ADVERTISEMENT

It’s no secret that to an outsider, Americans often look like a quirky bunch of people. Red solo cups, free refills, and bulk shopping are all just the tip of the iceberg where it does get much weirder. But what the rest of the world finds particularly interesting about Americans is how bold they can sometimes be in the ways they approach foreigners.

So when an Aussie TikToker, @Voidable from Brisbane, asked people “What is the dumbest thing an American has ever said to you?” it blew up immediately all over the social platform, with people spilling the beans big time.

From questions like “Do you speak European?” or “Asian?” to genuinely wondering if a person from Egypt lives in a pyramid, these are some of the most “seriously?” queries thrown at non-Americans. Get ready to chuckle, and then make sure to check out our previous post with Americans being clueless to the moon and back.

Image credits: voidable_

#1

“She went to Europe”
“What country?”
“Europe”
“Yeah what country in Europe?”
“The country Europe”
“Europe is a continent”
“What's a continent?”

me_chase_blossom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Rose the Cook
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have lost count of the number of American teachers I have met who insist Africa is a country. No wonder people are confused.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

Got asked if we have electricity in Germany, I replied that in Germany we have to run in our giant hamster wheels to generate power.

Leavo Report

#3

My grandma went on a European cruise and came back complaining that there were too many foreigners. LIKE ??? YOURE THE FOREIGNER.

grace Report

Add photo comments
POST
Paradise
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She could afford a cruise but not a brain. Making Americans look bad since 1908.

Shoddy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of an English lady who went on holiday to Benidorm and was not happy about all the Spanish people there. She wanted her money back.

Shinomi Chan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus Christ really? Foreigners? In another country???? And you're one as well in their eyes?! *le gasp*

???
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we went on a cruise to Mexico and the place was crawling with illegals

Jette Wang Wahnon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I upvoted this as here was some -one with a sense of humour which is one thing I like about many Americans..

Load More Replies...
Richard Portman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I will turn this around and put it on its head. The dumbest things that Europeans have ever said include "where are the Indians", "are you Mormon " and "is this authentic ". We miss you. It was always a pleasure when you visited . We made some money, and you got to see us in our habitat.

May
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do know that - and obviously all countries have stupid people. The American idiots are just so loud and proud about their stupidity. And that's probably why so many of us have stories like this. I had a summer job as a tourist guide while I went to college - and my experience is that the Americans firmly believed that there was no such thing as a stupid question, while other nationalities would be embarrassed to seem ignorant.

Load More Replies...
Nancy Curtiss
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Why are so many dumb comments assigned to boomers. It is not true.

Stephanie Did It
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To most people, boomer means old person. PSA: After World War 2, when soldiers returned home, there was a "baby boom" which lasted for s couple of decades. Those of us born in the 40s & 50s are part of that baby boom. "Boomer" is not an insult until ignorant younger people turn it into one. (Not directed at you, Nancy, just venting about those too lazy to find out what the term means)

Load More Replies...
dhiguthila
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I used to work on a cruise liner in the Mediterranean as a Tour Escort. One day while escorting a tour to the Acropolis in Athens, and one very bored American guy, pointing at the Parthenon, asked me "what's that building ?"... ok one might not know the name, fair enough, but what shocked me was calling a +2k years old temple a "building"

Full of Giggles
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What’s wrong with calling the Parthenon a “building?” Historians and archeologists use the word on structures older than it.

Load More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Bored Panda reached out to social media influencer @Voidable from Brisbane whose TikTok video has gone viral. The creator now has 36.2K TikTok followers and 1.8M likes on the TikTok platform but his audience is ever-growing. 

 “At the time these kinds of videos (the asking people questions) were all over TikTok and I noticed that no one had asked about this topic which as someone who is not American I hear a lot,” he explained about the idea for the TikTok.

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

They asked if I lived in a pyramid. I’m from Egypt. It has happened multiple times.

Akrammakar Makar Report

#5

"I didn't know Alabama had its own language." After I said I speak Albanian.

drocopio Report

#6

I have a foreign ID card and my date of birth is written as 18/04/95 and I had someone ask me once “you guys have 18 months in your country?”

christina Report

Add photo comments
POST
King Joffrey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That allowed me to drink a bit early in when I lived in the US as a 20-year old.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

“When I hear some of the ways they do stuff it just makes me feel uncomfortable,” TikToker told us and added: “like how they microwave water instead of using a kettle, that one hurts.”

When asked how in his opinion Americans differ from the rest of the world, @Voidable said: “I think they differ as they are brought up and taught blind patriotism. I like America but you can’t sit here and not acknowledge its flaws.”

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

"Why do YOU care who runs OUR country, it's not like it affects you"
Pretty sure WWIII affects the planet, bud.

Jen GM Report

#8

"Netherlands? Isn’t that where Peter Pan lives?"

Sanne Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

“Your English is so good, how long have you been learning it?” Ummm as an Aussie, my whole life.

Klad Report

 And when it comes to the dumbest thing @Voidable has heard an American saying, it’s “when I had an argument with an American who told me that the US had 40 states. Still plays back in my mind,” he laughed.

#10

“I’m Spanish”
“Where in South America is Spain at?”
“I’m European”
“I thought u said u were Spanish”
“Spain is in Europe”
“What’s Europe?”

Alba Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

him: "you don't study US history?" me: "no, just like you don't study Chilean history". him: "but it's different, we're an actual original country"

Izha Report

#12

German here - asked if we had nice cars in Germany.... like the BMW he was driving.

Dani Report

#13

"Our sun is brighter than yours."

criminallives Report

#14

One said to me “wait it snows outside of America?” Like wait until you hear that it snows in Africa.

Ed Report

#15

When they ask you if you have internet access - while chatting online.

CC Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

Girl said I was insensitive for making jokes about the Pompeii volcano eruption. She said it happened 2008, and not 79 C.E

Amauman Report

#17

"Australia is the Florida of Europe" I thought they were joking, but no, they were dead serious.

illtakryourknees Report

Add photo comments
POST
Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I kinda view Australia as the Florida of Europe....except its not in Europe. I'd say its the Florida of the English colonial system...but that would go to America...namely because we have the actual Florida. And America is always stealing headlines for some kind of wacky news. And a lot of that is from Florida.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

"Does gravity work opposite in Australia?" I was half amazed that he knew what gravity was and half dumbfounded.

khehra3300 Report

#19

Me telling Americans I'm from Norway: "ohh the capital of Sweden?"

AnitaZenell Report

Add photo comments
POST
dhiguthila
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once I got one asking me where I am from, I said Lake Como, right at the boarder with Switzerland, and the guy said "oh lucky you, you can visit Stockholm often, then"... and me "mmm na bro that's Sweden, 2k km away"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

He told me that the USA is the best country in the world, they are the only country where you can vote freely and give your opinion

Kirsteeen Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#21

“Wait, some other countries have presidents too? I thought it was just an American thing.”

cob Report

Add photo comments
POST
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, American things are going shopping with an assault riffle strapped to your back and going bust on medical bills.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Someone corrected my spelling of Sydney, apparently it's sidny (I'm Australian)

Ahhthatshot Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sue Simmons
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love this. I was told England is spelt Ingland. I'm English. Lived in USA 21 years and was shocked by the lack of common sense and knowledge about other countries.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

My dads American co-worker was shocked that my dad had a drivers license, because he seriously thought that we only ride horse and buggy in Denmark.

Cecilli Report

#24

“Do you speak Asian?” I am Asian but I don’t speak Asian.

naoko_tiktok Report

#25

An American who thought Canada was a third world country. Because every country except the USA is a third world country. They really thought that.

Casibucci Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#26

“The closest I've ever been to Brazil was in Spain last year.” She lived in Florida.

pedrocostamace Report

#27

“Do you speak European?”

ThatB Report

#28

"I have freedom of speech because I'm American... You don't" I'm from Britain by the way.

Kaceii Report

Add photo comments
POST
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The American freedom of speech means you can promote fascism, racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia in public without consequences. In Europe not so. That's why we don't have free speech, according to some Americans.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

How can you be from England if you’re not white?

Report

#30

I’m Italian: “is it true that you think in English and then translate it to Italian when you speak Italian?”

Ginevra Report

#31

An American dude, about 25-30, laywer, mindblown that we had fields in the French countryside cause he "thought that France was only made of cities"

eroaldif Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#32

“Do y’all have grass in Mexico?” GRASS, she thought we were a big dessert.

gisela Report

#33

"In Finland you have polar bears walking around the streets, right?"

Mila Report

#35

I had someone ask me what it’s like having Christmas in the middle of the year. I had to explain that we still have it in December, it’s just hot.

Janedoe Report

Add photo comments
POST
Anna Banana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha I remember struggling with that concept myself, except I was about 5 at the time.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

My dad was asked by a Harvard graduate how long it would take to drive from New York to Ireland.

Travelbugee Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

“Do you watch TV in English or Australian?”

Orion Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We watch TV in any language the show comes in. We even get the news in foreign languages.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

I got into an argument with American cousin about whether or not it's safe to play with the liquid inside a thermometer. BTW ITS MERCURY.

CameronFisher Report

#39

"Yeah I am from Libya."
"Ohhhhh do you guys have a sun?"

thefedoraguy Report

#40

While visiting LA, a girl asked where I lived and I said Australia (I was living there at the time) and she said “OMG, my dream is to go to Europe!”

ju_boas Report

#41

An American asked me how comes British people speak English and thought it was so we could understand Americans. He didn’t know England was a country.

JamesJenkins Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#42

“You don’t have dollars in France ?” Biggest laugh of my life.

Pauline Report

#43

"I'm from Serbia" "omg how did you learn english, don't you live in like" and I quote "PAPER HOUSES?"

justonebrokenheart Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tamsin Far
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, according to some other threads here, it seems to me like Americans live in paper houses.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

"Where are you from?" "Sweden" "Omg, I love swiss cheese and chocolate!"

Lola Report

#45

I told someone I'm Hungarian and she responded with: "But why do you look European?"

uservk3m2dxdbi Report

#46

I had an American ask me if we IN Canada are celebrating the 4th of July. ??? No... Because that is an American Holiday. ??? What?

jennifer.r.maclea Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#47

They genuinely thought that Canadians have to live underground in the winter because it’s below 0.

zacfulton Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bobert Robertson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you've ever been a student in Ottawa, you'll find that a lot of us actually do. Half the students are pale as a ghost come late February from sticking to the tunnels and avoiding going outside.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

I've worked at the Viking Shop Museum in Denmark, and Americans often thought Vikings are a living race, that live in territories nearby our museum..

SaraElleskov Report

#49

"Argentines are not from latin america because most of them are white" guess I'm european now and I didn't even notice lol

caim Report

Add photo comments
POST
Marianne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same thing is true for many many Americans ... and generally people from immigration countries.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

"So you guys have politics? I thought you didnt get to chose the queen."

hen2thetai Report

Add photo comments
POST
Eliška Hůlková
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people seem to think that monarchy is when Queen runs rampant around London and screams "Off with his head!"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#51

"ohmygod you're Dutch? Write my name in your alphabet!!" -Rebekah

SaffinJulia Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#53

Once one person asked me if there are beaches in Brazil...

VictoriaCosta Report

#54

I was asked whether I‘m from West or East Germany and if the Berlinwall is still standing. That was in 2008

jin Report

Add photo comments
POST
James016
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did they not see David Hasselhoff bring the wall down? Maybe they were born after the event

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#55

I'm from Indonesia. They said, "Is that in India?"

sukiyuu Report

#56

A girl asked me where I’m from... I said Spain... and then she told me she drove there last summer ( we were in Texas)

AdaGenzman Report

#57

Someone asked if it’s true the UK doesn’t celebrate Christmas.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
BananaJo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No. We have Christmas. In fact, we're probably one of the countries that celebrates it the most.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#58

Me: I just got my new iPhone! American: I didn’t know they had iPhones in Germany!

helenahand Report

Add photo comments
POST
Vicky Zar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Germans prefer Samsung and other brands (or no brands) because iPhones are overpriced, but we do have them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

one person believed the capital of Paris was Italy. You know, a separate country

Report

#60

"Do you guys have any supermarkets?" or "Which US state is Serbia?"

Happyadriana Report

Add photo comments
POST
grafxgal60073
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being an Alaskan and having worked for the tourism industry, we got "what bench should I sit on to see wildlife walk by; What kind of money do you use in Alaska; and, who's your president?" Double face palm.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#61

"Do you guys also celebrate New Years???" like eh.

maroline24 Report

#62

“Is there toilet paper in Portugal?”

MatildeGon Report

#63

Do you speak moozlim? WHAT IS MOOZLIm? iTS MuSLIm AND ItS A RELIGION

Multi Report

Add photo comments
POST
Victor Botha
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Incorrect, Islam is the religion and the followers or adherents of that religion are called Muslims. Also all my muslim friends pronounce it Mozlim here in SA, how do you pronounce it?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#64

"Oh you're from Poland. Have you seen any polar bears?"
Hun, I'm from Central Europe, not Antarctica...

Zuz Report

#65

“Canada? Isn’t that a US state?”

theDreamSMP Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jos Poisquet
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, but Alaska is an island. You can see it on every map of the US. It lies under California.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#66

My us host mom thought human blood is blue until it‘s out of the skin..

Report

Add photo comments
POST
James Thompson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was actually taught, or at least widely believed to be true for a long time. The "fact" was that un- oxygenated blood is blue, and only turns red after being enriched with O2. It's not unusual to see this myth debunked on listicles entitled something like "6 myths about your body that we were taught ".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#67

“Do you have swimming pool in Indonesia?”

Nessie Report

Add photo comments
POST
M O'Connell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps they were acquainted with Eric "The Eel" Moussambani Malonga who swam for Equatorial Guinea at the 2000 Olympics, and won his heat of the 100M freestyle in spite of the largest swimming pool in the country being only 12 meters long (at the time).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu