Its a very old term that has mostly fallen out of fashion. Or when in university, a 1st year or 2nd year student. Did you know these 20 things were actually invented in Canada? It's one more typical Canadian insult. Its not that Quebecers are prudes or dislike foul language, per se, its just that they happen to have their own heavenly style of swearing, which involves cursing sacred items of the Catholic Church. The term comes from the French les habitants, but I guess we decided thats too long and shortened it. I havent heard that one. Canadians would say Grade X instead of Xth Grade. Its a less popular term nowadays, but you will still hear Canadians saying it. They come in a variety of flavours and are sold individually or by the box. Smarties were introduced by Rowntree of York in 1882. Thats when I realized that Canadians are strange. To Canadians a backpack is often called a knapsack. While I know it is used in at least Ontario (where I have family), it originated in Detroit, where Im from. Help me move Canada forward by spreading these more positive slang terms (even buckle bunny as many women use it in an empowering way or own the stereotype). Montreal Canadiens insults, on the other hand, can get you in trouble whether youre in Beaver Creek, Yukon, or Blackhead, Newfoundland. A (bad) hockey player who spends all her time on the bench, gathering dust. The 30 Best Things to do in Niagara Falls in 2023, 38 Best Things to do in Jasper Canada in 2023, Where to Stay in Vancouver Best Areas to Stay in 2023. I thought it was hilarious that toque is a ski cap in the States. Kitty-corner refers to something diagonally across the street from you. A Mountie is a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). This term comes from the reservations that our Indigenous people live on across the country. I knew that the capital city was a smart one:-). ), All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Accents and slang develop differently in each city and province, creating a great tapestry of Canadian dialects. Actually, many parts of Canada can get extremely warm summers that mimic tropical heat. Eh. Everyone always makes fun of us. To say that all Americans call it soda is grossly inaccurate. A popular sugar-coated chocolate confectionery available in Europe and the Commonwealth of Nations but not the USA. Disclosure: I censored this post to remove any derogatory words or terms rooted in racism (youd be surprised how many I had to cut). Mickie is used a variety or places, though it is an older term that ive hear in old movies, Thong is used all the time in Australia and NZ, I nknow some Americans who say hoser, I heat take off all over the place, as with sasquatchm yak, francophone and Kraft Dinner though a lot of people have also taken to calling it KD. So I am going to give you a quick lesson on how to use the word eh. Canadians do pronounce the R in Pork. 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. My North Carolinan brother in law calls a toque a toboggan (pronounced tow-boggan) and it cracks up up every time. Refers to the island itself and not Labrador. Its one place in the world where you can find equality and freedom of speech. Wizard Is used as an adjective here in Canada, and I saw a movie where someones neibour commented, thats wizard, like he was saying that it was cool. Now before visiting Canada, you can practice your use of the word eh and fit right in once you get here. Badass female expat with a passion for making new countries my home. I can think of some additional foods and expressions that are distinctly Canadian that visitors might not know: Butter Tart Tortire Poutine Nanaimo Bar Bags of milk Pop instead of soda Ketchup Chips Clicks (distance) Kerfuffle (commotion) For sure Homo milk Brown bread Chesterfield Supper Girl Guides Muskoka Chair Track pants Postal code Elastic Smarties Crispy Crunch Caramilk Shreddies 5-pin bowling Mountie, Ive called it pop ever since i could remember. In Ontario, we are run by Ontario Hydro. When I see toque, it makes me think that it is pronounced more like Toke, or took. You know? Ive tested it with friends and everyone agrees it is pronounced JAGD not JAG ed as in the adjective. Our humidex, short for humidity index, is how Canadian meteorologists determine how hot it feels outside. Pshhh. , Oh, come on, kitten. Interesting. This guide to over 100 Canadian slang words initially started out as 20 words, but I kept remembering other terms from my friends and travels around the country. Ive never actually heard someone say it in real life but that might be because American TV ruined it for us. Save more in booking your flights and accommodations by using this platform! And if you're really in the . They usually sell alcohol so it can also be used to refer to a liquor store. Foolscap is used in Canada but not the US. Shoresy is one of the most popular characters in the show known for saying hilarious things. Buttertarts are Canadian and the term courier eg, FedEx, etc. Our favourite holiday is Queen Victorias Birthday on May 24th. A toque is a knit winter hat like a beanie. This article has been viewed 1,101,656 times. And another one is parkade for a parking deck. Clicks is much better. Now that you know the Canadian insults to avoid, check out the Canadian road trips everyone should take at least once. I got a few words which arent on here: Cowtown, Bytown, Canuck, Mickie, Hoser, two-six, cherry picker, puck bunny,francophone, allophone, coulee and yak Canada Kicks Ass!! Not because it is the Queens birthday. Ive found them most common in the Prairies although the Maritimes was full of them in Fall. (I am proudly 1/2 Canadian my Mom was born in 1915 in the small town of Vankleek Hill in NE Ontario. 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). Im definitely one to say, dont know me from Adam And I love the Beer Store. Im going out in the yard to talk to Ellen but well only bat the fat for a few minutes. Does that mean brother, buddy, or what?? Thanks. We have Chinook winds in here in Alaska, though not so much here in Fairbanks. I used that a lot even after I graduated. Turn left (Larry) or right (Roger). They also have ketchup chips in some markets. % Theyre just not as popular. 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. I dont know about Canadian Baby. Screech is a Newfoundland rum that I think tastes a little better than lighter fluid. Chesterfield! We call them Smarties and we like to eat the red ones last. Wheeling means to be in the early stages of dating someone. For the uninitiated, poutine is a common Canadian dish that consists of french fries topped with squeaky cheese curds and gravy. When Canadians use the word Poke it means just that. Pop for soft drink or soda. Tuque is the French spelling but the English have adopted Toque and even Touque. Id been told I looked like the wreck of the Hesperus a couple of times too, although Id forgotten about that one until you reminded me. He became visibly jagged when he missed his flight. Can someone explain to me the reason for the cultural fascination that affluent Qubcois have with wanting to have back yard swimming pools? 2. Its most used in Calgary, where we have our largest rodeo. Now, people actually donate their toes for it. I can find streets in places like Laval where every home has a swimming pool. Did it get around I wonder ?? A Vancouver special is a type of house with no basement where the first floor is rented out. Very true, but that is such a Canadian moment in its own way. We apologize, but for some reason its ingrained in us! I always say Zed Zed Top & La-Zed-Boy just so people realise how silly it is to make zee rhyme with vee in the alphabet!! There are some that I genuinely didnt know were Canadian phrases and judged friends Ive met around the world for not knowing them. It refers to the bedrock in Vancouver that prevents basements and the insane housing prices that mean people need to rent. Often its not even a true or false statement! Soda is so strange to our ear. And I agree, we do kick ass dont we:-), A two-six is 26 ounces of hard liquor, an allophone is a resident whose first language is not English or French and a coulee is a valley. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. The US has always had dill pickle chips and has had all dressed for about 5 or 6 years now. Greasy is a term that Maritimers use to refer to someone who is sketchy or seems untrustworthy. Other than eh? and sorry, I didnt actually know we had our own linguistic identity. Hi Virey, I am not sure what that means, Id have to see more of the poem in context. To fit in while youre in Canada, be sure to say please and thank you to anyone who serves or assists you in any way. I was told by an Aussie that they never correct us because they can figure out what we mean, but to them its a toilet. It quickly got out of hand, so here we are with 100+ Canadian phrases for you to learn and share! That expression is used but not so common with the younger generation. One win. Here is what we recommend: Need more help planning your trip? It is, after all, a . BC has a lot of slang to refer to certain cities, often in a derogatory way. Finally they said Why do you say clicks we replied I dont know. I will point out that, while people in Alberta do not say aboot, people in eastern Canada do. And what about crazy carpet? Either way, I hope you laugh and learn while reading this guide to 100+ Canadian slang words. It can also be a derogatory term for supporters of the Bloc Quebecois. A ski cap? That is what they are made out of. I could have used this a few years ago when we lived in Prague. Its true, we do often end sentences with eh?. Do other people say den and family room? Oddly both terms mean the same thing: to seek a provider of alcohol. Yes Renting a car is a necessity in most of Canada! Although its very possible that young people dont use it anymore, when I was growing up in virginia, we always called them the funnies. In Saskatchewan, people call hoodies bunnyhugs. 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. Although the term we use most often is sorry, Im not sorry for the changes I made. We call them freezies which to me makes the most sense since you freeze them and they arent fully popsicles. Soda is what others call it, Canadians call it pop. Now it's a synonym for "loser" but with a particularly Canadian flavour. Seemy Disclosure Policyfor more information. Think Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, only Canadian. Similarly, you can order a single single or a triple triple (although that sounds like a lot of dairy and sugar). Enjoy! If you're in Quebec, a French-speaking province, you would use the French word "S'il vous plat." Do you say supper? "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. Its not the same as whole milk, so we came up with a short form. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. I heard Americans dont have a word for slush and dont use the word toboggan. I watch several Canadian YouTubers and have always wondered why they leave certain small words out of certain statements. Hence the can. A Newfoundland insult meaning someone whos too lazy to go fishing. I am not sure if its Canadian slang or Not havent heard It elsewhere, the word is tad. Heres another great Canadian phrase for you, the Molson Muscle. That is a good one, my family calls them that too, I didnt think of that one. It is in fact a real human toe thats been mummified or preserved. This is absolutely not a stereotype or misconception, you can verify this yourself with google earths aerial photography. Have a good night. Works best with an Alexander Keiths India Pale Ale in hand. I really miss my knapsack days. Hi John, We call our dinner supper a lot as well. Ive never heard a Canadian use this phrase. I was in my 20s before I learned that was a Saskatchewan expression :S. Thanks Andre, I have heard of BunnyHugs. 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. I mean, why on earth is it nearly 40C every single day?? Since it is pronounced tewk we like spelling it the French way since it looks more like the way it is pronounced. All examples can be found pretty much anywhere in America. (Im just kidding) I didnt know that they had them abroad. Its similar to a very Malaysian word lah which we add to everything we say. Whether youre visiting Toronto or exploring the Yukon, these colloquial terms are recognized everywhere. These are all the names of the liquor stores across Canada. The thing about zed and zee is it makes more sense to pronounce it zee when singing the alphabet song, otherwise it sounds ridiculous. Youll sound truly Canadian:). To use these services you will need a computer and a microphone. Here are a few of the staple Canadian slang words used daily. It can now be confused with the term joggers for baggy womens pants. Let us know which one of these surprised you the most. 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. Again, its mostly seen on American television. Hoser or hose-head is a slang term originating in Canada that is used to reference or imitate Canadians.. One more a crummy. CANADIAN SLANG FROM THE NORTHERN PROVINCES This region includes the Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories. While you can still find them on Canadian slang posts or the Wikipedia about Canadian language, Ive genuinely never heard them used before. Indeed, I think there ought to be a law against Canadian broadcasters ever saying zee! Canada is not the same country as the United States. Stereotypical softdrink of choice (considered quite insulting). We love our hockey almost as much as we love our Timmies. Where I grew up the piece of furniture commonly called a couch/sofa was always referred to as the chesterfield. If you eat the toe, youll be fined HEAVILY. I didnt know that there was an American Smarties. Haha, that sounds like something I would do. , Closest youre gettin to any action this weekend is givin the dairy cows t**ts a good scrubbin. Ive heard James Cagney use it in an old movie, so I think it must have been common in the States in the 30s or 40s. Cottagelife.com is part of the Blue Ant Media Canada network 2023 Blue Ant Media. vs den or family room, Oh yes, its a living room. The name changes based on the significant body of water near you. Often used for multi-day trips or short hikes. Jurons, as Qubecois swears and insults are called, are used to add color to everyday conversations. Means go for it or help yourself, especially when referring to food. I also just recently realize that they call it a toilet around most of the rest of the world, including Australia. Like Americans, we refer to dollars and bucks. All these phrases start somewhere (sometimes, like good ideas, they might pop up simultaneously in a population pressed by the same daily stresses), one of my own concoctions was slender vittles for tall lanky women. Same with merry, Mary, and marry. Calgary, due to the stampede and its cattle history. These are some of the most popular Canadian words and phrases used as slang. Basically, posts must be of insults that are apologetic, mild, formal, and/or Canadian-themed. Thats true for some of these Canadian words and phrases, which are so widely used that everyone understands them. Memorable Criminal Minds quotes fans of the show will recognise. Get some good Canadian beer and then think about calling yourself a Canadian man!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whats the best way to book my Canada accommodations? If youre 1, then its sort of a letdown. Common UK Expressions. Its not that we cant take the criticism or that our taste buds are numbed by years of drinking moose urine, as the Americans like to call it, its simply that we dont understand why a nation of light beer guzzlers think they have the right to insult Canadian beer (or German, Polish, British or Japanese beer, for that matter). We always joke that in Ontario we get our beer and the beer store, liquor at the liquor store and when growing up we got our pop from the pop shop! Im in grade 12, said the Canadian. And hoser is a popular one as well. Not soda! Whats not to love, eh? A Molson Muscle refers to a beer belly, typically acquired by drinking too much Molson beer. To be sloshed is to be drunk. Any ideas ? The Canadian insult tabarnak is a phonetic rendition of the term "tabernacle", which refers to the ornamented box in which Communion hosts and wine are kept. Were definitely living room people. When I hear cone I think of an icecream cone. Heres a word I just learned was distinctly Canadian. The classic apology can mean anything from sincere acknowledgement of a mistake to passive aggressive annoyance. For those of us non-affluent hosers, we have to settle for the ever-popular above-grounder that sticks up a few feet and has no true foundation or base. Maybe that is a Canadian phrase and I didnt even realize it . The other ones arent ringing a bell though, Im afraid. Canadian Flag Waving As Canadian Slang by Region. You are so right. Check out my Comprehensive Guide to Canadian Cuisine, Plan a Winter Weekend in Toronto with my itinerary, Head to cottage country to Discover Muskoka, Learn what its really like to live her with my 10 Pros and Cons to Living in Canada, Stuff yourself with my guide on Where to Eat in Toronto for All Budgets, Find out my 51 Favourite Things to do in Halifax, Think you know all there is to know about Canada? Ok, I could do an entire post on how Tim Hortons has shaped our coffee drinking as a nation. It is very typical for a Canadian to say I need to use the can in reference to washroom. . Well, theres nothing better than a fart. I actually live in Scotland but I have Canadian relatives on my dads side and Id move there in a heartbeat. It has a picture of a Loon on it. 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. So true! Canadians: Generic Canadian name: Maple-Sucker: Canadians: Refers to Canadian people and the assumption that they consume lots of maple syrup: Moosefucker: Canadians: Tom Green, a Canadian, mocked sexual contact with a moose on his television show. 280 ladies -Sailors serving on Iroquois Class Destroyers (280,281,282,283 Hull numbers) (Ladies due to the 280s being the first ships not to have urinals) 5 by 5 Loud and clear, everything is working 100% (only . Over time, we gave the word Canuck a totally . A kerfuffle is a commotion or fuss. When in the states, I was needing some elastics and we had quite a time trying to explain what an elastic is. Its more common to use it for men as it was derived when it was less popular for women to play hockey.