The term French is used to refer to anything that comes from the European country of France, and is notable to be the source of an intense hatred by Al Bundy. Al has claimed that this is because "They won't let us fly our planes over their country, they look down on Americans, but when there is a war they come hat in hand begging, and then calling us savage." Al also claims that feminism originated from France, and used the term French in one of his nine commandments, stating: "it is wrong to be French." (MWC: "The Legend of Ironhead Haynes") Al's hatred of the French knows practically no boundaries or borders, as in England he also rants about the enemy across the water, something that both Al and the English despise.
In "Johnny Be Gone" another powerful example of Al's contempt for the French is when he notices instructions in the French language in the manual for Bud's RC Car. After first finding the instructions in Japanese and German, the next page is in French and Al attempts to read them. He quickly stops in frustration and says "Argh, more people we shoulda killed!".
In "Fair Exchange", the episode revolves around the Bundys taking in Yvette, an exchange student from France for $500 a month. Later in the episode, as the Bundys enjoy their expensive dinner, Al lifts up a steak and says "A toast to the French! Its a foul little country, but they sure do know how to write a check!"
Al's Francophobia is also found in his protest against the two cent beer tax, and the exclusion of wine from this financial burden.
In "Old Insurance Dodge" when Peg tries to talk to the insurance company after Al's car is stolen and stated they had the Mona Lisa painting in the car, she tells Al that France claims to own the real Mona Lisa. He gets annoyed, telling her "Ya know, its a dark day when someone will believe the French over me!"
In "A Man's Castle", when Al is forced to use a gas station restroom after Peg decorates his bathroom to look more feminine, he uses the stereotype of French being notorious cowards when telling the other guys there: "And we're Americans...and we have a right the use the best bathroom system in the free world. Are we to use a gas station bathroom like some common Rooskie? We're being driven from our homes, room by room, running like a Frenchman from a cap gun."
In "Look Who's Barking", Al ends up in a shouting match with a Frenchman over the phone as he tries to find Hans, the baker from Chuck's Cheese Bowl. He reminds the Frenchman about how America has come to their aid during times of war by saying "Listen, you French moron! We saved your cowardly wine soaked behinds in the war! In all the wars!! Every stinkin' war you've ever been in. Now you tell me where you're hiding Hans, before I... Hello!?!". Al then comments about how the French truly are rude.
In "Looking for a Desk in All the Wrong Places", Al and Jefferson laugh about them living in "Breast Virginia" after shipping off the pregnant women to "Pregnaho" and "P.M.S-achusetts" once he becomes president. After Marcy and Peggy give them dirty looks, Jefferson changes his attitude and disapproves of the jokes, but Al smugly tells him "She's got you shaking like a Frenchman in a thunderstorm!"
In "The Mystery of Skull Island", Kelly channels surfs and stops on one news channel, with a reporter stating that "And the missiles of this small mid-East country remain pointed at the..." before she changes it. On the next channel, a news reporter says "So, until further information is uncovered, scientists will continue to sift through the giant hole that was until yesterday the Republic of France.", implying that France was destroyed by the missiles.
In "The Goodbye Girl", Al can be seen acting and dressed as a stereotypical Frenchman, wearing a beret and holding a wine glass. He also has a table spread of cheese, a French baguette and a bottle of wine.
In "England Show (Part 1)", Al is not the only one to hate the French. During his speech at Speaker's Corner, he asks the English people if he's the only one who hates the French, which cause all the listeners to scream out "No!".
In "England Show (Part 2)", a family touring The London Dungeon scream in horror after seeing the Bundys stand behind them. Peg wonders why they ran when they are just Americans tourists, and Al tells her "They must be French. It takes so little."
In "England Show (Part 3)", as Al and Bud are caught in between Upper and Lower Uncton, Al tries to suggests an alternative to killing them. Trevor from Upper Uncton suggests that they could work out something, telling them "I mean, we're not barbarians. We're not the French!"
In "Death of a Shoe Salesman", the funeral director advises Al to make a decision about the plot he bought next to Fuzzy McGee. He tells Al that Fuzzy was popular in France, being named "Le Grande Fuzz (The Big Fuzz)". He then warns him that the French will be flocking over when word reaches the capital of Paris and when that happens, "This place will be swarming with a lot ruder people than you two". This is a likely reference to actor Jerry Lewis who was popular in the European country. It is also a reference to the common stereotype that French people are very rude.
In "The Proposition", Kelly butchers the French language several times. She also alludes to how the French are stereotypical cowards as they had quickly surrendered to the invading Germans during World War II as well mentioning French cuisine and its mother sauces.
In "Change for a Buck", one of the dogs, a French poodle, impersonates the voice of American actor, Jerry Lewis and claims that he a genius in France. More specifically, the dog's voice and buck teeth are a reference to his character Professor Kelp from the 1963 comedy, The Nutty Professor.
In "Driving Mr. Boondy", while making Al his chauffeur during his driving test, Bud makes out with a German hitchhiker Heidi and tells her "Pretend like my pants are France and invade me!" in reference to Germany invading France during World War II.
In "Business Sucks (Part 1)", as Kelly and Bud attempt to watch her new commercial, it is interrupted by breaking news regarding the protest at the shoe store. She then says "Just my luck, every time I get a commercial, some stupid war breaks out in some stupid country that I can't even pronounce." Bud tells her "That could be France", but she quickly replies, "I said 'country'! ", implying that the country of France is not important compared to rest of the world.
In "Pump Fiction", after the success of Sheos gets to Al's head, he is shown arriving home and starts using French, saying "Au revoir, mes amis" ("Goodbye, my friends") to the crowd that followed him to the door. Later, he tells the attractive woman in the crowd, Babette, "Now, now Babette, we promised not to say such things in front of 'Les Miserable'! Au revoir! Au revoir!". "Les Miserable" ("The Miserable Ones") is a French novel that has been adapted into a musical production and film in recent years, though Al is also using it literally to describe Peggy and Marcy.
In "How Bleen Was My Kelly", as Peggy tries to find someone who actually earns less than Al, Bud suggests that she look for "French Deodorant Salesman", playing on the stereotype that the French do not bath or use deodorant daily. Also, in the episode, Kelly pretends to be a scientist for her role as naturalized French scientist Madame Curie. In the end, she ends up getting the role and does a stereotypical French accent while playing Madame Curie as a prostitute picking up on sailors.
In "The Agony and the Extra C", Peggy ends up in Paris, France to find her father and talks to Al while in a taxicab near the Arc de Triomphe. The taxi cab driver has a baguette on his dashboard and is dressed in stereotypical white long sleeve shirt with thin black horizontal stripes and a beret while smoking. Peggy also notes how rude and smelly the people are, which is also another French stereotype. Peggy mentions that she flew to France on the Concorde a supersonic passenger airliner developed between Britain and France. Peggy mentions that she tracked Ephraim Wanker to a Jerry Lewis film festival. Jerry Lewis was an American actor and comedian who became popular in France with some viewing him as a genius.
In "T*R*A*S*H", as Al gets ready to be deployed with his National Guard unit, he tries to get his family to pay attention to him, saying "Hey, will someone pay attention here? They're having me go out to fight horrible people...probably the French!"
In "Breaking Up Is Easy to Do (Part 1)", as Al talks to Peg about not wanting to go to marriage counseling, he gets up and tells her "Because if you knew me, Peg, you'd know there are certain things I do not do: I do not floss. I do not eat vegetables. I do not like French pastries. I do not like the French!"
In "Dud Bowl II" the French government took responsibility for blowing up the new Polk High School football scoreboard dedicated to Al. (It was actually Al who masterminded the act before learning it was dedicated to him. Al planned to blow up the scoreboard because Marcy convinced the school to put Terry Bradshaw's name on the scoreboard despite the fact that he spent only two weeks at Polk.)