Even in a world full of diversity, it’s often surprisingly easy to guess where someone is from: if you know what to look for. The way they talk, walk, or even dress can tell an entire cultural story.
On Reddit, someone asked, “Non-Americans, what immediately screams ‘I’m an American?’” The answers were hilarious and spot-on, from always asking for ranch dressing to joking about suing over everything. Keep scrolling to see all the quirks and behaviors that make Americans instantly recognizable!
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This weird assumption that "The Constitution" is some kind of globally recognized universal charter of legislation. Other countries have their own constitutions, even the developed ones, and they differ from the American one.
Your arguments about "muh constitutional rights" don't hold when you're at a bar in Norway.
They often don't hold when you're at a bar in the US either. You do not have a constitutional right to bother me about an extended warranty.
Oh, I'm Irish, my great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather ate a potato once.
This one is so weird to me. I think once you're second generation, you identify as being from the place your parents were born, with a healthy dose of your ancestors. "I'm second generation American, with Irish ancestors"
A bizarre aversion to socialized medical care.
I have never understood this, and it is the main reason we moved from the US (the political climate being the other reason).
The United States isn’t just big, it’s everywhere. Its influence stretches across politics, the economy, the military, and even pop culture, making it one of the most recognized superpowers on the planet. With around 335 million people calling it home, it’s the third most populous country in the world, which means Americans are impossible to miss. Whether they’re walking down the street, chatting in a cafe, or traveling abroad, their habits and quirks tend to stand out. From the way they talk to the way they carry themselves, there’s a whole style that’s uniquely American.
Calling something communism/socialism when it isn't.
I really, really think, in this current political climate in the US, there should be a very, very simplified pamphlet dropped to all US citizens with an easy to use guide on the different meanings of socialism, fascism, Nazism, communism, cultism etc, because I dont think these philosophies mean what alot of Americans think do
I was taking a walking tour in Ireland once and the guide mentioned Notre Dame for some reason. This American guy tried to correct her pronunciation as Not-er Daym, not Not-re Daam. It was a wildly uncomfortable few minutes.
Calling all black People African American
like we come from different places and have different cultures.
Older generations were taught that this was the polite way to describe people. I *think* people are realizing it’s ok to say someone is Black. (Yes I am whiter than a vampire. I’m just trying to be informative.)
Now, a lot of these American traits feel familiar thanks to TV shows and movies we’ve all seen. Whether it’s the way Penny chats in The Big Bang Theory or how the group from Friends goofs around, we get little glimpses of everyday American life. And now, with social media, spotting these habits has never been easier, people love sharing them, just like in this post. It’s like getting a peek behind the curtain of what makes Americans, well, unmistakably American.
Saying “sophomore, senior,” etc.
Flags are cool and everything...just don't understand worshipping it.
I'm an American, and if there's one thing my country is good at, it's propaganda. Flag worship is indoctrinated on a daily basis in our schools with the Pledge of Allegiance, then at all sporting events where you must sing the national anthem while facing the flag and holding your hand over your heart, and things like Flag Day, plus all the merchandising which directly supports that propaganda (flags on t-shirts, flags on stickers, flags on everything). And as a result, a lot of the populace has eaten up that propaganda like candy.
One thing people instantly notice about Americans is their tipping culture. Walk into a restaurant or grab a coffee, and those little prompts asking for 15% or 20% tips seem unavoidable. But surprisingly, not all Americans are fans of it. According to Pew Research, more people actually oppose businesses suggesting tip amounts than support it. About 40% aren’t on board, while only 24% like the idea. So while tipping feels like a given to outsiders, many Americans prefer it to remain optional. It’s part culture, part choice, and a little bit of etiquette mixed together.
America is the world (duh?!) and they just use an American location/state abbreviation.
American: "I'm in CA."
Rest of the world: "Where the hell is CA? Canada?".
Also: Addressing the locals in the country you're visiting as "foreigners"
Asking for ranch dressing.
"Cool Ranch" Doritos are the superior Dorito. Fight me. Other than those, I (American) don't think I've ever had ranch. The perception that Americans are obsessed with ranch is cute and funny - I'll take it over pretty much any other of the stereotypes, lol!
In fact, automatic service charges get even more pushback. Roughly seven-in-ten adults (72%) oppose businesses adding automatic tips or fees to the bill, no matter the size of the group. Half of them strongly oppose it, and only 10% actually favor the practice. So while Americans are generous tippers, they also like having control over when and how much they give. It’s a delicate balance between maintaining tradition, rewarding service, and not feeling pressured. For many, tipping is about choice and fairness rather than obligation.
“I drove myself to the hospital”.
"Hey guys, I need minor surgery, can y'all GoFund me a trillion dollars??".
European friend: why do you guys drive so much? Such a waste of gas.
American: I’m usually not in the mood to spend over an hour to get eggs from the store.
European friend: then why don’t you move closer to where everything is?
American: Then I won’t have money for those eggs.
When it comes to deciding how much to tip, the quality of service takes center stage. Around three-quarters of adults (77%) say the service they receive is the main factor in determining both whether they tip and how much. Nothing else comes close, things like mood, size of the bill, or peer pressure hardly register. And it’s not just in the U.S.; globally, people tend to tip based on service quality above all else. So while tipping may seem like a rule, it’s really a personal reflection of appreciation. Good service earns good tips, plain and simple.
Assuming everyone else is American in the comment section. I see it all the time here on Reddit or on YouTube.
Asking, on Reddit, where to buy something but not indicating what country they’re from.
Doing this screams they are from the USA
That happens on BP, too. Phrases like, "that happens in the US but not here" are quite common.
Americans’ tipping habits also vary depending on the situation. At sit-down restaurants, tipping is almost automatic, with 92% of adults saying they always or often leave a tip. Haircuts are a smaller but still significant category, with 78% tipping their stylist. Delivery orders and bar drinks get tips from 76% and 70% of adults, respectively. Even taxis or rideshares earn tips from 61%. Whether generous or calculated, tipping in the U.S. is a quirky, ever-present part of daily life that outsiders notice immediately.
Based on my own experience as an American abroad: realizing that other countries don't have doughnut shops open for breakfast, because doughnuts aren't a breakfast food.
But many bakeries in France have doughnuts and are open early enough that you could get a doughnut if you "needed" one. It's just not always going to be there, and there are other options that are just as good or better.
Being on an international forum and assuming everyone understands local/regional references.
Not going to the hospital because you can't pay.
I'm aware that it happens in other countries but it does scream American.
Another thing that instantly stands out about Americans is their love for the imperial system. Feet, inches, pounds, and gallons are everywhere, even though most of the world has fully switched to the metric system. From measuring your height to weighing groceries or filling up the gas tank, Americans do it their own way. For someone used to meters and kilograms, it can feel a little confusing, or even charmingly quirky. This little difference is one of those subtle cultural markers that instantly gives away where someone is from.
Recommending a brand of medication.
I find the fact that actual prescription meds are advertised on the idiot box in the US. Three of my everyday meds are on the dr,ug Classification register here in NZ.
I'm American, but there's a story here that would apply. I moved to Taiwan when I was in middle school. Since my parents were Taiwanese, I grew up speaking mandarin, and it didn't take a long time for me to shake off the American accent when speaking. Initially, people would be like "Oh, an AMERICAN!" when I said literally anything, but gradually, it turned into "Oh? You're American?" And eventually, people stopped even bringing it up.
Then one day, we went to a new doctors' office, to get updates on our vaccines. The doctor was very polite and professional, we chatted a bit, she stuck me with a needle, and started filling out some paperwork... and she asked, "Are you getting these shots because you're returning to America?" ... and i was SHOOK. Hadn't heard that question in years, not from a stranger!
I said, "Aw man, yeah, that's right, I'm getting ready to travel again. What gave me away?"
And she responded, "American's, when you prick them, they say "ow". Taiwanese locals say "ah". That always gives them away.".
Of course, feet and inches aren’t the only giveaways. There are countless small things that make Americans, well, unmistakably American. From over-the-top coffee orders to oversized portions at restaurants, these habits are often funny, surprising, and surprisingly easy to spot. These posts bring together all these tiny habits, showing just how easily people worldwide can spot classic American quirks. Which of these habits made you laugh the most or roll your eyes?
Expecting to be able to pay American currency in another country. Getting mad when the currency given back in a foreign country is not American dollars (and therefore worth less).
Source: worked in city with a lot of cruise ship tourists. Happened all. the. time. we actually would accept american money (an extreme courtesy imo), but didn't have american change to give back.
This is a lack of research, It because some of the Caribbean Nations will accept it from the tourists. They are stupid and assume all other nations do.
Saying they went to Europe, know how things are there, when they were at London or Madrid. Or just simply claiming they know all of Europe and they can't even name a country in the east.
Or thinking Europe is a country. And how the UK is no longer part of Europe
"It was 90 degrees outside." (I hope that is a reasonable number.).
I respect Fahrenheit a bit more once I understood that it is graded between "freezing my a*s" and "cooking my brain", meaning 100 is (very) uncomfortable hot and 0 is "my spit is freezing outside". Still think it is time for it to go, but at least I can understand the appeal.
“Speak to me in English” while they’re visiting another country.
Not only an American problem. I have a nice story about that: I'm german and we have been to Crete a time ago. We visited a pub and it was quite nice there. Of course we didn't assume the people there could speak German and we don't speak Greek. So we used the common English and it was all right. When we paid, we gave a decent tip of about 10%, what's usual in Germany. We returned the next day, ordered some beers, and with it we got a shot of liquor. We didn't order it and so we asked why. The pubs owner said: "You've been her yesterday already, and You are German? And You didn't assume we speak German, You were kind and polite and you gave a tip." "Isn't this just usual?" we asked "Sadly not. You are an exception. And for that you earn some specials on the house." So obviously a lot of Germans aren't no better than Americans. We returned every evening and we really got a lot of shots and we had very much fun and good talkings with the owners.
As an American I go out of my way to put on my best clothes and a full beat every time I go out, just so I’m not immediately identified as a tourist rube.
Then I remember I’m fat and the jig is up.
A conversation about tipping...
A tip is appreciated in the rest of the world, but people in the hospitallity industry here (Europe and specifically The Netherlands) make a decent living while serving you a meal or coffee. Decent enough not to be dependent on tips.
This! Civilised countries pay at least minimum wage for hospitality workers. My House Yeti's partner works in hospitality and is paid NZ$5 over minimum wage and is not required to share tips she earned for her work and demeanour.
“Hey this guy’s from London”
No, no I didn’t say that, I said I live in England.
Geography as a whole.
Americans would states, ‘Paris, France’. Anyone else would just say ‘Paris’.
Now I know America has many places named after European cities which does excuse but nonetheless it is a telltale sign of an American.
I DID live in Versailles, Indiana, for a year, although the locals pronounced it "Ver-SALE." There is a Mantua, Utah, which locals pronounce "Man-oo-way."
School spirit!! I work in an international school with lots of American colleagues. The expectation to be excited about everything is A LOT, but I see why it would be infectious if you were brought up in the states. I do like when the European teachers are all grouped together awkwardly not knowing what to do with the spirit and cheer….
"I've been employed for 90 days, so I can finally sign up for insurance.".
While people in civilised countries are covered before they're even born.
When someone claims they’re Irish cause one set of their great great grand parents came from Castlebar in Mayo. And asks if I know of them.
I still have people with my last name in Ireland and I bet someone there knows someone who knows my great-grandfather's brother. So there. Now that I think of it, I have the last name of one of your past presidents and it's not a common name. Hmm, I should look her up and see how we're related. LOL
“Free *speech*”
“Right to bear arms”
“Amendment”.
When asked where they are from:
Australian: "I'm from Australia"
British: "I'm from the UK"
Indian: "I'm from India"
Chinese: "I'm from China"
American: "I'm from Wisconsin".
Yes, but at the same time how many times have I said "I'm from America" only to be followed up with something like "Which part?" or "Oh, so LA/NY/Any other large metro"
More often it comes across in what they don't say. If non-Americans mention a brand name from their country for instance, they'll normally describe the thing as well because they have an awareness that the world is a big place and other countries don't have all the same brands. Americans often just drop the brand name and don't give it a second thought.
Same thing when anyone posts a problem they're having, you'll find Americans in the comments talking about a particular US law it violates even if the OP is from India or somewhere.
It reminds me of when a child will say 'I played with Sarah today' and not for a second consider that you don't have a clue who Sarah is.
Disclaimer: obviously not all Americans, and I don't dislike Americans, it's just that your stupid people are so much annoying than other stupid people ;).
+1 for "your stupid people are so much annoying than other stupid people", although I wish you had said "our stupid people"...
Microwaving water for tea.
As a Brit, let me emphasise that there is NOTHING wrong with this: boiling water is boiling water. The problem comes when you put the teabag in first, before putting the mug in the microwave. By boiling the tea leaves, you get a decoction, which includes all kinds of bad tasting resins, rather than an infusion, which you get when the water has dropped just below boiling, which only includes the flavours and fragrances you want. So by all means, nuke your water, give it one quick stir with a teaspoon, then drop your teabag/tea-leaves in.
Using ma'am, miss and sir.
Non of my customers use it except Americans.
I use ‘miss’ and ‘sir’ in the UK, usually if I need help from a store employee. Granted, I learnt my English from a variety of sources, including American tv programs.
Debating about who is a better president candidate in a YouTube comment section, while the video isn't even political.
“I need to postpone my surgery because money is tight right now.”.
Spelling words with z instead of s. And o instead of ou. And the big one: MOM.
The way they write dates. Eg 9/11 to everyone else in the world it would be 11/9. I’ve always thought it was odd that Americans write dates month/day/year surely it’s more logical to go day/month/year. It always takes me a couple seconds when I read an American date. I think “there aren’t 17 months in a year, oh wait it’s been written the American way”.
I'm in international sales and American. Same my friend only the other way around.
"Depends on what state you're in".
But, I mean, this is completely true. America is a big place, and different states can be very different not only in their laws, but in what kind of beliefs and what kind of people you can expect to run into there. So, that is a very acceptable answer to a lot of questions about the US.
When I was stationed in Yongsan, South Korea I had to take part in what was known as Town Patrol, basically we wrangled up drunk soldiers who were out past curfew. You could usually tell an American soldier from any of the other folks hanging around. For those that have never been Yongsan is in the middle of Seoul, one of the biggest cities in the world and a melting pot of Culture. Most younger Americans soldiers usually ran around wearing Hoodies with various American Sports teams, kind of a dead give away. It’s even funnier when they try to fake a British accent and don’t know any British slang to go with it.
“The college experience”.
Pay enormously for the privilege and then pay enormously for the rest of your life, bc apparently your country has no desire to fund the education of their youth
When Americans reply to a photo of a tweet that’s dated in a dd/mm/yyyy system claiming the tweet is fake because they think everyone exclusively uses mm/dd/yyyy not realising they’re in the minority.
"I have rights!" Or something bout freedom.
They just think they do...........they actually haven't for a few years now.
American flag clothes.
We actually do have Australian flag clothing, but far less thankfully!
For me it's not particularly what they're saying, rather how loudly they're saying it.
Something I have to work on after a few drinks, although luckily I rarely drink that much. Ed.: On the other hand, after a few drinks my French gets a LOT better. ;-)
I saw someone on r/historymemes say that 1864 (I think) was the worst year in human history because it was the height of the American Civil war. *sigh*
How much is this item with tax?
And every other country seems to have managed sales tax without causing this problem. Strange, isn't it?
I ask for ice in every beverage. I’ve gotten some eyerolls.
That's a habit I am afraid I will never be able to break. However, the French servers in every restaurant, café, or pub I have been to have always brought more ice when I've asked.
When you are on a trip and ask someone where they are from, they usually answer with their country first. "I'm from France", "I'm from Colombia", etc.
If someone answers with something weirdly specific like "I'm from [place] in the [area] County, close to [town]"... They are from the US. Bonus 'Merica if the fella gets a bit offended you don't know where their town is.
Excessive usage of bumper stickers.
Had an Obama sticker on my car one year, moved to the South, and all of the sudden my car kept getting dents in the parking lot. Oh well. Small price to pay.
American here that use to live in China, and the worst thing I’ve seen other entitled spoiled Americans do is to yell at people to speak English.
My British friend sitting here says:
Starting sentences with the word LIKE.
Starting sentences with the word SO.
Saying. I KNOW, RIGHT?
Saying OH MY GAWD!
Saying TOTALLY.
Saying FOR SURE.
Saying DUDE.
Saying BRO.
Assuming everything’s the same between countries.
Being incapable of writing a simple, clear declarative sentence. No wait, that's you.
Wearing clothing with the name of a president/presidential candidate outside of election day.
Feet, Inches, Miles, Ounces, Cups, Teaspoons/Tablespoons, °Farenheit...
To be fair though many of those measures date back to Roman or other origins, and still linger in some places. I recall hearing a French speaker in Brussels asking for un demi-livre of cheese, for example, and a Pinte was actually a French measure before it was English, has long been used, and still is, as a shorthand for 500ml, just as a livre (pound) is 500g. Pouce (inch, based on 'thumb' the same word in French) also crops up from time to time, and recipes still routinely use soupspoon and coffee spoon as standard volume measures (15 and 5ml respectively)
When they’re seeking help on Reddit and their country/region is a required piece of information for the particular question, they usually don’t specify that they live in America. They just assume everyone else in the sub is American. I think I’ve never seen any individual from any other nationality do that.
If someone is African American could they not be white? Quite confusing actually.
My turkish&british best friend was so confused by why each person in my family had a car. They say there are way too many cars and owning cars is super American, which i’m not inclined to disagree
edit: you’re not a bad person for owning a car! public transit isn’t really established and the US is huge, but the question was asking what nonamericans think is a big american tipoff, and i listed mine.
Red. Solo. Cups.
Edit: Thanks for the award! For context I’m in 🇨🇦 and we mostly use the clear plastic cups for large outdoor events. (My personal experience)
I grew up watching us movies where if there was a party, everyone would be drinking from red solo cups.
Cheers!
Having a conversation about History and all they talk about is either WW2 or the American Civil War. Like those we're the only historical events to occur.
I’ve been living in the states for over a decade. I bought my mom this cleaning product that was cinnamon and clove scented and I told her “it smelled like Christmas”.
She just looked at me weird and said “wow I guess you really are an American now”.
Thinking it’s normal to have your front door come directly in your living room and wear your shoes inside on carpets but then have an inexplicable urge to decorate the bathroom with a “beachy theme”.
There are thousands of little four-room cottages in the UK and Europe where the front door opens directly to the living area.
Calling women ma'am and men sir in normal conversation.
We do it in France if it's someone we don't know. When you walk into a store or café (or doctor's office or where ever) and there are only a few people there, it is normal to use these terms to greet the people who are there.
Speaking in euphemisms. I’ve lived in America so long I hardly notice it, but Americans, for being awfully nosy people, are very indirect in the way they speak.
Not knowing the difference between Switzerland and Sweden.
And for some reason all americans I met here in sweden always have a frown on their face.
On Canada day Americans like to come north either to visit friends/family or to party. You can always tell who the Americans are by how much of their clothing is covered in maple leaves. The more articals of clothing the more likely they are to be American.
A fellow Canadian asks- W*f are you talking about? And it's article, genius.
Soccer.
I distinguish american tourists from the way they dress and the places they go to eat, they have this uncanny power to choose the shittiest restaurants in the city. To be honest I don't blame them, Ligury scams tourists in any way possible, especially when it comes to food.
True. I avoid Americans abroad anyway, and that usually makes my decisions better.
Not knowing simple geography, thinking any foreign language is spanish(someone thought my hebrew is spanish like its not even close).
When you’re not familiar with a language or country, all you can do is make a guess based on the limited info you have. I’ve had people assume I was English, Dutch, and German baed on my accent (Latvian). Granted, confusing Hebrew as Spanish is odd.
When my American cousin come over an a holiday I asked whether she has seen any kangaroos yet. She replied ‘Yeah, we saw a whole bunch of those guys’. An Aussie would typically say ‘heaps’ when describing any large quantity.
I dont see why sweet 16s exist. Yes u can drive yes ur at legal age but okay? Surley it would be better to have a big party at 21 when u can drink and when ur a proper adult yes ik some will say ur a adult at 18 but i think thats still a teen.
This is a leftover from days gone by. Same as a quinceanera or bat mitzvah
when they wear sunglasses indoors or when its not sunny to look cool Also how polite they are most americans i have met are very polite
to me its always the "bring all your important documents" comments people leave. its not a thing here in sweden and at most you need your id card and you can get around fine. i have never even seen my birth certificate or know whats on it. also having a credit score and having others be able to take on lones in your name behind your back. scary as hell.
Baseball hats. Especially baseball hats indoors, even in their own homes. So many youtubers are always wearing those stupid hats and I don't understand it.
I was shocked to see how many people in France wear baseball caps (although it is not widespread, I thought there would be zero), and none of the wearers have actually been American. In my part of the country it is mostly British people and young French people who wear them. Almost every marché sells them, along with baseball, basketball, and football team logos on many different items. I am also surprised to see how many shops and booths at marchés sell Route 66 memorabilia (an old US interstate route, for those of you who aren't familiar with it).
Load More Replies...When the only superlative they know is 'super' and the only mass count is 'a bunch'. I once saw 'I was super thirsty so I drank a bunch of water' and knew instantly that the tweeter was American. Oh, and problems with the past tense, such as using 'drúg' instead of 'dragged' and 'spit' rather than 'spat'.
Yes to most of these, but most are related to those who fall short of intelligent...
"Homie" is a dead giveaway, and an unhealthy obsession with the evils of slavery. Using "school" for university.
Well, the quality of some of their universities do justify the use of 'school' as in 'high school'.
Load More Replies...when they wear sunglasses indoors or when its not sunny to look cool Also how polite they are most americans i have met are very polite
to me its always the "bring all your important documents" comments people leave. its not a thing here in sweden and at most you need your id card and you can get around fine. i have never even seen my birth certificate or know whats on it. also having a credit score and having others be able to take on lones in your name behind your back. scary as hell.
Baseball hats. Especially baseball hats indoors, even in their own homes. So many youtubers are always wearing those stupid hats and I don't understand it.
I was shocked to see how many people in France wear baseball caps (although it is not widespread, I thought there would be zero), and none of the wearers have actually been American. In my part of the country it is mostly British people and young French people who wear them. Almost every marché sells them, along with baseball, basketball, and football team logos on many different items. I am also surprised to see how many shops and booths at marchés sell Route 66 memorabilia (an old US interstate route, for those of you who aren't familiar with it).
Load More Replies...When the only superlative they know is 'super' and the only mass count is 'a bunch'. I once saw 'I was super thirsty so I drank a bunch of water' and knew instantly that the tweeter was American. Oh, and problems with the past tense, such as using 'drúg' instead of 'dragged' and 'spit' rather than 'spat'.
Yes to most of these, but most are related to those who fall short of intelligent...
"Homie" is a dead giveaway, and an unhealthy obsession with the evils of slavery. Using "school" for university.
Well, the quality of some of their universities do justify the use of 'school' as in 'high school'.
Load More Replies...
