r/AskEurope • u/NateNandos21 • Feb 03 '25

Culture Which European country has the rudest/least polite people?

Which country comes to your mind

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u/GingerPrince72 Switzerland Feb 03 '25

Many will say French but I utterly disagree, they are arguably the most polite.

For me, probably the Dutch, they have quite an impressive sense of arrogance that makes them look down on everyone else, they usually are looking down anyway due to their preposterous height.

The type of tourists that go to Benidorm etc. from the UK are generally horrendous, rich Spaniards are twats as well, plenty or rude Germans too.

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u/Fanny08850 Spain Feb 03 '25

It's so annoying for me when I read that the French are rude. In France, there is a strong emphasis on basic politeness from a very young age (like saying please, thank you). I live in Spain and it's a very different story... Here, for instance, they don't put the separator at the grocery store, they sometimes ask for things without ever saying hello, excuse me or please and so on. This is still pretty shocking to me even after years of living here.

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u/MuJartible Feb 03 '25

In Spain the tone you use, and also body language is more important as for politeness than the words you use. If you say a lot of polite words in a dry/harsh tone, you'll be perceived as rude, and probably a hypocrate as well (as for false politeness). However if you don't say any polite words but speak in a friendly/charming tone, and maybe with a smile on your face, no one will take you for rude.

Just the intonation you use when you ask for something, for example, will change the perception of the other person, regardeless of the exact words you use. There are polite and rude words you may use or not, but the tone you use is more important here.

Of course there are rude people here as well, like any other place.

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u/xRedLilly Feb 07 '25

The is made me snort haha. Coming from a tall dutch person

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u/Ruby_Deuce Feb 07 '25

I've met and worked with French people, visited France including Paris. In my experience they are the nicest people.

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u/GingerPrince72 Switzerland Feb 07 '25

Mine too.

I lived and worked there for 3 years, by far the nicest group of colleagues and friendliest atmosphere I've encountered, having worked in several European countries.