You dream of spending your summer on the French Riviera.
You already know all the places you want to visit and you already booked your hotel.
But you heard that French people never speak English.
It scares you. But is it even true?
Do French people speak English?
A lot of people claim that French people do not speak English and that finding someone speaking decent English in France is mission impossible. Well, like many stereotypes, that’s simply not true.
In the European Commission’s 2023 Eurobarometer, the official data annex reports that 40% of respondents in France said they spoke English well enough to have a conversation. The survey page dates the fieldwork to September–October 2023. This is a self-reported national figure; it does not show how easy it will be to find an English speaker in a particular city or situation.
How come it’s so hard to find someone who speaks English in France then?
In my experience, finding someone who speaks good English in a city like Paris really isn’t that hard.
If someone answers you in French, that alone does not reveal their English ability or their motive. Fear, pride and laziness are possible guesses, not established explanations, so it is better not to assign a reason.
As a French man, I appreciate visitors who begin with a little French. My practical advice is to learn a few basics before your trip: start with bonjour, then politely ask whether the person speaks English. That is a courtesy, not a guarantee of how anyone will respond.
How was your experience in France? Was it hard for you to find English speakers?