European Locals Expose An Unexpected Thing That Outs You As An American Tourist Instantly

Perhaps one of the most embarrassing parts of traveling to a new place is making it very painfully obvious that you're not from there. It's not like you can help it — you've researched meticulously, you've learned as much of the local language as you can, and you've familiarized yourself with customs and traditions. Still, you can easily fall for tourist traps, stumble over basic sentences, and make mistakes that immediately out you as a tourist. For example, one of the main ways Europeans spot American tourists is by the sheer volume of our voices when we talk.

Europeans usually hear American tourists before they spot them. That's because, sometimes unbeknownst to us, we are very loud compared to the rest of the world. It's just how we're socialized. While this isn't inherently a bad thing, it can be quite disruptive. Our loudness can be attributed to multiple factors. For example, Americans value their personal space, while most Europeans aren't afraid to get close and comfy. Talking loud is the natural solution to communicating with someone further away.

It should also be noted that some establishments in America, such as bars, often play loud music, making it difficult to have conversations where you aren't practically screaming at your companions. European establishments, by contrast, are more oriented toward encouraging conversation rather than loud music.

While being a tourist isn't exactly a bad thing (how else are we going to experience the world?), it can be a bit humiliating to know that locals can tell you don't really know what you're doing and can pinpoint traits that give away that you're not from there. This can be especially brutal in European countries, where there can sometimes be an anti-American bias. While it's unfair to generalize all Americans under one stereotype while ignoring that everyone has the capability of being an obnoxious tourist, it's important to understand that some societal norms in the U.S. can differ from those in other countries.

In a Reddit thread about the most obvious signs that someone's American, some users also observed that American tourists usually reveal themselves because they're always pointing at things and narrating what they see. And who can blame us when we're exploring some of the most exciting European destinations? Our enthusiasm just shines through. Other users pointed out that Americans always smile at strangers, while Europeans tend to be more stoic while going about their day. Other identifiers include asking for iced water or iced coffee, making polite small talk with cashiers, and leaving tips. Most of these are harmless, but if you want to avoid being an annoying tourist when visiting Europe, be mindful of your volume and try not to be too noisy.