I have two family members who have gone to Europe, dressed as much like the people there as possible, tried to blend in with manners, etc., but who still were recognized by everyone as Americans. They were told that their faces “look American”. On the other hand, I’ve been asked for directions in several different languages.
You can always spot the tourists in San Francisco because they are wearing shorts and tshirts and freezing their behinds off in the middle of the summer! Also, even out of towners in SF on business are easy to spot if they wear seersucker suits in the summer. I had to retire mine after moving to SF. Now, tourists in Europe… I think we have already covered pretty much everything. Carrying around those little American flags is always a giveaway. I always wear my Amish disguise (see pic) when traveling in Europe.
Americans hold up the index finger first to count “one”, and extend the thumb last to count “five”.
Europeans hold up the thumb first for “one”, ahd then the index finger for “two”.
I made the mistake of ordering a beer in a noisy bar in Germany by holding up my index finger. I got served two beers.
^^Is that a problem? 
Lucky an index finger doesn’t mean 10.
Hmmm, do the “American face detectors” work for African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islander Americans?
I like to “blend in” when we travel but when we were in my parents home country a few years ago, the natives said they knew I was American or at least not a resident even though both my parents were born there. Subtle facial expressions and gestures gave me away, I guess.
As for dress, DH goes for comfort and lives in golf shirts and shorts. We have discussed what to pack for our Europe vacation this summer. I’m going to have to hide his Teva sandals and his plaid shorts.
American face = smiles and looks everyone in the eyes.
^ I agree. My parents’ culture doesn’t maintain eye contact during conversations. And the personal space! Well, they don’t have the 18" bubble that we Americans require :).
Europeans used to say the shoes were a dead giveaway. This is perhaps less true today because Nikes are now popular in Europe, especially among young people, and Americans wear more European brands, but there’s still something to it. European men tend to wear sturdy leather shoes for all occasions; American tourists more often go for the casual. I’m partial to Mephistos leather walking shoes, a quality French brand that you can find in the U.S. (Nordstroms and some quality shoe stores), but they’re still not that common here. I’ve frequently been mistaken for a European when wearing them. A European will take a quick look at my shoes and immediately ask for directions in French, German, or whatever the local language.
As others have said, the color palette on Europeans’ clothing tends to be more muted, at least in northern Europe. Lots of tans, grays, blacks, perhaps a dark green or drab olive… Also European men will more frequently wear a sturdy wool jacket (think “sport coat” but that makes it sound too dressy) as everyday wear, even when going for a casual stroll in the park or having a beer at a local cafe. Sturdy wool sweaters are also popular. Come to think of it, “sturdy” is itself a marker. Clothing tends to be more expensive in Europe; consequently, people tend to have smaller wardrobes than Americans, and they find value in the quality and durability of the product rather than in the price. As a result, it’s not unusual to see a man wear the same wool jacket or sweater day after day, because that’s what he has and it’s built to last. (This may be less true in Italy which is more fashion-conscious and dressing to impress is a way of life for many). Bottom line, though, it’s no so much what’s distinctively American as what stands out to Europeans as distinctly un-European. Mature European men don’t wear shorts, baseball caps, white socks, sweatshirts (unless exercising), at least in their native habitat.
Body size is also a clue. It isn’t height—most Europeans are about as tall as Americans, and the Dutch and people in the Nordic countries actually tend to be slightly taller, on average. It’s weight. The average adult American male is about 8 kg (around 18 pounds) heavier than the average adult German male, and the average adult American female is about 7 kg (15 pounds) heavier than the average adult German female. You’ll certainly see plenty of overweight or obese Germans, but if you see overweight people traveling in packs on the streets of a European city, being loud, gregarious, laughing a lot, some wearing sneakers/shorts/white socks/baseball caps/brightly colored clothing, it’s a good bet they’re not Europeans.
I have a good friend whose H is from England. To all of us he has a British accent. When he goes home, they say he sounds American!
I just didn’t see this “muted colors” thing predominate when I looked for it.
That British fixation on exact accent has caught a few of my British friends living in the US, too. And there are plenty of fat Europeans. Again, you have to look around.
NoVAdad, you know how large the German beers are?
It’s been years, but there is the standard size they have to fill up to the line on the glass, about 0.5 liter?
“There, the Maß—a full liter, or nearly double an Imperial pint—is the standard glass size, though half-liters are also available.”
Speaking of beer, I am on a mad quest to try to find someone in this country that carries a fantastic Austrian brew we had on our recent trip to Denmark…fingers crossed , I found a distributor
What’s the ballpark Proof figure for the beers served in those large classes and was this in Southern Germany(Bavaria?) or Northern?
Just returned from Germany, been there many many times. Although the Maß is recognized as an emblem of Germany, it’s only really used in Bavaria. You’d be hard pressed to find a restaurant or social event in say, Berlin, which will serve beer in a Maß. Even in Bavaria it’s use has declined. IMO it has to do with sanitary reasons. A Maß is often shared among a table. Beer proof varies based on the type.
I speak perfect German - with a Bavarian dialect. Much of my time there has been spent off the beaten path, in the countryside and in very non-touristy areas. While I dress differently than my German relatives I am rarely mistaken for an American.
When we went to Quebec City, DH was looking forward to speaking French - he has a really good accent. When we walked into one restaurant, he was ready to speak in French, but the waiter greeted us in English. My husband asked him why, and he said, “Oh, I could tell you were Americans the second I saw you!” Oh, well.
@MaineLonghorn, have you ever seen the movie French Kiss? One of my favorite scenes: Meg Ryan has traveled from her home in Canada to Paris to try to salvage her relationship with her fiance, who has met a “Goddess” while there for a medical convention. She approaches the concierge at the George V hotel, where her fiance has been staying. She asks him if he speaks English. Haughtily, and with a beautiful French accent, he replies, “Of course, Madame. This is ze Hotel George le Cinq, not some backpacker’s hovel.” I run into that a lot when in Paris and trying to speak French. No one wants to let me!
Interesting. This accords with what I heard from a German-American friend and some German friends whose families/who are from northern Germany.
In fact, said friend whose family originated somewhere to the north of Berlin was inclined to poke fun at Bavarians for the large beer mugs/Maß and was of the mind the beer they drank was far weaker than the Prussian wine/alcoholic beverages his family and he himself was allowed to drink on occasion with parental supervision. Not sure how much of this is actually true and how much of it is regional one upsmanship.