8 Mistakes Tourists Make in Paris (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Relying only on English

Many tourists assume they can get by in Paris speaking only English. While many Parisians do speak some English, they can be a bit insecure and self-conscious about it. Instead of risking making mistakes, they sometimes prefer to respond with a dismissive “Je ne comprends rien” (I don’t understand anything) to avoid the embarrassment of speaking in broken English. It might come across as obnoxious, but it’s often just a way for them to sidestep the discomfort.