to hugging to say hello, but in France, definitely do NOT hug. You go in with a kiss on either side of the cheek instead…. or more like a cheek touch and not an actual kiss with your lips making contact.

La bise is not just a one-time ritual; it happens frequently. French people use it to say hello and goodbye in most social situations, but there are unspoken rules you have to learn. It’s common among friends and family, and sometimes with acquaintances in social settings, but not in formal business environments.

It’s also mainly a gesture shared between two women or between a man and a woman. Two men usually prefer a firm handshake over la bise, except sometimes among close friends or family.

Also, in some regions of France, you might do more than two kisses, which can lead to some light-hearted faux pas as individuals from different parts of France may have different expectations. 

I’m personally not a huge fan of la bise and find them tedious. I wear glasses and sometimes they clank with someone else’s. Some people are pretty aggressive with their bise style (like my father-in-law) and I instinctively recoil because I don’t want my cheek smacked. 

A guy at the gym would always say hi with a bise when he’d see me. At least one of us was already sweaty, so getting a nice imprint of a sweaty cheek kind of grossed me out. But hey, there are worse things. 

Personally, I would much rather do a hug to say hi… but when in Rome and all. You learn and adapt. 😉

2. The bread drawer (or bag)

Americans love bread, but the French take it to a whole new level with bakeries seemingly on every corner. From a nice tartine for breakfast, or a sandwich for lunch, and even a fresh baguette with cheese, bread is everywhere in France. There’s even baguette etiquette you should know.

In the land of baguettes, bread isn’t just a food – it’s a sacred object. However, the way the French store this precious commodity caught me off guard.

Forget plastic bags — the French have a dedicated bread drawer or special bag. Yep, I have one in my kitchen and had to ask Tom what it was for when we first moved in. The first time I came across one of them at a friend’s, I made a MAJOR faux pas and it was actually quite hilarious.

Why the drawer, you ask? Well, apparently, bread needs to breathe! Plastic bags trap moisture, leading to a soggy, sad baguette. So, the French solution? A cool, dry drawer or cloth bag that keeps their baguettes fresh and crispy for a little longer.

P.S. This isn’t a bread bag for your kitchen, but is my favorite high-quality Paris tote… for bread or anything!

3. House shutters (les volets)

Driving through a French town at night, you’ll notice that all houses and apartments have window shutters that cover their windows. Some are manual wooden ones, as shown above, and others are metal roller shutters. But no matter the style, these cultural must-haves are for privacy, security, and temperature control.

You keep them closed in the heat of summer (also means you’ll be sitting in the dark) to keep the cool air inside — remember a/c isn’t the norm — and also at night. I personally like waking up to natural light and not sleeping in the pitch black dark, so Tom and I compromise on our bedroom shutters.

In the U.S., though, shutters are often solely decorative, adding to a home’s curb appeal. They aren’t usually for function… except in hurricane-prone areas like Florida. Americans depend more on blinds and curtains for privacy and don’t open and close shutters daily.

I’ve talked more about les volets here.

4. Tanning pills

French folks stock up on tanning pills like Oenobiol before they jet off on summer vacation. Not popular at all in the U.S., these types of pills fly off the shelves in French pharmacies during the summer months.

These vitamin-based pills help prep your skin for long days on the beach and are meant to be taken before, during, and after your summer vacay. 

While they don’t actually change your skin’s color (they’re not self tanners, although formulations from a few years ago did contain beta-carotene), they do apparently help boost the appearance of your tan naturally. As an American, the concept of taking a tanning pill may seem odd, but they are super popular with the French.

There are other formulations though that DO change your skin’s color, but the FDA says steer clear.

I’ve personally never tried them, as I hate the sun and stay out of it whenever possible. You’ll never catch me sunbathing!

5. Cars that don’t require a license to drive (voiture sans permis)

When I first moved to France, I was surprised to see these small cars on the road that didn’t require a license. They’re called une voiture sans permis (VSP) and if you’re over 14, you can buy one and drive it on the road with the rest of us — no formal license required (unless you’re born in 1988 or after, then you have to do a couple of hours of training).

That said, they don’t go very fast (45km per hour, 28mph) but still. They have a reputation for being for people who either can’t manage to pass their driving test, for teenagers under 18 who aren’t old enough to have a normal license, and for people who have lost their license due to alcohol-related offenses.

6. Speech noises

There are all kinds of sounds in the French language that don’t exist in English, but I’m not talking about the French “r” or “u” sound. I’m talking about the sometimes jarring speech noises that you’ll hear out of French people’s mouths. They act as fillers and even exclamations and I have a humorous post on these “strange” French noises with audio clips I think you’ll love.

***

Finally, I want to point out that cultural differences aren’t inherently good or bad. They’re neutral and are just differences. When we look at these cultural norms through the lens of our own culture and life experiences, we perceive them to be “strange” but they’re just differences and not better or worse than anywhere else. I think it’s important to not place judgment on them.

I personally love learning how things are done elsewhere and why, so I hope you enjoyed this post!

P.S. Here are some normal French things that wouldn’t ever fly in the US and 7 normal French habits that would be rude in the U.S.