How To Annoy Europeans With One Sentence
By Anna
@LadyDuck (472074)
Switzerland
March 13, 2017 10:10am CST
I have read today a funny article that highlighted single sentences that can upset Europeans.
Here are some, I made a comment where I know what the citizen of those countries really think.
Now, if you plan to visit one of these countries (according to the article) never say:
Austria - Are you German? 
(YES, I confirm this annoys them a lot).
Portugal - Do you speak Brazilian, right? 
(Of course not, the Brazilians speak Portuguese)
France - American wines are better - (I confirm that they do not appreciate at all.)
Italy - I like pasta with ketchup - 
(We really do not care, this is your problem, not ours.)
Scotland - Where in England is that? (Surely not something to ask to a Scottish.)
What about our non European friends?
Are there single sentences about your Country/State that makes you mad?
(YES, I confirm this annoys them a lot).
Portugal - Do you speak Brazilian, right? (Of course not, the Brazilians speak Portuguese)
France - American wines are better - (I confirm that they do not appreciate at all.)
Italy - I like pasta with ketchup - (We really do not care, this is your problem, not ours.)
Scotland - Where in England is that? (Surely not something to ask to a Scottish.)
What about our non European friends?
Are there single sentences about your Country/State that makes you mad?104 people like this
95 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
13 Mar 17
people assume everyone in the UK supports Manchester United, watches cricket and moans about the weather all day and we all talk like cockneys except the queen
18 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
14 Mar 17
@Lupita234 I'm not American or Scottish but I like whiskey
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
15 Mar 17
@arthurchappell I like it too Arthur, even if I am a woman and I am Italian.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
13 Mar 17
You are so right, exactly as everyone assume that in Italy we all eat pizza and spaghetti. I am a northern and we do not eat pasta every day and pizza is really something occasional. We also do not speak with the "mafia accent" of the American movies.9 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
13 Mar 17
@MALUSE I have heard lots of US folk praise British chocolate ... but they would obviously praise any chocolate that's made outside America because theirs is so horrid!
4 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
13 Mar 17
Lots of things....calling anyone in the south a redneck gets me PO'd. I live in the south but I'm no redneck.
PS only honey boo boo eats pasta with ketchup.
12 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
14 Mar 17
@Lupita234 I have visited the Bacardi plants in Puerto Rico. When I lived in Monte-Carlo, one of the few villas was the one of the owner of Bacardi.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
16 Mar 17
@sol_cee The Swiss bank accounts were secret in the past, no more in our days, they have signed agreements with all the other countries for the automatic exchange of their clients data. It is impossible now to open a Swiss Account if you do not prove that you officially declare the account in your tax form in your country.
3 people like this
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
13 Mar 17
Probably something about how many people from the coasts (west coast, east coast) think all midwesterners are redneck-cowboys & hick-truckers who chew tobakky & hang out at the honky-tonk.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
15 Mar 17
@LadyDuck Reminds me of what Ralphie May said about the few decades before Trump (and maybe before Obama) of U.S. Presidents---all from the South (about like he is himself) the White House has been filled with decades of "Wooooooooooo!"
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
14 Mar 17
@Lupita234 Well, for what I have heard while traveling, all the others make fun of the New Yorkers.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 17
When we were in France we tried really hard to be Australian rather than English as we knew the French often weren't too keen on the English. We had an Australian flag on our camper car and I had a little kangaroo brooch I wore sometimes. 
5 people like this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 17
@LadyDuck Lol the feeling must be mutual then. And we found most of the English didn't want to be English! The Scots and Welsh certainly weren't, the people round the Lakes district were Lakes people rather than English. Then there were the northerners and people from Cornwall said if their chain of lakes all met up then they would be entirely separate from England!
And we found most of the English didn't want to be English! The Scots and Welsh certainly weren't, the people round the Lakes district were Lakes people rather than English. Then there were the northerners and people from Cornwall said if their chain of lakes all met up then they would be entirely separate from England!2 people like this
@andriaperry (117140)
• Anniston, Alabama
13 Mar 17
Yes, for some reason people in parts of the Northern USA think that people in the Southern USA are stupid. Why? T.V. finds the worst white trash they can find and put them on a show and that is NOT how we act.
6 people like this
@1creekgirl (41747)
• United States
13 Mar 17
Absolutely! Our southern charm and good manners can belie the fact that when we're through with you, you won't know what hit you!
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
13 Mar 17
@1creekgirl I loved to visit the southern US States, I had met beautiful charming people there.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Mar 17
@josie based on my experience with people from your country, I consider you to be a people of hard workers.
5 people like this
@josie_ (10032)
• Philippines
14 Mar 17
@GardenGerty _Thank you. There is dignity in work.
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
13 Mar 17
I have never been to Europe but this facts ate not just annoying but helpful
6 people like this
@GegeTheMechanic (1060)
• Finland
13 Mar 17
When I say I live in Finland I heard many times people ask do I live with polar bears 
or have I seen them. Another thing is when I say I live on Nokia people ask do I live in the phone... It's not so annoying but I just heard that too many times
or have I seen them. Another thing is when I say I live on Nokia people ask do I live in the phone... It's not so annoying but I just heard that too many times5 people like this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Mar 17
People know very little about Finland. I admit I did not, but my husband's family originally came from Finland. Since meeting him I have learned a lot about the contributions to engineering, and the arts among other things, from the Finns.
3 people like this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
13 Mar 17
No you would never tell an Italian you like Ketchup on their food not ask for Ketchup in that type of restaurant. But I am sure there are many things tourists ask here in the US that we find weird. They cannot always assume everyone knows everything either.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
14 Mar 17
@Lupita234 Bambinos is not Italian we say "bambini" and this means children. We really do not care about this.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
13 Mar 17
Ignorance abounds!
Can't think of anything that makes me mad. It is their ignorance, not mine. Most probably don't realize what they are saying and how it might seem offensive.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
14 Mar 17
Most time I do not even pay attention, but you are right is their ignorance. When we lived in Monte-Carlo and people asked "where you are from" and we said Monte-Carlo, most of the time the comment was, I know where it is, South of Spain.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
18 Mar 17
@vickyrose Sometimes it's better to let it go, they would not understand anyway.
@vickyrose (2235)
• Cooma, Australia
18 Mar 17
its people assuming too much. I correct them if they are incorrect.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50525)
• United States
14 Mar 17
It gets me perturbed when people don't realize that West Virginia and Virginia are two separate states. They ask us all the time, when are you going back to Virginia. We correct them and say West Virginia and they smile and they say yes we know you go to western Virginia 
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
15 Mar 17
@Tampa_girl7 May be that geography is not what is more important in American schools.
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50525)
• United States
15 Mar 17
@LadyDuck it seems that most are oblivious to the fact that they are two separate states.
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
13 Mar 17
I'm sure this doesn't bother any others from Michigan, but one thing we'd say years ago with the weather was just wait ten minutes and it will change. Funny thing is, I've spent time in other states and almost all of them say something similar. So, I get a bit annoyed hearing that still since it's not really a Michigan saying at all.
I'd have to think about it more or maybe after reading some of the comments I'd remember.
I thought a few of the ones you mentioned were quite funny. I can imagine why people in those areas would be upset especially since Scotland is it's own country, it may be close to England but not a part of it. Do Austrians speak German? I'm thinking that's what people mean. Maybe if they are using a translator or book with phrases that's the closest they can get?
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman I too have heard the weather saying everywhere I have lived or travelled but I am under the impression it was first said by Will Rogers, in reference to Oklahoma. It may be a wrong impression, but it is there.
2 people like this
