35 Europeans Answer “What’s A Dead Giveaway For American Tourists In Your Country?”
In WWII the majority of American spies were captured in Europe due to their table manners. Unsure if that's a real thing, but it's what my European grandfather told me.
By 
Charlie Shaw
1. “Hay girl!!!!!”
For American girls: the high tones of your voice when you greet someone.
2. The ultimate dead giveaway:
White socks.
3. A greater appreciation for surroundings.
Compared to Europeans, Americans have a much greater sense of wonder towards things.
It’s pretty cool, Europeans might take for granted the ability to take weekend breaks anywhere in Europe, when an American family might take only one trip in their lifetime to Europe.
I think it’s great. I sit on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral during my lunch break, and barely look at it. While there is an American standing opposite me amazed that this is older than their country. It reminds me that it’s pretty cool to live in London.
4. Visibly trying too hard.
I’m an American, but I’ve been living in France for a bit. If I see a group of 2 – 3+ girls with long, straightened hair, looking like they’ve spent more than 5 minutes on their makeup and wearing tall boots (instead of short/ankle ones), they ARE American. I’ve never been wrong. French women tend to have a “I didn’t try to look good, but I do” thing going on. And they also almost exclusively wear short boots. I’m not sure why.
5. A friendly attitude.
Talking to people. I live in Sweden; we don’t talk to people here.
6. Their volume.
You hear them before you see them.
7. Regarding Europe as one entity.
A major one once you get to actually talk to an American is how they treat Europe as a single entity, as in “I’m in ‘Europe’ and I need to figure out the ‘European way’ to do things so ‘Europeans’ will like me.” Guess what, the things you learned in Amsterdam and Stockholm really won’t hold up in, say, Portugal. Pretty much no-one self-identifies as European. And I know it’s common on Reddit to start a question with “Europeans of Reddit,” but that’s already a dead giveaway.
European nations are not comparable to US states in this way — the cultural differences are much larger and people will take offense if you try to group them together as Europeans. If you’re looking to blend in, start talking about individual countries.
8. A lack of subtlety…
Yelling “does anyone here speak ENGLISH?!?”
9. A penchant for Long Beach, California.
Hearing “Long Beach is dope as fuck!” in that unmistakably Californian accent was the biggest giveaway I’ve ever witnessed.
10. Indifferent about football.
When football is showing on a nearby TV and the males of the American tourist group show no interest.
11. Positivity.
Honestly, the only thing that seems to apply to most Americans I’ve met here in Germany is their positive attitude and their “can-do” approach.
12. Believing others will give a hoot about your ancestry.
“My great great grandfather was from Ireland.”
13. Apparently distinct details that only this man can discern.
When we are in Europe, my Dad is able to tell who an American is just from the way they walk. He will point out somebody 100 yards away and I usually don’t believe him because he doesn’t go for obvious stereotypical American tourists. But then when we catch up to them, sure enough, they are always speaking with an American accent. I don’t know how he does it but I believe it.
14. Constant applause.
Clapping over really inane stuff…Clapping at the end of the plane journey, the bus journey, the end of a film — stop fucking clapping.
15. Adult men dressing childishly.
Grown men wearing baseball caps backwards.
16. Size.
Not just fat people but genuinely larger people; they always seem extra tall and wide.
I’m not even small, I’m and average build at 6ft, but whenever I meet Americans they are always just bigger.
17. Evidently a fondness for American brands.
North Face jackets.
18. Neglecting basic pedestrian laws.
They walk on bike lanes.
19. Language ignorance.
They come here in Brazil and think they can get away speaking Spanish, and we don’t speak Spanish.
20. Asking seemingly inane questions.
My auntie overheard an American tourist looking round a stately home (UK) asking the lady on guard, “Is this building pre-war?” To which the guard replied, “Madam, this building is pre-America.”
21. Dead giveaways for an American tourist in London:
When they try to pronounce Leicester and talk on the tube.
22. Supposedly we use the term “OMG”?
Hearing the words “OH MAH GAWD” loudly in public.
23. Asking about their accents.
Typical question from a non-European: Has anyone ever head or come across an American tourist trying to speak with an embarrassingly bad English accent?
24. How to spot an American tourist in Dublin:
As an Irishman, it is actually drinking in Temple Bar.
25. A low alcohol tolerance.
They can’t handle their alcohol.
26. Acting temperamental.
Putting up a scene. Europeans generally just keep their annoyance to themselves.
When I was 8 and on vacation in Spain (I am Dutch myself), an American man became incredibly angry because the lid of his daughter’s drink was detachable. Eventually he started yelling things like “I am an American! I know my rights!”
We still laugh about it in the family.
27. Their style of drinking.
In WWII the majority of American spies were captured in Europe due to their table manners. Unsure if that’s a real thing, but it’s what my European grandfather told me.
28. This point seems to back up the last one quite well:
Drinking beer straight out of a bottle or can, instead of pouring it into a glass.
29. Attempting trite phrases in their language.
As a (North) American currently living in the UK, one of the things that I have noticed is that the American tourists will be overeager to use British vernacular, or to attempt to mimic British accents. It’s weird when you hear people do the London accent (or a horrible bastardization of it) up in Scotland. Speak normally as best you can.
30. …And another dead giveaway…
Tipping.
31. Specific food-related habits in the UK.
In the UK: Ordering coffee as regular cup of coffee — a regular cup of coffee is called an Americano here. Also asking for oatmeal instead of porridge.
32. Being generally offensive in Ireland.
When they ask where are the leprechauns, or say “top of the morning” to me.
33. An overwhelming sense of self-worth.
Expecting random people to be interested in what state you are from.
34. Words like “rad” are apparently a no-no.
The fact that everything is “rad” or “awesome.” I swear, I could attract American tourists with a yo-yo.
35. In the UK, asking about the queen.
They keep asking if I know Her Majesty the Queen. I do not.
Cross cultures. Read this.
