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The theme of misunderstandings has been specifically addressed in the teaching of French as a foreign language (FFL), particularly under the influence of intercultural pragmatics. This article, based on research carried out as part of a PhD thesis defended in 2022, aims to broaden the reflection on this matter by considering misunderstandings through the concept of ethos. This concept—understood from a Batesonian perspective—makes it possible to question the link between norms and emotions in situations of intercultural encounters. Misunderstandings can generate strong feelings during an encounter between different ethe. In the context of university FFL classes, they might have a lasting impact on learners’ representations and sometimes on their general motivations. This article presents the main results of this research and highlights a number of lines of consideration.