# Why are the French called 'Frogs'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878 "2000-11-19T21:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DrDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDoom)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/1 "2000-11-19T21:31:27Z")
I’ve heard several DoD people and a few Germans refer to the French this way. Any ideas why and what is the origin of this term? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/2 "2000-11-19T21:39:11Z")
I don’t know this to be the case, but I’ve always thought that frog starts with “fr” as does french, and referring to someone as a small bug-eating critter can hardly be considered complimentary. Maaybe it has something to do with eating frogs’ legs? ---
**Author:** ![fredicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/779978/32.png) [@fredicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fredicus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/3 "2000-11-19T21:53:11Z")
Maybe they were just being polite 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/4 "2000-11-19T21:53:20Z")
It’s definitely because the French are partial to frogs’ legs, a taste considered revolting by the English. It’s not just a DoD term, it goes back a long long way. ---
**Author:** ![Nimue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Nimue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimue)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/5 "2000-11-19T21:58:03Z")
I always thought it was because of frogs’ legs, too. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/6 "2000-11-19T22:40:41Z")
The French word for frog is “grenouille.” This was an old slang term that people from other parts of France used to refer to inhabitants of Paris, because Paris was built on a drained swamp. I’m not sure if this is the origin of the English slang term “frog” for a Frenchman. “Frog” is also an obsolete English slang term for a Dutchman. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/7 "2000-11-19T23:39:16Z")
The word “frog” was used in a general derogatory manner as early as 14th C. standard English. And in 1626, the OED cites: _these infernall frogs[Jesuits] are crept into the West and East Indyes._ The earliest cite I can find that specifically refers to frogs’ legs is 1809, but it must go back a longer way, based on some other cites from about this time. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/8 "2000-11-20T01:18:28Z")
Brewer, in his **Dictionary of Phrase and Fable** , claims that the term originated for Parisians (later extended to the French, in general) because an early heraldic device for Paris contained three frogs or toads (possibly in allusion to their drained swamp?). I cannot find direct corroboration for Brewer, but I have been able to find several references to frogs appearing on late medieval French arms, either those of the king or those of the nation or those of the city of Paris. **However** , Evan Morris, author of [The Word Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/) does not even consider Brewer’s tale worthy of direct acknowledgement. He holds in [No Respect](http://www.word-detective.com/041400.html#frogs) that “frog” was a general-purpose insult that arose in the 1300s (he notes Dutch and Jesuits–mentioned in earlier posts–being so slandered) and was only settled upon the French during the Napoleanic era (with the frog-legs idea and the Paris coat-of-arms both tacked on as rationalizations). ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/9 "2000-11-20T02:07:25Z")
Could it be because to English speakers, the word “frog” seems to mimic that peculiar sort of drawling accent that French speakers have? Example: in the Forester novel _Hornblower and the Hotspur_ the ship has sailed out of range of the French shore cannon, and Bush the first mate sneers “Fire away, Monseer le Frog!” ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/10 "2000-11-20T08:00:45Z")
A long-serving State Department employee once mentioned to me that staple-pullers are known as “frogs” in French workplaces. I always figured that was the center of the antipathy between America and France. They think we’re stupid, and we reinforce it by slurring them as office supplies. ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/11 "2000-11-20T09:10:25Z")
I’m sure this is not the origin, but in Hebrew frog is “tzafardea” and France is “tzarfat”. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/12 "2000-11-20T09:56:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curwin \* > \*\*I’m sure this is not the origin, but in Hebrew frog is “tzafardea” and France is “tzarfat”. > > \*\* The connection is…? Other than the change beginning with tza? I think Tom has hit the nail on the head here, with his citation. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/13 "2000-11-20T09:59:25Z")
The French eat frogs legs and the English like to make fun of them so call them Frogs. The Germans eat saurkrout (sp?) and the English like to make fun of them so call them Krouts. The French do not like it when the English make fun of them and have noticed that the English eat roast beef and so sometimes call them ‘le rosbif’ (sp?) but as usual have failed to make it funny. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/14 "2000-11-20T15:35:42Z")
'Cuz its easier to say ‘frogs’ in a sentence than ‘cheese-eating-surrender-monkeys’? ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/15 "2000-11-20T16:50:33Z")
Thanks, **Tomcat**. This thread was sadly bereft of gratuitous slurs. I appreciate you rectifying that absence. P.S. I’m being sarcastic. Keep that crap out of General Questions. ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/16 "2000-11-20T17:25:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Thanks, Tomcat. This thread was sadly bereft of gratuitous slurs. I appreciate you rectifying that absence. > > P.S. I’m being sarcastic. Keep that crap out of General Questions. hey, he was quoting the groundskeeper willy! isn’t there an exception for simpsons quotes? ---
**Author:** ![DrDoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DrDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDoom)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/17 "2000-11-20T19:08:24Z")
Thought that maybe it was of German origin? The people using the term “Frogs” to me were either DoD in Germany or Germans. I believe the term for frog in German is “der Frosch” and didn’t know if this was the link or how to research it? ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/18 "2000-11-20T19:49:56Z")
_The Patriot_ had a line that referred to the cheese eating surrender monkeys as “frog eaters” that made it more clear to me. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/19 "2000-11-20T21:13:16Z")
Of course, **The Patriot** was another example of the outstanding historical research associated with all of Mel’s movies, so it may not have actually been totally accurate. (I believe that Mr. Gibson’s last _authentic_ movie was **Mad Maxx** –which is not to say that his flicks are not tremendous fun; I just wouldn’t rely on them for historical realities.) ---
**Author:** ![thereality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@thereality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thereality)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878/20 "2013-05-20T13:44:31Z")
Well some good thoughts but this is the truth The french actually adopted this heritage from their history. Yes they arose from the Marshes of france from three different clans. If you look into the six centuary The french bore arms and shields and flags displaying the three french frogs clearly on it. (you can google it) And infact during Napoleans rule after the revoloution they set something up called democracy. And they call it three things… Democracy was born from the french. And is what america pushes on the world and infact the three things democracy stands for is … Liberty equality and fraternity. Which was written on the statue of liberty given to USA by the french. And also Napolean hand a motto which he had on posters and flags explaining this new ideal. This is why the French (frogs) and Britian do not get along britian has it monarchs and the french killed theirs to establish its democracy and its spreading of…the three frog like sprits. Know where this stems from … the bible!!! the bible talks about three frog like spirits spreading over the earth which is democracy!!! And explains how problematic it is and the corruption which comes from it and also talks about its spreading and push on the earth before christs return. See the upheavel and the toppling of dictators and the wanting for democracy in the world on the tv of late. Look into it you will find your answers why the french are called frogs and what they have put on this earth. if your interested look up this link [http://www.genusa.com/BibleTeaching/thrfrogs.htm](http://www.genusa.com/BibleTeaching/thrfrogs.htm) or look up the bible magazine online there is a good section on french history just after christs death through napolean and the revolution and today [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-french-called-frogs/41878.md?page=2)