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The thing about tourists is that they're a pretty noticeable flock of people. What we mean by that is that usually, something gives away that a person is only a visitor in a place, not a local.
So, today, let's discuss exactly that — the signs that give away someone is a tourist. But let's go a little more specific and make it about American tourists. Apparently, there are quite a lot of things that give away their origin country. Let's dive in, shall we?
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#1
They get very personal very quickly- within 10 minutes of meeting an American at uni, I knew all about her family, her business, her husband business and how her home had burned down 13 years ago.
Maybe it's because I'm British but at least enjoy the awkward small talk for a bit!
Michael Largey 7 months ago (edited)
Apparently the State Department refuses to issue us introverts passports.
RELATED:
#2
#THE VOLUME OF THEIR VOICE.
Multa Nocte 7 months ago
SW France here. In my area it's the British who are louder, but we have a lot more British and fewer Americans. My husband and I have a game of trying to ID from afar if someone is French, British, or American and I would say I'm about 8 out of 10 at accuracy at this point. Sometimes it's the inflections in the voice, even if you can't yet distinguish the words.
#3
Lots of laughing and smiling, or any other way of being happy in public. I'm born and raised in Ukraine but lived in the US for a long time for school. I picked up on these American-isms and my family and friends were weirded out by it. Russian/slavic folk aren't happy in public, it's super suspect. You're either on d***s, mentally ill, or...American.
No matter where you live, it’s likely that the place, at least from time to time, gets some tourists visiting it. Granted, some places experience way fewer tourists than others, but they still do, at least occasionally – people find ways to see even the most secluded places like North Korea.
On the other end of the spectrum, according to World Tourism rankings, the most visited places in 2025 so far are France, Spain, and the United States. Speaking of the US, it is not only one of the most visited countries; it also “produces” quite a lot of tourists.
#4
I find Americans have a really distinctive walk which means they’re obvious from 100 yards away. But I really can’t find a way to describe it.
The best I can say it as. Is that they seem to swing their legs a lot more when they walk.
Also they always talk about their friends it seems. Every time I overhear an American. They’re talking about their friends. It’s kind of sweet.
#5
Extra ice in their drinks.
Lee Gilliland 7 months ago
Ice period. Sometimes they look at you oddly if it's not available.
#6
I’ve heard that Americans will always say what state they are from when you ask where they’re from.
The thing about American tourists is that they’re pretty easy to spot, due to the way they look and act. That’s what today’s list focuses on – the signs that show that someone is clearly American. Even though it might sound like a rather silly topic, believe us, it’s entertaining.
All the submissions here were collected from various online threads like this, with the question “Non-USA Redditors, besides accents, what is a dead giveaway that a tourist is American?” or a similar one.
#7
Baseball cap and university hoody.
Michael Largey 7 months ago
Shouldn't Elon Musk have killed off wearing a baseball cap by now?
#8
Being called African-American while living in The Netherlands.
#9
I was at a beach where music was playing and sweet Caroline came on. I told my sister (we are both Hispanic, but I love in the US): “hey, if you are wondering who here is from the US, you are about to find out”
10 seconds later: PA PA PAAAAAA.
So, what are these signs we’re teasing you so much about? Well, for the full collection you have to check out the list yourself, but let us mention a few of them too.
For example, when an American is asked where they’re from, they usually say their state, not the country. That’s a perfect example of Americentrism. It’s when Americans view the world from a perspective that’s heavily focused on their country, seemingly forgetting that not everyone is from there.
#10
If you see an American in Japan, they will frantically look for public trash cans. The absence of trash receptacle is something unfounded in the US, and we become confused at the idea of having to hold it for extended periods of time.
Lee Gilliland 7 months ago
Growing up into the 60s and 70s there was a HUGE trash problem on the streets of US cities. You don't see that any more because of a concerted effort, both public and private, to get trash cans everywhere. And they're emptied frequently. And the sidewalks and roads are now fairly trash agree because of it.
#11
The absolute fearlessness of asking anyone on the street about anything
Edit: I don't mean this negatively, I'm just saying I've seen Americans approach people both in my home country and abroad starting conversations with them that I wouldn't dream of. Because they look shady or just plain scary
Example, I was in Newcastle and I see a bald headed skinny man with face tattoos and a tracksuit suddenly asked "hey bud, d'ya know where..."
It's quite admirable.
Array Index Out of Bounds 7 months ago (edited)
I have lived on the streets for many of my adult years. I have now been in my own place for 13 years. I know the difference between someone who looks run-down and someone who is up to no good. That said, please look deeper than what society says is proper.
#12
They get amazed by old things.
Girlfriend used to work on a farm and an estate in the U.K. and would often have Americans in awe of the old buildings.
One once said ‘some of these buildings are older than my country’.
Charles McChristy 7 months ago
Maybe, just maybe, because we generally don't have buildings that old. I live in FL, I don't give tourists BS when they are in awe of our beaches.
Accordingly, when they mention the state they’re from, they are assuming that the person they’re talking to knows all the states and what being from there implies.
In reality, common non-American folk probably don’t know all of the states, nor their exact place on the map or cultural background. In fact, not all Americans even know them by heart, so what can they expect from foreigners? Well, Americentrism deletes this doubt from people’s minds.
Another notable thing about American tourists is their loudness. And it’s not only notable, but it’s also quite annoying for many. Take this TikTok as an example – in it, the creator expressed their disdain for the loud voices of visiting Americans. She’s far from the only one; there are plenty of similar videos on that app, not to mention content on other social media too.
#13
In general most ive met are usually happy about life and friendly and upbeat. Must be the weather, we're not like that in England.
#14
Saying “hi, how are you?” to the barista, servers, retail workers. My country doesn’t quite have that culture so I find it really sweet.
#15
When you ask where they're from they name a city instead of the country.
Multa Nocte 7 months ago (edited)
The irony is if I say the US, they almost always say, "What state?", and when I tell them they say, "Never heard of it." 😂
Well, it’s not entirely clear why Americans tend to be so loud, but there are some theories about it. For instance, it might be a byproduct of the individualism that’s persistent in American society. Or it might be due to the fact that people from the US value broader personal space, which keeps greater distance between people physically, requiring louder voices.
Whichever of these or any other theories is true, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a noticeable sign of Americans in the wild. Check out the rest of the signs in the list and maybe even suggest your examples in the comments!
#16
If they have kids they say "Good job!" to them a lot.
Tucker Cahooter 7 months ago
So does BP in a way too. When I answer "Paris" to a quiz question such as "Which of these is the capital of Spain?" it always tells me "Nice job!" instead of "WTF bozo??"
#17
Getting way too excited when I say just regularly say "G'day".
#18
Running shoes. Americans tend to wear sneakers with EVERYTHING. Europeans and even Canadians tend to wear leather shoes when appropriate. If 10 guys are wearing khakis and only one of them is wearing running shoes - that’s your American.
DeoManus Argentem 7 months ago
If you're a tourist you're probably walking a lot, right? I never wear sneakers in the US unless I'm playing tennis, but I did during my backpacking days - but then again I was a student and wasn't renting a car or taking taxis everywhere.
#19
Asking for the restroom. I mean, obviously the accent was then heard too but in my little village in Scotland I was in the pub and a woman politely asked the barman where the restrooms were. He didn’t know wtf she was on about and then it obviously clicked. “Ye mean the toilet? Aye hen it’s joost back ‘err”.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago
In european countries you should ask about the whereabout of toilets or WC or loo. It reduces the chances to p**s yourself, while you are trying to make you be understood.
#20
1) "Does that come with a side order of *French Fries*?"
This phrase and that sentence alone are so foreign here even if you faked an accent perfectly it would stand out.
2) Americans are huge. Not fat, but huge. They are taller and bigger than locals and other foreigners. Even the women.
Update: I am not in or from Europe, i am Central African. I am aware Swedes involuntarily headbutt doorframes. :/.
#21
They ask how many miles away [insert tourist attraction] is.
Edit: I get it. Some of you also like to ask how long it takes to travel to places, but that's not exclusive to American tourists.
Lee Gilliland 7 months ago
It is a constant, to me to have visitors surprised that, no, you can't do all of DC in a day ("but it's so tiny!") and, no, you can't go from DC to Chicago for dinner ("It looks so close!"), and, yes, it takes literal DAYS to cross the US. Europeans, and the English especially, are just not aware of the size of the country.
#22
Canadian flag
We know your tricks!
#23
They’re looking for a store open at like 11pm. Even if in most European countries stores close at like 7-8 pm.
Petra Peitsch 7 months ago (edited)
In middle-big-sized european cities, you my find some stores being opened till midnight. But you have to search for them. There are not anymore stores open 24/7. At the beginning of '90s there were, mostly in eastern-european countries. Than workers right law's kicked in. No, it's not ilegal to work over night, but one have to pay 2-3 times more hourly wage for it. So, it doesn't really worth for corporates.
#25
When they cross the street, they expect cars to stop for them. in my country, the cars will run you down without thinking twice.
p/s: when i was in america, i got so used to waiting for cars to drive past before crossing the street, i stopped every time i see a car. i can see so many drivers getting upset with me because they were waiting for me to cross first.
BeKind&Rewind 7 months ago
In my state (CO US), pedestrians hhave the right of way only when they are IN the crosswalk, not just waiting to cross.
#26
I live next door to The Hobbit movie set in NZ. We don’t have a lot of big brands, and the ones we do have are pretty expensive. So if someone is wearing something like Tommy Hilfiger, it feels like a dead giveaway to me.
Either that or the fact they aren’t wearing socks and jandals (flip flops)
Edit: I have received lots of questions about jandals and socks, so I thought I would add a URL to explain what us kiwi's call 'Fashion'
Edit 2: Jandals are shown in the link above. Birkenstock and any shoe along those lines (Like roman sandals) are considered sandals. Then Slides are called slides or scuffs, that are neither jandals or sandals.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago (edited)
Jandals XD that is my new favorite word! My dad used to call them “go-heads” or “go-aheads” when I was a kid (Southern California.) Of course, my mom’s half of the family is Mexican, so of course us kids all knew them as the feared and dreaded chanclas…
#27
Asking ‘do you take US Dollars’ even if you’re nowhere near the US, in a country that has its own currency.
seana lammers 7 months ago
Just inexperienced travelers … not an intentional insult to anyone.
#28
Americans abroad have a *stance*. Shoulders back, hips forward, legs spread. Swinging that big ol' freedom dong globally!
(My girlfriend is an American living in Aus and she agrees).
superfluous 7 months ago (edited)
Freedom dong? I seem to have missed getting one of those (when I was born). Is there a female equivalent? Should I wave my (little) freedom tit ties? (Edit to fix censoring)
#29
I've seen multiple American tourists here in Canada asking their partners "WhErEs tHe sNoW?" I really hope they were joking it was summer at the time.
Hiram's Friend 7 months ago
How do they talk in annoying alternating upper case like that? I'd like to practice.
#30
Those ugly weird sandals that look like something jesus and his peers would have used back then. Chacos or something like that i think.
Multa Nocte 7 months ago (edited)
In my part of France it is the British and the Germans who wear sandals. Ed: Frequently with socks.
#31
The way they like to say "oh you call this X? We call that Y in America" or something along those lines.
Charles McChristy 7 months ago
Jesus tapdancing Christ. Tourists do that to us in the US every day. This is not an American thing. This is a tourist thing.
Jen D. 6 months ago
No need to be rude about it, it's not like they are attacking you personally.
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Stephanie Did It 7 months ago
I have friends from Vladivostok, Russia, who were practicing their English. We were exchanging words in each others' languages. I asked my friend, "what's the Russian word for train?" to which he slowly enunciated, "LO CO MO TIVE." Hilarity ensued.
Joe Publique 7 months ago
This happens lots of European languages. It's the influence of Latin.
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What do you think ?
Lee Gilliland 7 months ago
Now let's do one on Europeans in the states. I'll start, "Your country is so spread out! How much time to you lose driving everywhere?"
Forrest Hobbs 7 months ago
Mmm. I don't see that you could do something similar about Europeans. The cultural differences between the nations are too great. Seriously, Russia and Portugal have radically different cultures.
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LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago (edited)
Eh, wait til the next article on generalizations about Europeans or citizens of the UK XD Some of y'all get pretty touchy about some of the entries on those type of articles. It's legit, no one likes to be generalized into a broad classification like "an American" (so I'm obese, loud, unclean, and rude?) or "a Brit" (so you must all have bad teeth, can't handle any spices, and subsist entirely on food from the chippie, right?) XD
Load More Replies...
Katharina Sei. 7 months ago (edited)
Usually, at least in my country (Austria), we do not dislike people from the USA. Most only wonder about living without parental or sick leave or the possibility of guns nearly everywhere.
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Lee Gilliland 7 months ago
Now let's do one on Europeans in the states. I'll start, "Your country is so spread out! How much time to you lose driving everywhere?"
Forrest Hobbs 7 months ago
Mmm. I don't see that you could do something similar about Europeans. The cultural differences between the nations are too great. Seriously, Russia and Portugal have radically different cultures.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago (edited)
Eh, wait til the next article on generalizations about Europeans or citizens of the UK XD Some of y'all get pretty touchy about some of the entries on those type of articles. It's legit, no one likes to be generalized into a broad classification like "an American" (so I'm obese, loud, unclean, and rude?) or "a Brit" (so you must all have bad teeth, can't handle any spices, and subsist entirely on food from the chippie, right?) XD
Load More Replies... Katharina Sei. 7 months ago (edited)
Usually, at least in my country (Austria), we do not dislike people from the USA. Most only wonder about living without parental or sick leave or the possibility of guns nearly everywhere.
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