ADVERTISEMENT

Sometimes all it takes is a second to guess where a person is from, be it their looks, their accent, their behavior, or something else that gives it away. Often affected by customs, cultural norms, or widespread behaviors, they tend to do things they might not even realize are representative of their home; but for people around them, they are pretty clear telltale signs.

Redditor u/Frosty-Ad3575 recently turned to the ‘Ask Reddit’ community, seeking to learn what things people consider obvious signs that someone is American. Netizens’ answers covered everything from the way people stand to how they greet each other, among other things, so scroll down to find them and see what might give away that a person comes from the United States.

#1

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back MM-DD-YYYY date format.

Cuish , Leeloo Thefirst / Pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Cee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you!! It should always be Day-Month-Year. It’s the 2nd of January, 2024

View more commentsArrow down menu
RELATED:
    #2

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Claiming to be of a certain nationality (e.g. Irish), but can't even locate the eponymous country on a map.

    DanteWrath , Ingo Joseph / Pexels Report

    #3

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They'll use any form of measurement other than metric. Freedoms per eagle is a popular one.

    CottageLife1 , Steve Johnson / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Red Panda
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Freedoms per eagle?? 😂😂 As an American, I would be so confused yet intrigued if someone really used this like a form of measurement earnestly.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #4

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They assume everyone knows about american geography, politics, news etc. but they know nothing about any other country.

    gadzoots , Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Nina
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok, the US is a pretty large country, but there are other large countries that have citizens more aware of what's going on globally.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Aggressively white teeth.

    orthostasisasis , Gus Ruballo / Unsplash Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Referring to 'Europe' as if it were a country.

    sweetpapisanchez , Danielle Rice / Unsplash Report

    #7

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I'm Canadian and the biggest giveaway to me that someone is American is simply in their spelling. For example, we would spell it "the colour grey", and Americans would spell it "the color gray." We use paycheque instead of paycheck, and neighbour instead of neighbor. Our vernacular is very British.

    Current-Tree770 , Christina Morillo / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Random Jackass
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The bald eagles told us the U's were superfluous, so we just ran with it.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #8

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Talking about the extortionate cost of healthcare and the struggles of navigating the health insurance system.

    Creative_Recover , Pixabay / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Cyber Returns
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The tax alternative to pay for national health care is not only cheaper but also means you can't get ripped off by insurance companies for the same level of care. It also stops pharmaceutical companies from price gouging

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #9

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back When asked where they’re from. They instantly say the state not the country.

    Plutiduti , John Diez / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back When I lived in Estonia, a local once told me that if anybody smiled and said hello unsolicited on the street they knew “that person was either drunk, crazy or an American.”
    I laughed and said, “In this case, it might be all three!” 

    nightowl1135 , Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #11

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Not to be rude or offensive as I am American and this, but we are fat.

    radizorit , Towfiqu barbhuiya / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Trillian
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's the food. I have been skinny all my life, except the one year I lived in the States I gained almost 10 kg. Lost them without any effort within weeks back home. There is sugar in effing everything, even in bread.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #12

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Anything under 4 hours is “close by”.

    jayhitter:

    Everything is Europe is around the corner if you're from the US. I can drive the whole day and not leave my state but in Europe I can pass through 4 countries in that same time frame.

    grey-canary , Hassan OUAJBIR / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me thinking in Swedish 🤔 maybe 4h across, but not lengthwise.. Then 23h by car

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #13

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back As an American man, I’ve been told repeatedly by European and Asian friends that we simply take up space (not by being fat) as though we’re entitled to it. Men in other countries apparently don’t claim the same personal space we do.

    Potomacan , Luke van Zyl / Unsplash Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    arthbach
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Men in other countries apparently don't claim the same personal space we do." Let me fix that for you, " We encroach on the personal space of others, claiming it for ourselves."

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They talk loud. Very loud.

    onowhid , Keira Burton / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Kylie
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tbh I find certain other nationalities talk a LOT louder than Americans.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #15

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Apparently the CIA trains American agents to not lean on things if they go undercover in foreign countries because Americans lean on anything they can while standing around.

    clown1998 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

    #16

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Shorts and running shoes.

    thoda26 , MART PRODUCTION / Pexels Report

    #17

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I was in Germany this past summer and I realized smiling at everyone you make eye contact with is very American. When I went to London on the same trip they seemed less weirded out by it but would awkwardly return the smile.

    I was taught to always start with a disarming smile. Never realized it was American.

    12ozFitz , Daniel Xavier / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    TCW Sam Vimes
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The casual openess and friendliness of US citizens is one of the positive traits we could learn something from

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #18

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Immediately asking someone what they do for a living when meeting them. Our jobs and work are our entire identity.

    bealzu , Sora Shimazaki / pexels Report

    #19

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back To me - it is the habit of choosing convenience over all else (note that my observations are mostly of people who consider themselves middle class). Small example - if you need to wipe down your kitchen counter, Americans always reach for a paper product while back in India, it would always be a cloth towel. Reason for Indians to use cloth - it is reusable and hence, economical. Americans using paper - it is more convenient. Transport - wait a half hour extra for train or drive... the Americans in my group always chose to drive and the Europeans and Asians chose public transit. Lunch at work - most Americans in my group but lunch every day, even if it is a simple deli sandwich. Most non- Americans bring homemade lunches. Now I don't make value judgement about how people spend their money but the way they gravitate towards convenience first and only then consider finances, environmental impact, etc.

    gigibuffoon , Nick Clement / Unsplash Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you are from Europe and have spent some time in the US you will make that observation. Drive-through for everything, even for banks, was very weird to me. (To be fair, lots of American cities and places have s****y Public Transportation to begin with. Often enough the car is the only alternative)

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #20

    At least in Finland, I find them as quite friendly, easy to get with and genuine. They aren't afraid to ask questions if it is not clear to them and say the things that matter. Of course shoes, laughter and the way they carry themselves without thinking much about what others would say.

    Visible-Field2311 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Shannon Hawks
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's cos Finland is one of the best places to live with great people also

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #21

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back In the touristy cafe-restaurant I worked at:

    1. If they asked me for the nicest spot we had
    2. If they asked me my recommendation without seeing the menu first
    3. I would walk to the table, and they would say right away "hey how are you doing?". This one threw me off a lot at first. Why is this person asking me how I'm doing?? I'm just there to take the order. I got used to it, and I think they found my awkwardness to it cute.
    4. They would ask my name when I greeted them and took their order


    NB I'm Northern European

    Muc_99 , On Shot / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Cynthia Wilson
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here in Portugal everyone is greeted with "Bom dia! Tudo bem," basically "Hello! How are things?" I find that Americans do not do it as often.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #22

    Americans outside America will often claim that people are Scottish-ing or Italian-ing wrong because their great great great grandfather came from Scotland/Italy.

    I have been corrected on my Scottishness by an American who claimed direct descent from a famous Scot who had no children.

    On the other hand I also find Americans to be incredibly open and friendly and kind and generous.

    US tourists seems to be of two opposite types.

    Magnus_40 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    The Doom Song
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was born in Scotland, and I grew up in Australia. I like to refer to myself as Australian coz I've been here my whole life.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #23

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I was told, "Americans carry water bottles around like they're worried they'll never have access to clean water ever again."

    kosher_dill_33 , Bluewater Sweden / Unsplash Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    JJ
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's not American, just clever and environment friendly. I wish there were drinking fountains in Germany, too. You don't even get tap water in a restaurant, usually just an option for bottled water.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #25

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I’m half Italian and my biggest pet peeve with American culture is Americans are averse to walking

    Inb4 “American cities aren’t walkable”. That’s true to a point, but Americans a big country. There are still walkable places and even in the instance where something is, people prefer to drive. I used to walk 30 minutes to class from home and people thought I was crazy.

    I also used to be an Uber driver. Many people I picked up were college students that didn’t want to make the 10-15 minute walk from the off campus dorms. I’ve had friends ask to drive to places that are only 10 minute walks. It’s kind of pathetic.

    BandoTheBear , Paweł L. / pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Lame Llama
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once again depends on Where's they are from. My friends from NYC are still not big on driving after living in Europe for years.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #26

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They cut their food, then switch the fork to their right hand and put the left under the table while eating.

    XL shirt on an average guy (6 ft 172 lbs / 1.82m 78 kg) also trousers with enough room for another person.

    CrinchNflinch , Tim Mossholder / Unsplash Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Owen
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was 7, my best friend was from the US (We were in the UK), and I never could get over the fork thingy. Like... use both hands?

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #27

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Making casual conversation with random strangers.

    DeathSpiral321 , Andres Ayrton / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Kylie
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think that's a national trait tbh, more of a personal one.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #28

    Good taste in music, intolerance of monarchy, and near cult-like worship of pizza.

    t20six Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #29

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Expecting to drive to everything.

    TerranceBaggz , Tobi / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well, without sidewalks, bike lanes and the strange zoning laws this is just the common thing?

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #30

    Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Baseball cap... even on an infant riding in a pram.

    SyntheticOne , Oleksandr P / Pexels Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    The Doom Song
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here in Australia plenty of people wear baseball caps. It's not an American thing guys

    View more commentsArrow down menu

    Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.