What sounds like a harmless “how are you?” in France can feel like an existential questionnaire in Germany. In this episode, we unpack why Germans freeze, why French people don’t expect a real answer, and how one tiny phrase can derail an entire interaction before coffee.

This is not a language course, but if you’re trying to learn German or learn French, this is the kind of thing no textbook explains. Because understanding a language also means understanding when people don’t actually mean what they say.

We talk about small talk, politeness, and the unspoken social rules behind greetings in Germany and France. Why does “ça va” feel effortless in French, while “how are you” can feel uncomfortably personal in German? And why do cultural misunderstandings often start with good intentions?

Also in this episode:

• How many kisses are correct when greeting someone in France
• Which cheek you’re supposed to start with (and why getting it wrong is awkward)
• Why a hug can feel more intimate than kissing someone twice
• Why Germany has no greeting map — and France absolutely does

If you’re living between cultures, learning German, learning French, working in an international environment, or just curious about how language reflects mindset, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.

Zero effort. Maximum confusion.

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