Saw this thing- I doubt it’s true- and it was Americans saying that people in Paris, France would cough with their tongue out and everything, and not cover their mouth with their elbow, either using their hands or nothing at all.
Has this been true in your experience? Or did they just meet some less hygienic individuals?
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The only people I know who don’t cover their mouths are toddlers
In France, before covid, hand was used. Still is but elbow has gained traction.
Now if you go into high migration areas like some districts of Paris, or Marseille, you’ll see North African and African culture. Like spitting in the street, or direct nose booger expulsion. And coughing with zero covering.
Unfortunately not as common as it should be. Some “forgot” it after covid.
What? I’m french and we are told from early age to cover our mouth with a hand (and for the last generations the elbow as it is more sanitary).
I’ve seen anyone older than a child not covering their mouth. It would be seen as… ew.
It is the way it should be done. If you don’t you should. Period.
Not been in many years but used to go three or four times a year and it was more smokers coughing up phlegm in street that you would see everywhere in Paris.
In general, yes, good manners dictate that one should put a handkerchief in front of one’s nose and mouth while sneezing, whether everyone does it is another matter…
Here it is considered rude and unhygienic to not cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing. Up until like 10 years ago we were taught to cough and sneez into our hands, but I remember as a kid the transition where you were told to cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Ireland: I do with my hand but I’ve noticed a lot of people, especially the younger generation use their elbow here in Ireland. I tried it once but felt dirty after.
I did notice a lot of German don’t.
Here in Germany I was taught to cover my mouth with my hand and it’s generally seen as the polite way of doing it. But public health experts have been saying for years, that that’s actually unhygienic when you are on public transport for example, because you are most likely to touch stuff with your hands after that, so you rather should use your elbow or if possible, direct your sneezes to the ground (like when you train is rather empty).
Personally I tend to use my elbow and try turn away from people as much as possible, when I’m in a crowd and when I’m alone outside I’ll sneeze on the ground.
Before COVID I used my elbow to cover my face and also not spread bacteria to my palms. If I sneeze too much and I have to go out I just use a facemask nowadays.
Sweden. People almost always sneeze in the elbow pit or sometimes their hands. Kids more or less too. Also, there are exceptions ofc.
In Sweden it varies a lot from person to person. We’re always told it’s best to cough or sneeze in our elbows, not in our hands, to reduce the transmission of germs and viruses. But many people ignore that advice and just sneeze and cough right out or in their hands. Same hands they then proceed to rub all over the handrails of the bus or their phone. Yech.
Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a scarf. Can also do it under a hoodie or jumper too.
I mostly see people coughing without covering at all or doing it into a fist (UK)
Sneezing, coughing, yawning or chewing with an open mouth are considered very rude in Portugal. These are things we keep repeating to little kids.
Since COVID more people will sneeze into their inner elbow.
Will you see a few people not covering their mouth? Yes.
Is it part of our culture? No.
if a was a french guy in paris. i would cough snot on amerikan tourists.
Not sure if I saw the same thing but I saw a tik tok saying the same thing and it definitely made me roll my eyes lmao, It was these two American girls in Paris talking about how Europeans were “coughing all over them.”
I can’t speak for everyone but I’ve lived in various regions of Europe and never have I seen it be socially acceptable to cough/sneeze without covering your mouth/nose. Are there going to be a few people who are just kinda weird and don’t cover their mouth? Yes, but it’s the exception, not the rule.
Well, some people are coughing their lungs out without covering but I don’t think it is common in any countries I have ever been to.
When someone sneezes or coughs without their hand we say ‘I je hand!’ (In your hand).
Due to corona that changed to elbow.
It’s pretty common here in Italy, I would say it’s rude coughing/sneezing without covering your mouth.