it's British vs French rivallry is where it is derived from.

I don't know about racist, because 'French' isn't a race, in spite of what Lord Durham said. It is certainly a contemptuous phrase that is in bad taste. I like to say things in English to Star Wars fans and say 'Pardon my Klingon' and such like.

It isn't racist, it's a common expression that is used to apologize for using profanitys. However, in today's society where it is unacceptable to talk about any race other than our own, I can see clearly why it could be interpreted by someone in that way

Nah. is french bread racist or french fries? then why would pardon my french be?

It has become an excuse mefor using bad language. Not racist intentionally as most people would not even think of the phrase as being insulting. France and England were at war for so many years I presume that it crept into the language as an insult in the middle ages but is now like a lot of french words and phrases used without thinking. Although I must say it does not seem to be used very much in modern terminology.

G'day Tom, Thank you for your question. This phrase came about because there was a long history of association of France or the French with risque or vulgar things. According to Google Answers, "This phrase, in which French refers to "bad language", is employed when the speaker feels compelled to use an obscenity despite having listeners who might be offended. It's a late 19th century euphemism which first appeared in Harper's Magazine in 1895. It is thought that the term French is employed in this sense as it already had a history of association with things considered vulgar. As far back as the early 16th century, French pox and the French disease were synonyms for genital herpes, and French-sick was another term for syphillis. The OED [Oxford English Dictionary] also equates the adjective French with "spiciness", as in French letter for "condom", French kiss (1923) and French (i. e. "sexually explicit") novels (from 1749)." You could consider the phrase to be racist. Perhaps Pardon my Klingon should be used as an alternative although this might cause offence to Trekkies. :>) I have attached sources for your reference. Regards Reference Google Answers Pardon my French http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=232360 Take our word for it http://www.takeourword.com/Issue058.html Phrases.org http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/13/messages/417.html Joe Bolte http://joebolte.com/2006/06/27/pardon-my-french/

Bueno! Galinhas essan автомобили. Please pardon my French!!! No, of course saying this is not racist, especialy since nothing I said above was in French. As said above, France has long been (wrongly) assiocaited with vulgar language. (What I said was Hi!-Spanish, Chickens-Portuguese, eat-German, cars.-Russian)

No I do not consider that phrase racist.

sometimes when people swear they might say "pardon my french" afterwards

In addition to its historic basis ... (1) "Racism" includes behavior and language based on ethnicity, nationality, and other social class. (There is no term for anti-ethnic, for example.) (2) The phrase asserts that the speaker is about to say something foul, by needing to be excused, and does so by equating it with the French language (hence French-speaking people, i.e. the French, as a social group). (3) The implication is that it is common knowledge that French people are foul and, since true, it is acceptable to refer to foul things as French. Based on 1, 2, and 3 together, the phrase *excuse my French* is racist. A facet of racist language is that it intentionally or unintentionally invites others to treat members of the victim social group with contempt. This phrase accomplishes that. Test by comparison: Would it be acceptable in the US to say, *excuse my use of Black people language, but (insert stereotype ghetto talk)*.

Not when it's said because your French sucks.

It could be considered an instance of Francophobia. The original idea would be that real profanity could only be said in French. ""Pardon my French" or "Excuse my French" is a common English language phrase ostensibly disguising profanity as French. The phrase is uttered in an attempt to excuse the user of profanity or curses in the presence of those offended by it under the pretense of the words being part of a foreign language. The phrase has found large use in broadcast television and family films where less offensive words are preceded by "pardon my French" to emphasize their meaning without violating censorship or rating guidelines. A good example is in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Cameron calls Mr. Rooney and says, "Pardon my French, but you're an asshole." " Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon_my_French Further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francophobia

Not in my books.