It's the native language of approximately 7.3 million Canadians, comprising 20.6% of the Canadian population. +}+(z Q0$DC- QW%.. Americans often mock them on television, treating them more like camp rangers, when in fact that do a lot of very difficult work. As a Brit. This can last from late April to early September, fluctuating of course, but definitely cause for a swimming pool. Hopefully that all made sense. A couple of Canadians I met in Ireland last month used eh ALL the time, Im sorry, but I couldnt help but snicker! POPi dunno if this is accurate but i notice most americans and ppl from other countries call it sodaPOP! Thats not to say we dont have our own unique way of speaking, its just that were a lot more Wayne Gretzky than Doug Mackenzie. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Previous Versions. And thats your whole world right there. As a general rule, though, Toronto Maple Leafs insults can fly pretty much anywhere across the country, even in Toronto where fans mostly have a sense of humour. They are changing to convenience stores, but in small town Alberta you will still see a Confectionary store. Thats it! Northern slang for frozen whale skin and blubber. Colorful Biker Slang. In the US, what they call Smarties, we call Rockets. I wont tell anyone. All you have to do is make a statement like It is a very nice day out today. If you add eh to the end of that statement, you can turn it into a question that will require a friendly reply from the person you are talking to. They change from province to province and city to city without much notice. Oh, I have oneserviette!! Mmm Yummy. Although the term we use most often is sorry, Im not sorry for the changes I made. Help fellow Canadians! No matter where you live, slang affects the English language in fascinating ways. Example: "I've never snowboarded off a jump before, but I'm just gonna give'r!" Double-Double It means a coffee with two milks and two sugars, but can only be used at Tim Horton's. and see what you pick up. We have Toffee Crisps here (must be close) and Smarties too, but cant remember the last time I saw them on sale. Moving abroad? Means chocolate milk in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Think Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, only Canadian. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Someone who tries just a little too hard, sucking up to an authority figure and showing off how much they know. It comes from the French word depanneur which is the actual name for a convenience store. I think Ill head over to one today to get myself some sasparilla:). A Chinook is quite amazing actually. As cute and quaint as it might sound, the Canadian accent sounds nothing at all like how actual Canadians speak. Canadian Flag Waving As Canadian Slang by Region. I was in my 20s before I learned that was a Saskatchewan expression :S. Thanks Andre, I have heard of BunnyHugs. For hostels, I use Hostel World. My younger life, mostly from Hamilton and Toronto. Out and about is the cliche thing that every American I meet always gets me to say in my Canadian accent. References. Just want to say your article is as amazing. Cottagelife.com is part of the Blue Ant Media Canada network 2023 Blue Ant Media. And for the word route, Canadians would often pronounce it like root. They also like pumpkin pie.thats 2 for Canada!). Even our swearing is tamer we typically only swear if were angry (or drunk), and the only people in my eastern Canadian home who ever swear around minors are bitter old curmudgeons and weird jerks on the public transit. Pencil Crayons coloured pencils (also only we spell colour with a u). Mickie-I think we are the only ones that call the small bottle of booze a mickie..good one. I am not sure if its Canadian slang or Not havent heard It elsewhere, the word is tad. Technically this isnt slang since its a translation, but it means thank you. The Western and Northern portions of Canada are vast, and there is much variation in the landscape and culture in British Columbia, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory. . Refers to the island itself and not Labrador. All rights reserved. What about deep fried pickles? We couldnt exactly call it a dollar bill anymore, and a dollar coin just didnt roll off of the tongue. During the Mongol Rally our team mates were American and they asked us why we kept saying clicks. It has a picture of a Loon on it. This is one of my favourite terms, more so now that I know its Canadian specific. Eh This is our most popular Canadian saying that we receive the most flack about from the rest of the world. Besides, I dont go there to wash. We say toilet (thats not vulgar, its simply a more accurate noun). In Canada, our liquor stores are government-run and cannot be in grocery stores. Rado, so true. BC has only the provincial-regulated and privately owned liquor stores, both of which have beer; there are no separate beer-only stores. Or Im a student at the university of Cincinnati. One of my favourite phrases that is uniquely Canadian is Two-Four. Yeah! : *Iuu!$\TV. A very typical Canadian chocolate bar is a coffee crisp. The US has always had dill pickle chips and has had all dressed for about 5 or 6 years now. I dont know why we broke away from the two places that we get a lot of our language, but its sort of a fun rebellion on our part. Emjoying your blog, thanks. "Canuck, that very same term of endearment Canadians use now," was used by racist southern Americans to insult French Canadians with dark skins, said Stefan Dollinger, editor in chief of Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles. Essentially, a Sasquatch is a large, hairy figure in the woods that has a lot of lore surrounding it. For example, if we disagree, well say no lah. When Canadians use the word Poke it means just that. Heres a word I just learned was distinctly Canadian. Heres a fast fact. Wed use it asheading to the vendors, want anything? I didnt think that they made those anymore! I didnt know this was a Canadian thing for a long time. A ski cap? You asked about more slang. Not soda! Dont forget the iconic Nova Scotia toast sociable! Just wanted to wish everyone a great Christmas this year. Too bad, you werent. Theyll love it. If you are one of those people who get adult jokes, then this should be a show you purpose to watch, especially because it is relatable and easy to identify with all the characters. There are many online services that are dedicated to helping language learners find native speakers to talk with. Everyone in Kansas calls it pop. I once used the word serviette (not sure if Im spelling it correctly) while in the US and the lady at the counter said you must be from Canada because we say napkin. It includes all of Toronto as well as neighbouring suburbs and municipalities. Australian Swear Words Even though Australia is an English-speaking country, there are many differences when it comes to slang and cuss words. Ive tested it with friends and everyone agrees it is pronounced JAGD not JAG ed as in the adjective. The term "hoser", long used by Canadians, is a comedic label given to someone that gained popularity and notoriety from the comedic skits by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas (playing the characters of Bob and Doug McKenzie) in SCTV's "The Great White North" segments. Not because it is the Queens birthday. Newfoundland. If youre concerned about that expanding gut of yours, many restaurants offer a healthier, vegetarian gravy substitute. But if you ever want to deliver one of the worst Canadian insults, ask them if they voted for Trump or Biden, or why we drink milk out of bags. In MY Boy is dead, a moving poem by tour great WW1 poet H Smalley-Sarson, I read this line : THe day he got his Blue. , Your dad says guys with big trucks have little d**ks. The Canadian Provinces, known as the Prairies, in the middle of the country have their own unique slang terms. I dont know two-six, what is it used for. Many of the above I had forgotten, but they come flooding back. That seems to be only in Canada. Its a military short form that weve adopted as a country. In the Ottawa Valley, the accent is heavily influenced by the Irish who settled the area. Any ideas ? My favourite Canadian slang term that I use all the time even though I dont often wear them! , Seeing as this is most certainly a one-off event and not a tradition that also falls on some made-up holiday that I couldnt give a cats qu**f about, Im out. Pop for soft drink or soda. Canadians do pronounce the R in Pork. We recommend our users to update the browser. When we pay our utilities each month, we pay our hydro bill. Incidentally, anyone wanting a primer is Scots, I recommend watching Rab C Nesbitt on Youtube. Our favourite holiday is Queen Victorias Birthday on May 24th. Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner, Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. "1) Where 14-year-old girls can walk home alone at 11:00pm. , Youre pretty good at wrestlin there, Katy, and thats what I appreciate about you. I know in the States, universities are often called colleges. Read on to find out if yours made it to the list of the best 35 quotes from the show below. This is absolutely not a stereotype or misconception, you can verify this yourself with google earths aerial photography. Weve experienced winter in Alberta and trust me, its cold. its so cool looking at how different we use slang :) over here in england the younger generation calls them traffic cones and the older generation call them pilons, reading your blog has been really interesting! When our one-dollar coin came out in the early nineties. , Thanks Robert! a Coke-Cola or a Pespi coke). Or do you want to come over for supper? They find it hilarious for reasons I cant quite figure out. Thanks for all the input, awesome additions. For finding cheap Canadian flights, I recommendSkyscanner. I forgot all about the word pop Americans call it soda and that just sounds strange to we Canadians. Here you will learn about the most important words in this part of the language. They all said cone. The term comes from the French les habitants, but I guess we decided thats too long and shortened it. Hillbilly Slang. When I moved to Canada from the U.S., I also had to learn words like garburator (what I knew as a garbage disposal), till (cash register), and writing exams (rather than taking exams). Toronto. If you lose one in a lawn mowing accident or to frostbite, send it over to the Yukon and theyll put it to good use. 15 Colorful Canadian Slang Terms. Some are more obscure than others, but theyre all really fun. Theres a lto of word also that i hear all the time here, and not just in the US or elsewhere. A Canadian Moment, Tuque, Beer, Winter????? Enjoyed this post! Dinner, backpack, Robe (my household says robe, but others respond with Ooohh.. you mean a house coat?) Did it get around I wonder ?? , Whats up with your body hair, you big shoots? 3) Place where snow may fall in the Summer. What about the old Zed and Zee. Excellent additions and very accurate. I think its fascinating how terms develop and change over time and across borders. I really miss my knapsack days. Most Americans just lines, Very true, we have definitely heard the term chesterfield a lot. This comes from the famous Blue Nose ship that used to fish and race in Nova Scotia. Find the best local tours with this search engine (and the best deals)! . Thats because use the can is vulgar; the only people in Canada who youd probably hear saying it would be teenage boys, if that. We get a lot of flack due to the fact that were drinking Miller in the photograph:), and idk of candians pronouce it the same way but in northern us. We say zed, we have smarties, knapsacks (though back pack is probably more common) and chocolate bars. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Whipper snipper! This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Some have a French Canadian influence. , Well, Id say give your balls a tug, but it looks like yer pants are doin it for ya. (Im just kidding) I didnt know that they had them abroad. You can always identify a Canadian by the way they use the word University. Same with merry, Mary, and marry. So lets dive in to learn the most popular Canadian slang words! In Quebec, it has become a very popular swear word used to express anger, annoyance or surprise. In these parts, we also have chips flavoured like Roast Chicken and Fries and Gravy, and soft drinks like Pineapple Crush. The origins of the word are uncertain. If youre visiting Eastern or Central Canada, including Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec, these slang words will be familiar to the locals. <>>> Make sure that you do! . Please! Thanks for sharing Robert and I totally know all of them. So, Ive got that going for me. Interesting. Twofer - Also called two-four, this term refers to a case of 24 beers. Very funny. % What do you call Pepsi and similar? Goof. If your friends say something surprising, spring a OHHH YIS BY! on them. I dont know about Canadian Baby. Deke comes from the hockey move of faking to maneuver around an opponent. There are so many more Canadina expressions that I couldnt fit into the post. Klick is slang for kilometre. Id call it courting but its never as romantic or reserved. , Does your grandmother call lunch dinner and dinner supper?. I like in Ontario and never do we use that word. They either crack you up or make you wonder how smart the guys can be. Ill respectfully disagree. Im guessing that was a one off. It is commonly heard at Canada's favorite coffee chain- Tim Horton's. Recent years have also seen the term be (somewhat) used in America. . Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly. Whats the best way to book my Canada accommodations? I have also recognized that People in America often call supper, dinner. But if you really want to delve into the reasoning for the difference. Bob and Doug Mackenzie made it famous in the 70s and it ended up taking of eh. Memorable Criminal Minds quotes fans of the show will recognise. Last Updated: February 25, 2023 If I hear one more person say Oh your Canadian, do you go oot and aboot? Im going to sock it to em in the nose. There I said it! 99% of Canadians will use washroom or bathroom, but very rarely will they use toilet. And yes, after you answer natures call, you do go there to wash, hopefully. Generally speaking, these are Canadian slang terms used across the country. In Canada, our electricity comes from the hydroelectric power company. However, these slang terms are unique to this region. To understand Canadian slang, master uniquely Canadian expressions, like eh? to ask something like, That movie was great, eh? Additionally, work on learning longer phrases, such as book off work, which means to take time off from work. Great Canadian Word indeed! 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Rucksack = Rugged pack for hiking and carrying equipment. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor. I am going to Timmies to grab a box of timbits and a large Double Double. That is what you say when leave the house to order an assortment of tasty doughnut centres and an oversized cup of coffee with two creams and two sugars at Tim Horton Doughnuts. Practicing Canadian Slang Download Article 1 Find a language buddy online. It can now be confused with the term joggers for baggy womens pants. We dont have a lot of free WIFI in Canada, so youll need your phone for maps. Just to confuse the issue further, in America they have candies called Smarties, but they are what we call Rockets in Canada those sourish compressed sugar discs that come in rolls. Putting on a fake Canadian accent. The accent here is very distinctive, and found nowhere else in Canada. If someone is on unemployment, they are on pogey. A keener is sort of a mix between a know-it-all and a goody-two-shoes. Hence the can. But when an American pronounces those words, there is a huge difference. Screech is a Newfoundland rum that I think tastes a little better than lighter fluid. Freezies are what Americans call ice pops, freeze pops or otter pops. Where I grew up the piece of furniture commonly called a couch/sofa was always referred to as the chesterfield. Yes! There are very few, rural areas that you cant. ]`;b^28!Hq4K.\D(?I9}f3Mxy%}[82-h~@+a9JX >{Fv/0F.Lo+0pIXzf(blDwu/0@AC CG;*kP&-tv#@T 7'hkq*n/qxYEQv\U]H^R\]w{KDo9Tn5'b,. BTWI use the term washroom all the time, Really enjoyed your blog about the slang of Canada. Fun article but many manyof the claims in the comments are not solely Canadian. 7. We have a lot of Canadian slang, so Ill be dividing these into categories to make them easier to understand. Some of these words on the list seem a bit suspect, though. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine, the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field. Its more likely that if you hear someone say they are going north, they mean north of their current location. One more a crummy. I am thinking that perhaps it is a uniform? A kerfuffle is a commotion or fuss. Damn. Depaneur Convenience store Macdo Short name for McDonald Regie I have heard this from many English speakers, I went to the regie web site (government agency), Whats up with the saying some of these days we say one of these days here in the States. Check out the insults below. You are so right. I just saw a comment on digg and they are soooo right. Rink rat is a term for someone who spends a lot of time at hockey arenas. Over time, we gave the word Canuck a totally . For example, it may be 28C, but with the humidex it feels like 35C. I find a lot of this familiar. Almost finished We need to confirm your email address. Its a bit like someone who grew up on cheese-in-a-can screwing up their nose at free-range, organic chvre. In 1998 the municipalities of East York, Etobicoke, North York, York, Scarborough, and the former Toronto merged to make what is now Toronto. If your phone doesnt work in Canada, I recommend getting a Canadian SIM card so you can get around and stay in contact with loved ones. I dont know what I was thinking of hahah. Lets start at the West Coast and work our way East through Canadian slang phrases. Many people wear a denim shirt with denim pants and/or a denim jacket. I think I wrote about it in an old food post. Originally refers to the losers of a hockey game, who, in pre-Zamboni times, would have to hose the rink down once the game was done. Americans say About like it is A-Baow-T with a more open ah sound. How To Type Letters with Accents on a Computer. I lived in the Philippines for 20 years. I would correct your comment regarding where Canadians buy their beer. Shaded provisions are not in force. Youve given me some homework. We actually use this term a lot in Canada. The American pronunciation ismore like a-bow-t. (as in take a bow). (oops, maybe the French use them, too?). Timmies (among other nicknames) refers to Canadas largest coffee and doughnut chain, Tim Hortons. But I like it! How a Soft Drink Became Quebec's Homegrown Insult. This is what we Canadians call our Backpack or Rucksack. How fun! Means take it easy. Its true, we do often end sentences with eh?. Seriously. Whether youre visiting Toronto or exploring the Yukon, these colloquial terms are recognized everywhere. Its confusing to newcomers, especially if English isnt your first language. I love that we use two-four when buying beer, it is just so Canadian. And speaking of post-secondary education, in Canada, theres a clear distinction between universities and colleges. I didnt know that there was an American Smarties. Write by: . Fun fact: KD is our most consumed product in Canada, even beating out maple syrup! A popular sugar-coated chocolate confectionery available in Europe and the Commonwealth of Nations but not the USA. However, there is no real geographic boundary of usage. Its just what we call km. If you are trying to learn a few adult Canadian slang words, then this would be a great show to catch every time it airs. Canadian slang isnt as obvious as other countrys. It is often used when stumbling into someone or wanting to get past and is widely used. Haha, yes you do see a lot of the Molson Muscle cutting lawns in the summer time Corbin. He was a town blacksmith, along with his father William, in Van Kleek Hill, and continued the trade here in Manlius, when they emigrated in the 40s. I said it! To give you a more in-depth look at how we talk, Ive included some interesting Canadian terms. On the West Coast, a few words mixed in from Indigenous trade languages chuck for the ocean, Skookum for pretty big, pretty neat. Here, a recent Canadian immigrant shares what he wishes hed known before moving to Canada. 'a#Mm1U%UNa xR/P?lpfn[yVSsHoB*i{?'%88? However, older generations sometimes call U.S. residents Yankees.. Your mom just liked my Instagram post from 2 years ago in Puerto Vallarta. This is our most popular Canadian sayingthat we receive the most flack about from the rest of the world. 2023 Readers Digest Magazines Ltd. - All rights reserved, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). A Mickey is a small bottle of alcohol that can fit in your pocket. A living room (sometimes called a sitting room) is more formal, for entertaining guests; a family room is for only the family (more private or relaxed); a den is a smallish room, usually with comfortable sitting chairs, a desk, book shelves, and maybe a fireplace. "Eh." Everyone always makes fun of us. Cheers! Ha, love this! These are Canadas most unique restaurants. Only seen those in Alberta. Also works as youre an idiot, but use a different tone. , You naturally care for a companionship, but I guess theres a lot worse things than playing a little one-man couch hockey in the dark. Hoser is a classic Canadian stereotype. Plus, it is the most beautiful country. Often its not even a true or false statement! You may have noticed I just snuck in an apology above. Hi Virey, I am not sure what that means, Id have to see more of the poem in context. I watch several Canadian YouTubers and have always wondered why they leave certain small words out of certain statements. Despite all their teasing, it is actually a term we use. Its become so ubiquitous that you can now order your coffee this way across Canada, even outside of a Tim Hortons! When I hear cone I think of an icecream cone. Now it mostly refers to the Montreal Canadien hockey team. Without yeast, sourdough was the only kind of bread they could make. Calgary, due to the stampede and its cattle history. The Rock for Vancouver Island, as in Im getting off The Rock this weekend.. , F**k you, Jonesy! Thanks k.c. Some have a French Canadian influence. By now most of the world knows the Canadian tuxedo: wearing an all-denim outfit. No this isnt a derogatory term or anything. Actually, bi would be the best example, hahaha. Ahhha! A nickname for Halifax, Nova Scotia. Some additional comments from this Newfietry adding some turkey dressing to your poutine. Nade: Canadians: Shortened form of "Canadian." Nades is a 2v1 game of tennis. Think Hermoine Granger shed be a classic keener. Soobviously a Loonie would be the next choice right? Usually, its not used to refer to a physical fight, but that varies. Its part of their tradition (much like the sour toe shot). The little things youd never know if you didnt travel! So I am going to give you a quick lesson on how to use the word eh. So no, all Canadians dont use hoser as classic slang. SOS I am translating WW1 poems by Canadians, soldiers or civilians . Similarly, you can order a single single or a triple triple (although that sounds like a lot of dairy and sugar). <> But seriously, is there a slang insult for really bad situations, beyond calling some a "hoser?" I'm writing a story and one of my characters is Canadian and has a thick accent, and for one part, I want him to use an insult that would be reserved for only truly bad guys. For the record, I grew up in Washington, D.C., and called a backpack a knapsack. In my four years in Nova Scotia, my accent changed and my vocabulary widened. Fire Hall I guess other people may call it a fire station but Im not sure. Ive hoovered schneef off an awake cows t**t. You knew your pal had come into money when he started throwing out perfectly good pistachios like he was above cracking em open with a box cutter like the rest of us. Whereas in Canada, we would call ourselves a Grade 12 or Grade 10 student. Again, its mostly seen on American television. In Canada keener is someone who shows up to class early . I hope you learned a bit more about Canadian sayings and how a lot of our slang seems to refer to alcohol. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. My dads family uses pop only when our aunt from Canada visits. , Tims, McDonalds, and the beer store are all closed on Christmas Day. If people have a housecoat, its often nicer than your simple plush bathrobe. It is because it is a holiday to celebrate our great Canadian Beer. Stereotypical softdrink of choice (considered quite insulting). We share the knapsack with Washington D.C. If you dont know how beer is supposed to taste, please keep your comments to yourself. This is a BC-specific term that means impressive or exceptional. F**k, I could watch kids fall off bikes all day, I dont give a sh*t about your kids. Again, this is a term Americans love to make us say. Toonie (as I prefer to spell it) comes from Loonie. chemo cheemoback in the seventies someone tried to promote an inuit? Thats not Canada talking there. Then we can throw it down with the best of em with a repertoire of insults that are uniquely our own. Its basically just a hoodie! Usually, the entertaining statement is funny in some way, but Ive seen it used kind of like lol where you just dont really have another response. 50+ memorable Grinch quotes for people who absolutely hate Christmas. Quebec French profanities, [1] known as sacres (singular: sacre; French: sacrer, "to consecrate"), are words and expressions related to Catholicism and its liturgy that are used as strong profanities in Quebec French (the main variety of Canadian French) and in Acadian French (spoken in Maritime Provinces, east of Quebec, and a small portion of Is there anywhere else in Canada that also says this?? I genuinely thought everyone had this term. It's the only slur I know that is based on a beverage. Huh, the things you learn writing a blog post:-), Ive been so busy picking up (and writing about) words from different countries, that I realize Ive forsaken my own Canadian heritage! Ive got a few more for you guys. Ive always loved them because it lets me sample a bunch of doughnut flavours when Im too indecisive to pick one. I also just recently realize that they call it a toilet around most of the rest of the world, including Australia. Growing up I was 100% a keener. 100%YES! Thats cool Mel, I didnt realize that it was called pop in Kansas. Tell her Ill put my swim trunks on for her any time she likes. It doesnt have the same zing when singing the alphabet song, but we do stick with zed.