19 Things Americans Do That Are Super Rude Abroad
Some everyday habits of Americans might come across as rude in other cultures and countries. If you’re from the U.S., you probably don’t mean to offend anyone while traveling, but it’s easy to do so unintentionally.
Everything from the way you laugh to how you accept a compliment could make you seem like another rude American.
1: The Open Mouth Laugh
Meeting a joke with a wide-mouth guffaw is a compliment to the joke-teller in the U.S. But in countries like Japan, it’s considered rude.
The Japanese cover their mouths when laughing, as showing what’s behind your pearly whites is seen as sort of gross.
2: Asking For Meal Accommodations
Maybe you’re following a strict diet, or perhaps you just don’t like garlic. In the U.S., asking your server or host for specific details about menu items or stating your meal preferences in advance is common practice.
However, in many cultures, asking for special accommodation is rude to your host and insulting to the chef.
3: Left-Handed Eating
If you’re left-handed, it might seem like eating with your dominant hand is the best way to politely consume a meal. But in certain countries, it’s considered exceptionally rude.
Indians, for example, often reserve their left hands for personal hygiene and believe you should only eat with the right one.
4: Tipping
Leaving a good tip is a polite and generous act in the U.S. But in countries like Korea, tipping isn’t commonplace.
A recent survey by SK Communications found that 70% of South Koreans view tipping as unacceptable. If only it were that way in America!
5: Fashionably Late
If the party starts at 7:00 pm, arriving ten to twenty minutes after that is socially acceptable in the U.S. In Germany, though, there’s no such thing as being fashionably late. Germans are punctual, if not early, to appointments and events.
6: Eating On-the-Go
Grabbing a bite to go is standard in the U.S., and no one will look at you funny for scarfing down a sandwich on the bus or munching on an apple as you walk down the street.
In many countries, though, you shouldn’t eat where food isn’t being served. And, in places like Japan, eating while walking is especially rude.
7: Thumbs Up
In many Western countries, giving a thumbs up is a positive sign. However, in certain parts of West Africa and the Middle East, a thumbs up is the equivalent of flipping the bird.
8: No Seconds, Please
No one bats an eye if you say no thank you to a second helping in the U.S. But in countries like Nepal, not asking for seconds is an insult to the host.
9: Gum
Americans may think having bad breath is the ultimate faux pas, but in other countries, chewing gum is much worse. In Singapore, for example, chewing gum is a banned substance.
10: Opening Gifts
If someone brings you a gift in the U.S., opening it right away is considered good practice. However, in China, opening a gift in front of the gift giver is a big no-no.
11: Calling the U.S. America
You can call yourself an American when traveling abroad, but saying you’re from America is often seen as rude. America is much bigger than just the U.S., and many people find it insulting that U.S. citizens often refer to their home as if the United States were the only country among North America, Central America, and South America.
12: Hands in Pockets
In some cultures, talking with your hands in your pockets is considered rude. Though it’s typically not seen as disrespectful in the U.S., it can make you seem insecure or untrustworthy here, too.
13: How Are You
People often ask, “How are you?” in the U.S. without expecting a real response. Other cultures find this strange, and if you ask how someone is in Italy or France, they may feel they have to answer honestly. Suddenly, your casual question becomes a personal inquiry and you might feel rude for asking.
14: Accepting Compliments
In some countries, like Japan, accepting compliments is arrogant or rude. Giving compliments, in general, isn’t common, but if you receive one, it’s polite to deny it.
15: Whistling
Typically, whistling in the United States is seen as positive. It usually means you’re in a good mood or have a laid-back attitude. However, in countries from Turkey to Canada, it’s thought that whistling in certain situations, like indoors or at night, is a good way to call evil spirits or invite bad fortune.
16: Sitting in the Back
If you climb into the front seat of a cab in a U.S. city, the driver might brace themselves to call the cops or, at the very least, be super weirded out. However, in other countries, sitting in the back of a taxi makes you seem arrogant and rude.
17: Shoes Indoors
Taking off your shoes at a cocktail party or baby shower would be strange in the U.S. Some might even consider it impolite. In many Asian countries, though, the opposite is true.
18: Asking For Salt
Salt, pepper, and other condiments are commonly left on the table in the U.S., allowing you to season your meals however you please. In other countries, like France, though, asking for salt, or even ketchup, is often considered rude.
19: Rock On
In the States, giving a “rock on” hand signal is usually a positive gesture. However, in many countries, the sign has a different meaning. It can signal that a man’s wife is sleeping around, and everyone knows but him.
Are Americans Rude?
According to Pew Research Center, Americans might not be as rude as it appears we think we are. In many other Western countries, like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland, few people reported U.S. citizens as rude. In contrast, 35% of Americans called themselves rude.
Could Be More Polite
Canadians were much more likely to say Americans were rude in general, which doesn’t make the U.S. look good. Given our shared border, Canadians are likely to have more interactions with Americans than citizens from other countries.
Avoiding the Rude Label
If you’re traveling abroad as a U.S. citizen, you might want to avoid the “rude American” stereotype. Luckily, with a little knowledge, it’s fairly easy to be seen as one of the polite Americans.
One of the best ways to avoid insulting others is to learn about the culture in the country you plan to visit. Study up on their etiquette and customs before you board your flight.
Learn the Language
Learning a few phrases in the native language of a country you plan to visit can go a long way. Saying “please” and “thank you” represent good manners in almost every culture, and the phrases are usually easy to pick up.
Travel Without a Passport
If you want to travel abroad but don’t love the thought of going through the passport application process, these are six countries Americans can travel to without a passport.
6 Countries Americans Can Travel To Without a Passport
19 Misconceptions Non-Americans Have About the US
To some foreigners, Americans are morbidly obese individuals at a high risk of being involved in a firearm incident. Americans know this isn’t (always) the case, but it doesn’t make it any less irritating to hear stereotypes about us that aren’t usually true.
