Germans are SURPRISED by a common behavior in restaurants and on public transport among Brits and Americans

Expats working in Germany have noticed a common view among Germans about the behavior of Brits and Americans in public places, particularly in restaurants where they tend to speak loudly.

Despite the political and economic connections between Britain and Germany, it seems that the social norms of the two nations are quite contrasting.

Based on the experiences of some Germans and expats residing in Germany, people from Britain and the US are often seen as being loud and bothersome in public settings, and this perception is not kept secret.

Jordan Prince, who lives in Germany, took to TikTok to poke fun at living in a German neighbourhood on ‘Sonntag,’ or Sunday, when people are expected to keep noise to a minimum during ‘Ruhetag,’ to their neighbours to relax. 

Posting a video to his page, @jordanprinceofficial, he joked: ‘Ah Sonntag, what a perfect day to be upset if someone tries to recycle their bottles. 

‘On a German Sonntag, if you so much as think too loudly, we will mark your name on a list. 

Meanwhile, a Canadian expat, Diana, who has spent many years working in Germany, shared how she experienced a ‘culture shock’ during a recent trip to the UK.

She vented her frustrations in a video posted to her TikTok page, @dianaverry, in 2024, revealing her horror at being approached by waitress as she ate at a restaurant, as well as the general volume of Britons’ voices compared to Germans. 

She said: ‘When I went to a restaurant today, I was mid-eating a burger, and the server comes up and asks me “How are things going, do you need anything else?” This just does not happen in Germany.’  

Diana also observed that Britons speak ‘so much louder than in Germany,’ and that it sounds as if ‘everyone is yelling when they’re talking.’

She added: ‘They are so loud in restaurants, on public transport – I heard the juiciest stories today. In Germany, this is just not the case. In public, in general,  people really lower their volume, they’re not that loud.’

One American woman, who appeared in a street interview video with @yourtruebrit on TikTok, admitted that since living in Germany, she has naturally become ‘quieter’ when she speaks.

She said: ‘I’m a lot quieter in public now. I’m much more aware of how loud me and my friends are – that’s just a habit.’ 

Hundreds of viewers shared similar observations about life in Germany as an American or Briton, as one wrote: ‘It’s true when I was in Europe I was told to not talk so loud.’

Another said: ‘I will never forget when my husband tried to cut our mini lawn – takes 10 mins, and the neighbor YELLING… Was scary. And so unnecessary.’

Responding, one person added: ‘Haha I know! I used to lived next a German in Belgium and even walking in my flat made him angry, he said “do you need to walk so loudly on Sunday?”‘ 

Another commented: ‘I’m on vacation and I sneezed and EVERYONE stared…. Like into my soul,’ while another shared: ‘It blew my mind when my German bestie told me they don’t even do laundry on Sunday.’

Meanwhile, some German viewers confirmed their approval of the socially enforced rule, with one writing: ‘I am sorry but Americans are very loud. In restaurants you can barely hear your next because of them talking and laughing loud.’

Another said: ‘Americans are known for their loudness when they are having a good time… You can pick them easily out when they are abroad.’  

It comes as a French woman living in the UK has revealed two ‘efficient’ elements of administration in Britain that have left her pleasantly surprised.

Lucille Joffre, who lives in London, regularly delves into lighthearted cultural and social differences between Britain and France in videos uploaded to her TikTok page, @lucille_joffre.

But, in a video shared with her 200,000 following, the content creator was left lost for words after experiencing the swift arrival of an important document that she claimed would otherwise take much longer to receive in France.