Why Do French People Call The English Roast Beefs?

The English have long joked about the French being ‘frogs’, but the French have a parallel insult, calling the English ‘roast beefs’ (rostbif), a term whose linguistic origins stretch back centuries. A British Sunday roast dinner is not complete without a slice of roast beef and, in the eyes of the French, this liking has come to characterise a whole nation. Linguistics expert Professor Richard Coates of Sussex University has pinpointed the origins of this phrase to Britain’s gastronomic heritage, having become a symbol of both British tastes and traditions.

‘Rosbifs became a mark of the Englishman as far as the French were concerned in the 18th century, simply because it was a very popular way of cooking,’ he told the BBC. ‘That style began to apply to other meats cooked in the same way, so you would also have rosbif de mouton and that sort of thing.’

However, by 1850 this phrase had been extended to describe Englishmen themselves, not just their cooking. As William Makepeace Thackeray wrote in The Virginians, ‘Only my white cockade and coat had saved me from the fate which the other canaille [rabble] of Rosbifs had deservedly met with.’

The Racial Slur Database lists hundreds of such terms, including ‘locust eaters’ for Afghans, ‘salmon crunchers’ for Alaskans, and ‘goulash-heads’ for Hungarians. While they may not seem offensive to the people who created and use these terms, they can definitely be perceived as insulting by the countries under question.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.