The 9 Biggest Lies About Americans The World Still Believes!

The Shocking Truth Behind Common Misconceptions About the United States

1. Americans are loud.
2. Americans are rich.
3. Americans eat McDonald’s three times a day and don’t own passports.
4. Oh, and we’re all apparently armed to the teeth, even on grocery runs.

If I had a euro for every time I’ve debunked these myths while traveling, I could finally afford that overpriced Charles de Gaulle airport coffee that made me question why I had moved abroad in the first place.

These stereotypes aren’t just lazy assumptions, they’re gospel in some places.

I once had a Ukrainian student in Kyiv ask if every American owns a gun. 

When I jokingly replied, “Yeah, they hand them out with your Social Security card,” he just nodded, completely serious.

But let’s be fair, Americans have their own wild misconceptions.

France is one giant romantic movie set, Spain shuts down for siestas every afternoon, and Albania is frozen in the ’90s. (Honestly, their cell service is better than in parts of the U.S.)

So, what’s the truth? 

Are these myths just exaggerations, or are they completely off the mark? 

Whether you’re an American wondering how the world sees you or a non-American trying to separate fact from Hollywood fiction, let’s get to the bottom of it!

1. Americans Own Guns… All of Them

The first time I realized how obsessed the world is with American gun culture was in Ukraine.

A student of mine asked, dead serious, how many guns I owned. Not if, but how many.

I thought he was joking.

He wasn’t.

He assumed I had an arsenal stashed away like some Prepper or a Wild West Cowboy gearing up for a gunfight at the OK Corral.

The reality? 

While gun ownership in the U.S. is higher than most countries, only 32% of Americans actually own a firearm.

That’s hardly “everyone.”

And while some states make buying guns as easy as getting a pack of gum, others are stricter.

Gun culture in Texas is a whole different world from New York City.

So why does this myth persist?

Hollywood, of course.

If you grew up watching American movies, you’d think a trip to the grocery store requires a bulletproof vest. 

Add international news focusing on gun violence, and it’s easy to see why our Wild West image is difficult to shake.

If I had a gun for every time someone asked me this abroad, I’d probably fit the stereotype… armed to the teeth.

2. All Americans Are Rich

If only…

Sure, there are billionaires in the U.S., but there are also millions struggling with medical debt (half a million bankruptcies a year), student loans, and rents that require a second job and a minor miracle to afford.

This myth persists because of Hollywood and pop culture.

People see Americans living in sprawling suburban McMansions with multi-car garages, sipping Starbucks, and flying to “Vegas BABY!” for the weekend.

But unless you’re Elon Musk, that’s not everyday life.

I’ve met more Europeans who assume I live in a mansion than I can count. 

On my first trip to France, a guy I met at a bar casually asked how big the pool was in my backyard.

I laughed so hard I almost spilled my overpriced Pastis.

My Pool?… Backyard? 

Hell, my backyard in the U.S. at the time was six-foot strip of land behind a duplex, two families on both sides with screaming kids for next-door neighbors, and an air conditioning unit that sounded like a jet engine.

3. Americans Are Loud and Obnoxious Travelers

Okay, sometimes we’re a little loud. I’ll own that.

But let’s get one thing straight being loud isn’t exclusive to Americans.

Ever been in a bar in Dublin at closing time?

Ever encountered a stag party of British lads on a budget airline?

Thought so.

Americans can be a boisterous lot, sure, but cultural norms play a huge role.

In the U.S., speaking up is encouraged.

Enthusiasm isn’t seen as an interruption, it’s engagement. That doesn’t always translate well in quieter cultures.

That said, I’ve definitely cringed at some of my fellow Americans abroad.

Like the time I saw a guy in Spain yell at a bartender in English because he assumed “cerveza” was the only word needed to order a drink.

Then complained when the bartender kept getting the drink orders wrong.

4. Americans Only Eat Fast Food

Hollywood is to blame for this one. If movies were to be believed, Americans survive on burgers, pizza, and donuts.

Sure, fast food is everywhere, but the idea that we live exclusively on McDonald’s and Mountain Dew (banned in Europe, by the way) is laughable.

The U.S. has a massive food culture: Louisiana’s Cajun spices, Texas BBQ, fresh East Coast seafood, and enough regional dishes to fill a cookbook.

Cities like New York, LA, and Chicago offer world-class cuisine from nearly every country on earth.

When I briefly lived in France, someone asked if I’d ever had real food before because, apparently, “Americans don’t cook.”

I wanted to hand them a plate of my homemade spaghetti and meatballs, made with my grandmother’s sauce recipe, and watch their reality shatter.

5. The American Dream Is Real for Everyone

This is the myth America likes to tell itself.

While the idea that “anyone can make it” is comforting, the reality is that not everyone starts from the same place.

Social mobility is far tougher than movies suggest, and success often depends on things like race, class, and zip code.

The cost of living, health care, and student debt make achieving that dream much harder than the narrative suggests.

That being said, I have met people who have made it work against the odds.

A former student of mine in Ukraine moved to the U.S. with nothing, worked two jobs, and built a business.

But for every success story, there are many others stuck in a cycle of economic hardship.

The dream exists… it’s just not as accessible as people think.

6. Americans Don’t Travel Internationally

This one is tricky because statistically, most Americans don’t travel internationally. Only about 48% have a passport.

But context is everything. 

The U.S.A. is huge! 

A flight from New York to California is like crossing multiple countries and time zones in Europe.

The size of the U.S. means that many people opt for domestic travel instead.

Also? Travel is expensive.

Flights to Europe or Asia cost far more than hopping on a Ryanair flight from Paris to Rome for $20.

And don’t get me started on America’s lack of vacation time…

The myth that Americans don’t want to travel isn’t entirely true.

Many do, it’s just not as accessible as it is for Europeans or Australians.

7. Americans Are Workaholics with No Vacation Time

This one stings because it’s mostly true.

The U.S. has some of the worst vacation policies in the developed world.

There’s no federal guarantee of paid leave, and many workers feel pressure not to take time off.

But things are changing.

Millennials and Gen Z are pushing for better work-life balance, and remote work is making long-term travel more possible.

I’ve met plenty of digital nomads from the U.S. in places like Georgia and Spain, taking full advantage of working from anywhere.

Still, compared to Europeans, we look insane.

Try explaining the concept of two weeks of vacation per year to someone in France and watch their face morph into sheer horror.

8. The U.S. Is the Best Country in the World

Depends on who you ask.

America has incredible innovation, diversity, and cultural influence.

But it also has major flaws, from unaffordable healthcare to political polarization.

The most interesting thing?

Many Americans who travel abroad return with a more nuanced view of their own country.

They see universal healthcare in action, experience walkable cities, and realize that maybe we don’t have it all figured out.

Loving your country and recognizing its flaws aren’t mutually exclusive.

Travel just makes those contrasts easier to see.

9. All Americans Are Friendly and Outgoing

If you think all Americans are bubbly extroverts, try making eye contact with a New Yorker at rush hour.

Yes, we smile at strangers and make small talk, but regional differences are huge.

A Texan might chinwag with you at a gas station, while a New Yorker avoids conversation like the plague.

Compared to some cultures, Americans seem more open, but trust me… we’re not looking for a new best friend after one interaction.

Breaking the Myths

America is too big, too diverse, and too contradictory to fit into a handful of stereotypes.

Some myths hold a grain of truth, but most are exaggerated, outdated, or just plain wrong.

Every culture has its stereotypes, but the more we travel and connect, the more we realize… we’re not as different as we think.

Now, your turn.

What’s the wildest myth you’ve heard about Americans?