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THIS SCEPTRED ISLE
Why do the English hate the French?
Sandy, paussac france
- Battle of Hastings... Duh!
Shanna,
- I don't think we hate the French - we just like taking the piss and let's face it, they're a pretty easy target.
Adam Newsome, London, UK
- I think only a minority of the English hate the French. Those who admit thet do always sing the same old song as ' They just eat those things that crawl, it's so disgusting '. It's a bit like when the French say ' Les Rosbifs, ils n'ont brûlé Jeanne d'Arc, n'oubliez pas ! ' ( The Roastbeef burnt our Joan of Arc, remember ! ). All I want to say : both England and France have the best rugby team of the North Hemisphere, let's beat the South ones cause it won't be easy but we have a good chance. I will support the English if the French fail.
Philippe, Arras France
- The French and the English are very similar yet we do things very differently, this is why there is the concept of a hatred.
Freddie, London, England
- I think the English are a little jealous of the French. The French just stick 2 fingers up to Brussels and the English get stitched up with every law that comes out of there. See the news about the woman market trader who has been taken to court for selling in lbs and oz? Utterly bloody stupid - wouldn't happen in France.
Shaun, Stafford, England
- I'm English and have been brought up to have freedom in choice between who I hate and like. personally I like the French and the whole country, been there twice and it's a beautiful place. but the English are just misunderstood and think that we hate everyone, look down on everyone and everyone hates us. I personally really do hate the Scottish and Welsh though more than anything. Never have and never will get on.
Scrivo, Evesham, England
- Differences, pure and simple.
I used to think the French were rude, but then realised that you'll never get hit in the eye with an umbrella in Paris - wish I could say the same for here.
The language thing seems to annoy people, but how many French people learn English to come to England ? More so business, no ?
And if we learnt French, they wouldn't be able to talk about us while we were there without us knowing.
Stop being paranoid !
Of course they are.
Chris, Kingston Duh!
- France runs on nuclear energy: Brits can't because they listen to hippys.
French have good food: Brits have to settle for fish'n'chips.
French know how to dress: Brits have to be sensible.
Alot of people hate the Brits for their empire: The French couldn't get a very good empire so not many hate them.
French have good weather: Brits have all weather, within a single day.
France is big: Britain is small.
French foreign legion is pretty damn cool: Gurkhas not so much.
Most French can read and write their own name: most Brits are on Jeremy Kyle.
You mess around with French police aw big water cannon will knock you out: in Britain an obese white guy will say STOP!
French are thin: Brits are fat.
French built Suez Canal: Brits were thrown out of the suez.
French decyphered the Rosseta Stone: Brits couldn't.
France made the Morrocans unable to speak arabic: Brits couldn't force English on the egyptians
Personally I like both equally
Ahmed Osman,
- We hate everyone that has any slight hint of dislike for us so that's everyone, bu especially the french.
I was annoyed that I had to do French at GCSE. I would rather have done any other language because I am more interested in the other languages. Besides one with a different alphabet would be more of a challenge.
I really don't like it when other British people say we have so much to learn from the French. The thing is people are fooled by other places' propaganda. France has plenty of problems.
Jim, Hull UK
- I just want to say I love the English.Although I'm French, I'm a bit tired of this old story of the hatred between the English and the French. That sucks. There are assholes everywhere. I just love English for their sense of humour, their films are so good (I don't lik French films lol), the greatest music ever, they're quite clever and charming. (my God Malcolm McDowell, Hugh Grant, Jude Law... :p ) I love you English people !
Devotchka, Paris France
- I would not take it personally that the English hate the French. The English - for some apparant reason - seem to hate everyone. And I'm rather sure that the reason actually is that, they think they're better than everybody (dunno why, it's a mystery, cause I don't see anything special about them). I have one more reason why I personally don't like them... they think they are good at everything when, in actual fact, they just aren't. I think they know this, that's why they always seem so defensive if anyone comments badly on their country.
Steph, Glasgow, Scotland
- Well nothing to add except that the said "Pierre Retarde" (Peter Retarded in English) is not French at all ... He can't even write correctly in french...
Stan, Lille
- I personally don't mind the French. It's those ruddy Peruvian Llama Herders I can't stand.
Alec, England
- Because they are trying to take over our country. They have taken over Alsace-Lorraine, Brussels and French Flanders successfully and they will try to take over your country as well. They are imperialistic frogs.
Robin, Leeds Yorkshire
- Theres lots of things I admire about France and the French; food, country side, Paris, art, good films and civil disobedience. However my grandparents and lots of people of that generation hate them because they let us down so badly in the Second World War and I can totally understand that resentment. Yes some brave French men and women resisted, but they were vastly outnumbered by cowards and traitors, that doesnt say much for their country as a whole. Despite quite liking the place I instinctively hate to see them do well in the world cup, or anything else, which perhaps means there is some deeper knee-jerk prejudice beneath the surface.
Steve Howarth, London
- It's because the English oppress their former colonizers (The Froggy French). You say that we have a "brother to brother" relationship? Thats like saying a Korean is very fond of Japanese culture!
Jack Little, Liverpool
- I have visited France many times and had a great time. The Brits secretly like the French but they won't admit it. Visit any supermarket car park in the UK and you will see shoppers putting shopping bags full of French wine, croissants, brie and baguettes into their Peugeots, Citroens and Renaults. This says everything to me!
John, Widnes, England
- To Ahmed Osman:
'France runs on nuclear energy':Yes; but coal is cheaper and more effective. 'French have good food:' Brits have to settle for fish'n'chips.' I'd rather potatoe and Cod too (excuse the steryotyping; but)Snails and Frog legs.
'French know how to dress: Brits have to be sensible.' True. Although some of the best tailors in the world are in London.
'Alot of people hate the Brits for their empire: The French couldn't get a very good empire so not many hate them'. fair play - but the British Empire was the most liberal ever seen.
'French have good weather: Brits have all weather, within a single day.' True.
'France is big: Britain is small.' Lets go back to the 'Empire' comment shall we?
'French foreign legion is pretty damn cool: Gurkha's not so much.' Considering the French success rate in wars, and the fact that the legion is made up of FOREIGNERS that is not a well sustained comment. Give me any British regiment any day.
'Most French can read and write their own name: most Brits are on Jeremy Kyle.' Brits tend to go on that show; it being a British talk show...
'You mess around with French police aw big water cannon will knock you out: in Britain an obese white guy will say STOP!'...And wallop you with his truncheon
'French are thin: Brits are fat.'... you being such gourmands makes you so thin does it?
'French built Suez Canal: Brits were thrown out of the suez.'It was actually a Franco-British investment; and I think you'll find that the French got thrown out... hence the 60 years of British colonial rule in Egypt.
'French decyphered the Rosseta Stone: Brits couldn't'. Where is that stone now? Ooo; let me think...
'France made the Morrocans unable to speak arabic: Brits couldn't force English on the egyptians' Like I said... liberal Empire.
The real reason for this rivalry and prejudice (Which I admit I am part of) is the fact that not a century has gone by (with the exception of the 20th) without a war between France and Britain/England. And even in the 20th century we destroyed the French Battle Fleet!
Connor Jones, Oxford
- I hate you, but I love you. The French rugby team illustrates this perfectly. Playing against England I will them to lose every time, however occasionally they demonstrate a flair, passion and skill from absolutely nowhere that then destroys the competition - in true French style.
Dom Guy, London, UK
- Being 3/4 German and 1/4 English, my family has always expressed a real hatred for the French, and I wouldn't disagree with a single thing they have said. Recently, myself and a few friends took part in an English-French exchange with a College from the South of France. Now, with the exception of one or two French students who were very polite to us and the other host families, all of the other students were shockingly rude, arrogant and very stuck-up! Now, to see if this really IS what the French in general are actually like, I took a trip to Paris, then to the Midi-Pyrenees. And what do you know? Rude, arrogant and stuck-up French people everywhere! I honestly couldn't find a single one who gave me a polite gesture! Also, I'd like to congratulate Connor from Oxford for showing Ahmed what's what. Well done, sir. :)
John Radcliffe, Falmouth, Cornwall, England, UK
- I don't really hate the French, I just resent them for the role they played in the American war of independence. I'm not saying that we definitely would have won if they didn't get involved but we would have had a much better chance. For the most part we kicked them out so they said "well if we can't have it, neither can you. We French just don't want you to do well."
Antony Beck, Walsall, UK
- As Emma said, pretty sure it goes back to the Battle of Hastings. The Norman (i.e. French) conquest of England abolished English (Old English) as the language of official use, King Harold was dead and the rest of English nobility were deposed, and replaced by French ponces who tried to make us all speak French and Latin. The Anlgo-Saxon chronicles were given up on, and hundreds of Old English books and documents were destroyed. It was the end of an era for the language that Beowolf was written in. By the time the English people and language emerged from Norman subjugation no less than 300 years later, English emerged as Middle English with many Latin and French words now interspersed in the vocabulary. Of course one of the primary reasons it was brought back into officialdom was because it was seen as a unifying factor that brought the country together in the face of a not so new enemy that England now stood against, the French! again..
Adam, Mansfield England
- I'm 33 and I can swear I have never eaten a single frog or snail in my life! Some French people do, but for special occasions only, and often in very expensive restaurants...
Elodie, Reading, UK
- Ok, so I live in Paris, so all of you English people who have theories about war history and all of that babble, then please shush for a minute. (Ps. I am an English girl living in Paris) It is quite simple. English people have manners. We have grit. We have humour. We have respect for each other on a basic level. Yes, the crime stats in the UK are alarming, but we are able to hold the door open for each other (no gender bias involved here), say hello to our neighbours, and be able to ask the table next to us if it is ok for us to have a cigarette, not just light up when the people next to us our mid-way through their main course, looking back at the person who DARED to ask the question 'do you mind waiting until I finish?' as if they'd just stamped on their handbag with a boot caked in shit. It's being in a bar and waiting your turn, even gesturing towards the person who has been waiting before you when the barman tries to serve you. That's the English way. It's being a good sportsman, being able to say 'well done' to the winning team, even though it hurts. It's not moaning that you have to retire at 62, already the lowest retirement age in Europe AFTER the increase, but getting on with things and working hard. It's not living in possibly the most beautiful city in the world, but not caring at all, and letting your yappy little dog SHIT all over it, wasting so much water every day so that the drains can wash away your cigarette butts into the gutter and the drains because you can't be bothered to put them in the bin. Yes I am still here (circumstances in my life make it difficult to move), but it's been enlightening. I'd trade 20 Frenchmen for 1 Englishman. FACT.
Katherine, Paris France
- OK, well I suppose that everyone in the whole world hate French people. But WHY?! I mean, stop the stereotypes things! We don't hate American and English people, we admire them. French teens work a lot to learn English, mostly of them dream to live in NY or London. We watched Skins, Gossip Girl like you. Personally I don't like frogs, neither do many French people. Everyone in France think that our comportment during the WW2 was totally stupid.
But we are still proud of our country.
Anyway, sorry for all the faults I made, I'm just 14 years old.
Léa, Paris, France
- On my only visit to Paris, I found most locals were pleasant, but some ignored me despite my attempts at speaking French.
They could not have known I was English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, American...
I just was not French..!
The few French people I've met over here have been interesting and enlivening..
It's funny to say that we have a history with the French, we have a history with a lot of countries!
I'm very proud of being English, I guess they are very proud of being French.
IMO, the media have a lot to do with whipping up the 'them and us' stuff.
Sarah, Hampshire England
- All these people who keep talking about the Battle of Hastings and the Normans, that wasn't the French the Normans were from Scandinavia hence the name Norse men (north men) they had already invaded France and built castles there.
ricky, london england
- I think it's obvious why the English don't like us... They're jealous because we are so much more handsome , better looking, better in bed, smarter, our food is better and Paris is more popular than London!
But still, I somehow like the English anyway ;)
Pauline, Paris France
- these answers have been funny to read honestly. It seems like both countries just think they're superior to everyone.
anonymous, FL US
- It is more the case that the French hate the English. Remember, it is the losers who end up hating the winners, not vice versa.
John Huddy, London, UK
- I don't think there is much difference between us and the French or us and the Germans or Swiss/Italian/Dutch other than the language. I don't hate the USA, but I find Americans far more annoying than our European neighbours in many repects.
john pearson, London, UK
- The English don't hate the French and vice versa. At least, the powers that be do not.
That's because the same "tribe" that controls England also controls France (and the rest of the world). Also, you will note that England was ruled by Plantagent monarchs for a couple hundred years. :)
American, Historian USA
- I love the English, but I think I know why you don't like the French very much. The French have better weather, better food, better artists, better clothes, better looking people, and an unpronounceable language that everyone thinks sounds sexy. The English have awful weather, bland food, good artists (excellent musicians!), serviceable clothes, dental "issues," and a language that sounds too Germanic to be pretty.
Be honest, you've coveted the goods of your neighbor across the Channel for nearly a thousand years.
Consider, if you will, that whole Hundred Years' War thing... After multiple victories, at the moment when you had them almost completely conquered, you got beaten by a teenage French girl. And then to make matters worse, you burned her to death and tried to convince everyone she was a witch. But nobody believed you and instead they all thought you were jerks for killing her. That must really suck.
Deep down we all know that the French don't work nearly as hard as the English. They're not reliable. They're arrogant. They're not as discipline (hell, they're not disciplined at all). They're complete screw-ups really... but they still get all the breaks! It's offensive. If I were English, I'd hate them too.
Ann, Los Angeles USA
- For me, the French and English are the evil of humanity.
They colonized all corners of the globe, and are arrogant and think that they are superior to all other humans except Germans.
I won't mind if they kill each others or hate each others.
They are both equally "devils".
Zimmer, Chicago, US
- Very enjoyable read. As a mixed race Scotsman living and raising a family in French Catalonia, the contradictons inherent in the relationship between France and England are always fascinating.
The history stuff, while influencing, is probably irrelevant these days. This is the 21st Century, let's all move on.
Do I like the French? I don't really know them that well. They're quite a closed people, but then my French is not particlarly good. I admire the fact they cling to their way of life and it's a very attractive one, but can see that this is all one day going to come crashing economically down around them.
I now think the Gallic shrug is one of resignation as opposed to arrogance. The bureaucracy here is shockingly burdensome and complex, with one public servant (functionaire) to the next always giving different answers. Basically, because they don't understand their own system.
The people down here see themselves as Catalans and want to rejoin with the Catalans on the other side of the border. They seem to like the French (Paris) less than anybody, but then so does much of provincial France.
Do I like the English? Yes, I was born there but the weather is ghastly and worse of course in Scotland. But it seems that the weather in Paris is much the same as London.
Do the English hate the French? Not really, but it can seem like it because elements of the press pursue blunt jingoism and xenophobia to sell newsprint.
To our aristocratic Indian friend. I'm very sorry you had such a time in the UK and it has left you feeling so bitter. If Paris is what suits you then I am glad for you. Be happy and give London another chance. It sounds like you moved in the wrong circles while you were there.
Martin, Le Soler France
- The English hate us because the French have colonized their country in 1066. The viking who settled in France were mixed with the French local population more numerous , they adopted the language of the French , the traditons of the French , the culture , the religion of the French , and after few generation the Viking had become French . The truth is that during 800 years the French defeated regularly the English who have practically always need allies to fought the French alone . The French hate the English because they have a shameful attitude in 1940 , they were too afraid by the Blitzkrieg that they fled in their island protected by the general Channel and the French covered their stampede and saved a great part of their army .Does not forget too the despicable attitude of the English when they attacked the French fleet at Mers el kebir , the French fleet was at docks and could not defend themselves.Even Sommervile the English admiral was ashamed of what have done the English navy .
Jeff, France
- The answer is simple. French and English is like an old couple. We keep arguing all the time for silly things but because we love each other.
alex, london uk
- I dont get these Americans. Why show abhor towards the french? I am an American but proud of my french ancesters. I am English, Irish, and Scottish. I have a lot of History in the U.K. When I was young I would have frequent dreams of people and castles in the U.K. I recently acquired my family tree... I was very impressed. My name originated from Garris, France. King Arthur was my ancesters uncle. Two brothers were round table knights. They were sons of King of Oatney... I am very proud of my heritage. If there were one place I want to be it would be the U.K. Yes they are better then Americans hands down.
lex, willsbarre U.S.
- The Real English are the Celts and Anglo Saxons. After the Norman conquest the Normans formed the ruling class, and their decendents still are the Lords of the Manor. The real english are kept down as they have been for a thousand years by the Norman barrons decendants. There is still a struggle going on in England between the English and the Norman French invader.
john, bodmin england
- This love hate relationship between the English and French goes back to the Norman Conquest of 1066. No nation is superior to another. No man's an island. Is it not time to stop this Battle of Hastings and make peace with each other for the good of all? Hate is a choice not a battle.
Cara, Brooklyn, US
- Many horrible, racist people on here. How can you hate people when you don't know them personally? Everyone in different countries have good and bad people living there.
Vanessa, Leeds, UK
- First of all nowadays this question is not relevant anymore. England owes most its history to France and more particularly to the Normans.
After the battle of Hastings (1066) the language of the English court was French for 400 years. And the English kings were mostly from the French nobility and because of that they claimed for the French crown, this was the main reason of the conflicts.
The English language has 70% of his words coming from French.
The wars between France and England is over so no hatred remains nowadays.
Steeve B., Paris, France
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