I've had Americans here in Spain ask me to speak English as they don't speak Spanish.
I was speaking to them in English. I am English
Just cements the proof they often respond without thinking
this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2026
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Just kind of flipping that script a little, I work in 911 dispatch, and we get a lot of calls from Spanish speakers.
Sometimes we're lucky enough to have a Spanish speaking dispatcher on duty, so if they're not on another call, I can transfer them over, and almost without fail the conversation goes like this
Me (English): 911, where is your emergency?
Caller (broken English): uh... Speak Spanish?
Me (broken Spanglish): ok, let me get you a Spanish speaker, un momento Transfers caller
Spanish Dispatcher (in Spanish): 911 where is your emergency?
Caller: Ok
Spanish Dispatcher: repeats in Spanish
Caller: uh... Speak Spanish?
Spanish Dispatcher (in Spanish): Yes sir (or ma'am,) I'm speaking to you in Spanish, where is your emergency?
Caller: oh! continues in Spanish
When I lived in Japan, if I was out with my wife people would always speak to her (she was Japanese). My Japanese was reasonably good, and my wife said that there were no real issues with my grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation, but still people didn't understand me because I was a foreigner and they knew they couldn't understand foreigners.
Canadians don't wear Canadian flags, it's almost always an American.
Used to be you could spot us by MEC or Roots gear, but they're both enshittified now.
Traveled Europe in the 90's with a backpack. It was pretty common then. I met loads of Americans claiming to be Canadian. As a travelled Canadian myself it was fairly obvious to me but some insisted it was worthwhile. It certainly fell off over the years I traveled however.
This was definitely a thing back in the early 2000's, after the US went on its global rampage against brown folks. It wasn't safe to let people know you were from the US. It also had the unintended consequence of making Canadians look bad, due to the association with rude assholes putting Canadian flags all over their gear.
Yes, I have several friends who did it even 20 years ago
They weren't fully trying to represent legally that they were Canadian or hate the country. But backpacking / doing hostels across Europe they generally did get treated better and didn't have to get into arguments about US policy and things. Especially once the Iraq war and stuff got into full swing
People were doing it 50 years ago too.
It absolutely used to be. Whether it still is, I can only assume.
But decades ago, there was a joke: "How can you tell if a tourist is American or Canadian? The Canadian only has ONE Canadian flag on their gear." US folks did their best job of overdoing everything, and would plaster their stuff with maple leaves.
For many years, another sign of a Canadian was having an item from the Mountain Equipment Co-Op. Almost everyone travelling had a jacket, a backpack, or a container with the beloved MEC logo. Then MEC got turned into a shitty for-profit company held by American vulture capitalists, and now it means nothing.
So...yeah. At least historically, and probably now as well.
My American wife has been living in Australia for over a decade and since trump's second term has started telling anyone who asks that she's from South Canada.
If confronted at a bar I'd consider it for basically all the reasons you mentioned. When I send updates to my friends in France or Ireland or China I find myself apologizing for wherever embarrassing things we've done most recently.
An entire nation has a racist grandad at every dinner
When I was stationed in [the former West] Germany in the 80s one of the guys in my platoon was an avid & considerate traveler. He never claimed to be Canadian but
- he had a Canadian flag patch on his traveling pack
- listened to the Dayglo Abortions and knew all the words to Proud to be a Canadian
He didn't want to lumped in with "Ugly American" a-holes. And he wasn't. Probably more due his considerate behavior than flag patch but who knows.
Other proof of his excellence: he took me to my first Fields of the Nephilim, Sisters of Mercy, and Nitzer Ebb shows.
Yes, my ex's family did this.
They were the kind of upper middle class who thinks they're upper class types and considered it basic awareness when traveling internationally.
I could see it being a popular trope in the circle, just another chance to say, "Oh you didn't know? You sweet summer child."
They didn't seem to have a great grasp on how many people were just too polite to point out how obviously full of it they were
I've always said that I would if I traveled, but I never travel, so...
I'm a New Yorker. Only American on a technicality.
If someone asks where you’re from, why not just say something witty like, “From the states. But don’t let that fool you; I’m actually a very nice person.” If you really want to be friendly and cordial with the people of a country you’re visiting, maybe don’t start by lying to their faces.
Only heard about this anecdotally, but it's plausible that it would work. People who aren't from North America often have trouble distinguishing at least some American accents (generally the more northern ones) from Canadian accents. Like, you won't get away with it if you're from Texas or Louisiana or some such, but if you talk like Dan Rather or David Sedaris you can pass for Canadian in most places that aren't Canada.
Dan Rather or David Sedaris
That is quite the range.
Now I'm imagining The Santaland Diaries in Dan Rather's voice.
I think that's kind of my point - to us Europeans, those accents sound the same.
Oh, point taken! I just thought you did well to show the range.
I do the opposite and pretend to be an American with a generic accent. Even Americans can't tell.
Yes. I did it. Mainly in response to invasive questions from dodgy people. I had a fake name, a back story about where my family lived, etc.
After 9/11 and then the global war of terror, it was a prudent thing to have on dial. Never wrote clothes or put Canadian stuff on my bags.
I'm not a liar, but I can see the appeal. Luckily, I also have an EU passport to hide behind, should I want to. Also, other Americans should know that there are many tells that will out them if they try.
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