Its a bit like someone who grew up on cheese-in-a-can screwing up their nose at free-range, organic chvre. Initially, this referred to Vancouver. If people have a housecoat, its often nicer than your simple plush bathrobe. The thing about zed and zee is it makes more sense to pronounce it zee when singing the alphabet song, otherwise it sounds ridiculous. Ah, but youre wrong on one count we also call it a washroom in the U.S., at least where I grew up in the Midwest. Whipper snipper! There are very few, rural areas that you cant. You have probably heard the following phrases if you are a regular. Whether youre visiting Toronto or exploring the Yukon, these colloquial terms are recognized everywhere. Fun article but many manyof the claims in the comments are not solely Canadian. Timmies (among other nicknames) refers to Canadas largest coffee and doughnut chain, Tim Hortons. F**k, I could watch kids fall off bikes all day, I dont give a sh*t about your kids. 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. 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. , If I was a Dr. Seuss book, Id be The Fat in the Hat. Learn more Canadians are proud of their cultural heritage and linguistic diversity, and there are a number of uniquely Canadian slang words that express this heritage. For hostels, I use Hostel World. 2 0 obj Some are more obscure than others, but theyre all really fun. My husband will occasionaly say Zee (too much American Tv, I guess)and I always correct him. A bunnyhug is a pullover sweatshirt with no zipper. Its as ingrained in our vocabulary as much as eh and looney. Oh, and PS, Canadians pay a lot for hydro even though we live next door to Niagara Falls. We used knapsack as well, but also used the other terms. It's a term of affection like "bro" or "my dude.". I wonder if that has any correlation to the size of my waistline. CANADIAN SLANG FROM THE NORTHERN PROVINCES This region includes the Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories. Same with merry, Mary, and marry. 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. Oh, Im stomping the brakes, put that idea right through the f**king windshield. I don't think I've ever used the word myself, but "chesterfield" for couch. Northern slang for frozen whale skin and blubber. Its delicious. If your friends say something surprising, spring a OHHH YIS BY! on them. Canadians will say Im going to University. See on Instagram Gotch (ies) Underwear. Daves dad worked for Hamilton Hydro. My Mom would look at my dishevelled hair when I woke up, and shed say to me I looked like the Wreck of the Hesperus a ship that was mentioned in a poem. Hi John, We call our dinner supper a lot as well. Its like the American Big Foot or the northern Yeti. In these parts, we also have chips flavoured like Roast Chicken and Fries and Gravy, and soft drinks like Pineapple Crush. Mmm Yummy. Greasy is a term that Maritimers use to refer to someone who is sketchy or seems untrustworthy. Americans often mock them on television, treating them more like camp rangers, when in fact that do a lot of very difficult work. Letterkenny quotes will remind any lover of the Canadian comedy series why they watch the show in the first place. Did it get around I wonder ?? <> (Lol I hope I got that right.). Is there a way to write it phonetically? Special thanks to my Islander friend for teaching me PEI fighting words, which is possibly the best Youtube video Ive ever seen and the perfect documentation of a PEI accent. Hi Dave by is pronounced like bye with a short e (not pronounced haha)there is also a nice mix of eh by. A Chinook is quite amazing actually. Im in grade 12, said the Canadian. However, going south is a whole other thing. Great job! 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. They didnt have Gortex then. I had no idea what this meant until I was older. The hat is an "ushanka" and the beer from the US. Dinner, backpack, Robe (my household says robe, but others respond with Ooohh.. you mean a house coat?) The name changes based on the significant body of water near you. They mock us by using eh in the most ridiculous phrases and they never get it right. "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. To listen to how we Canadians talk, watch our video of these two crazy Canucks explaining all the Canadian phrases we use. I recommend World Nomads starting at just $5 a day! Wonder rings of Goodness, I like that. In Canada, our electricity comes from the hydroelectric power company. It is, after all, a . You are so right. Ok, maybe not the kindest but were pretty polite. , You stopped toe curlin in the hot tub cause you heard sperms stay alive in there, and youve seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enough times to know how that story ends. Maybe that is a Canadian phrase and I didnt even realize it . The lexicography team for the Canadian Oxford Dictionary tell me the . If anything, we say a-boat or, more accurately, a-beh-out. One of my favourite phrases that is uniquely Canadian is Two-Four. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. I thought it was hilarious that toque is a ski cap in the States. A sourdough is a permanent resident of the Yukon who has lived there for all four seasons. 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. We recommend our users to update the browser. My younger life, mostly from Hamilton and Toronto. You asked about more slang. By submitting your information via this form, you agree to receive electronic communications from Cottage Life Media, a division of Blue Ant Media Solutions Inc., containing news, updates and promotions regarding cottage living and Cottage Life's products. 2023 Readers Digest Magazines Ltd. - All rights reserved, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). Among the many booze-related slang terms in Canada, this phrase - particularly popular in Ontario - refers to a package of 24 bottles of beer. Habs fans are everywhere and theres nothing funny about the most storied team in NHL history. Over the years, people have started using the term to refer to Big Foot as well, but hes supposed to be his own thing. Canadians would say Grade X instead of Xth Grade. If someone is on unemployment, they are on pogey. It softens the expression and instead of it sounding like a command, it becomes more like a persuasion. If you want a home-y feeling, check out VRBO (which is cheaper and safer than Airbnb). Oddly both terms mean the same thing: to seek a provider of alcohol. F**k you, Jonesy, your life is so pathetic I get a charity tax break just by hanging around you! If you enjoyed these Canadian sayings and Canadian slang terms, save this to Pinterest for future vocabulary fun! Or shot glasses at Spencers that have the phrase legalize eating *ss printed on them but Spencers has always been a rude, greasy-looking store, anyway. We catch ourselves saying it all the time. Over time, we gave the word Canuck a totally . This is another holdover from our British colonizers but weve seemed to up the ante over the years and now have them beat for politeness (maybe because we didnt invade most of the world just saying). Canadians have a lot of interesting mannerisms, but not all are technically slang. How To Type Letters with Accents on a Computer. 3. Im guessing that was a one off. (I am proudly 1/2 Canadian my Mom was born in 1915 in the small town of Vankleek Hill in NE Ontario. Ive never heard a Canadian use this phrase. Naniamo Bar (obviously) basically a chocolate sandwich with some kind of wierd cream in the middle (it is so good). I didnt know that Americans didnt call it a Pilon. We use the terms so simply that people barely register them. Although we have many islands, this term is meant for people from Prince Edward Island in the Maritimes. Alaskas coldest high temperature was -66 F the next day in Allakaket. Excellent contributions Carolyn. Except kids falling off bikes, maybe. They change from province to province and city to city without much notice. The classic apology can mean anything from sincere acknowledgement of a mistake to passive aggressive annoyance. Cant go to work if you dont have a crummy! You can always identify a Canadian by the way they use the word University. See coming into force provision and notes, where applicable. Timbits are essentially a doughnut hole (as Americans would know them). To say that all Americans call it soda is grossly inaccurate. Chesterfields are sofas or couches. states like pennsylvania, new york and maryland they pronounce water as Wo-der and in the southern states like florida , georgia and alabama we say Wa-ter even though its the same word Water. Perhaps one of the most colloquial of Canadian slang words, it means trying very hard in a noble or impressive feat. Does it refer to a diplma at the uned of University ? Clicks is much better. Whereas, in the South, Coke has become the generic term for all soft drinks, regardless of brand. In the US, these are called Adirondack chairs. Cottagelife.com is part of the Blue Ant Media Canada network 2023 Blue Ant Media. 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. But I like it! Also, I have to disagree on the smartiesthey had these abroad and I wasnt overly impressed, Ill take my M&Ms!!! For pronunciation, more Canadians would say AN-TEE instead of AN-TIE in words like anti-biotics. Pineback: Canadians We would pronounce leisure to rhyme with seizure (Americans would rhyme it with measure). 12th grade is hard, said the American. Its a mild insult that refers back to the Depression when people in the Prairies used to steal gasoline by sucking it through a hose. When you become a Newfoundlander, you have to drink Screech and kiss a cod (a dead fish theyve got sitting around at the bar). Oh, I hope he got a tracking number. Means go for it or help yourself, especially when referring to food. Cant figure out what it is in the South, but how would you pick up snow anyways without a back-hoe? Be careful before you utter a disparaging remark about a hockey player or team in Canadaa seemingly innocent comment can quickly turn into one of the most offensive Canadian insults. Thanks Candice, I am going to start using By. This is actually a strain of wind, like the El Nio, but people dont usually say it to refer to the weather phenomenon. This foul term has the approximate weight of "holy sh*t" or "holy f*ck" in English. I know youre not leaving them to freeze for hockey rinks in the winter, that wont work! Distinctly Canadian words: Jagged pronounced JAGD as in tagged. It is in fact a real human toe thats been mummified or preserved. Besides, I dont go there to wash. We say toilet (thats not vulgar, its simply a more accurate noun). Love it! For some reason, rather than saying ok, we say true. But if you really want to delve into the reasoning for the difference. We use terms like sneakers and running shoes as well, but something about saying runners is apparently distinctly Canadian. We live in Wisconsinyou would be surprised how many people use soda, not pop.. Ok, I am kidding, it doesnt make sense at all. Ah interesting. You should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!!! Although the term we use most often is sorry, Im not sorry for the changes I made. Have a good night. Some have a French Canadian influence. Its unclear where this term came from but from what I can tell no actual hangings were involved (whew!). Moving abroad? Its more likely that if you hear someone say they are going north, they mean north of their current location. They come in a variety of flavours and are sold individually or by the box. We also use the word by instead of eh. Its kinda like a term of endearment, Whatta ya at, by? As in Whats up, friend? .-= Candices last blog ..Lend me your ears. HuffPost Canada. By the way, Tim Hortons was founded by hockey legend Tim Horton. There are so many more Canadina expressions that I couldnt fit into the post. Thats enough from me.think im gonna go relax on the chesterfield with a pop. Id like to do one just for Newfoundland words. It refers to the liquor vendors store shortened to just the vendors here. Foreigners visiting need travel insurance in case anything happens on their visit. not, sure if I read everything above, all good. These words are all interchangeable for underwear, think tight whities. The following is a list of colloquial terms and expressions used in the Canadian Armed Forces . The term "college" typically only refers to one or two-year program community colleges. My favourite Canadian slang term that I use all the time even though I dont often wear them! Now before visiting Canada, you can practice your use of the word eh and fit right in once you get here. Yes Renting a car is a necessity in most of Canada! Or maybe Canadian influence is just starting to spread? I often think one thing and then write another. Hmmm, kinda hard to sound it outkinda like boy without the o. Kraft Dinner is a box of mac and cheese that you can make at home. It's the only slur I know that is based on a beverage. Perhaps you could offer cross-cultural courses around the world for Canadian companies . You may just pick a few to use whenever you hang out with your close buddies as long they are open-minded. It can now be confused with the term joggers for baggy womens pants. Tell us some words unique to your country, we want to hear them. As with all slang, and especially that of nationality, . 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. In Quebec, it has become a very popular swear word used to express anger, annoyance or surprise. Buddy/ Bud On the east coast predominantly (but also heard nationwide), buddy is a way to talk about a person without using a name. Heres one. Its Hydro. Canadians have come up with a variety of nicknames for the provinces, cities, and towns we live in. This is absolutely not a stereotype or misconception, you can verify this yourself with google earths aerial photography. Canada has two official languages, English and French, and a third unofficial one: Canadian slang. Commonly used Canadian-English Slang and Phrases -To ace (something) - to do something really well, or perfectly ^I aced my exam this morning _ -a-game - your best effort/performance, used with 'to bring' ^Mike brought his a-game at basketball last night _ -All nighter - to pull an all nighter, to stay up very late or all night I pulled an all nighter Other than eh? and sorry, I didnt actually know we had our own linguistic identity. Heres another great Canadian phrase for you, the Molson Muscle. Or the UK. Toronto. Tuque (it can also be spelled toque) I watched Canadian icons Bob and Doug Mackenzie as a kid wearing their tuques telling each other to Take Off Eh and I never thought anything of it. Edmonton. A two-four is a 24 (2 and 4) pack of beer. I use the words hassock instead of ottoman, and quiggley hole when the kids dig huge holes in the yard and Im not sure about these ones but i use them too whipper snipper or rumpus room for the basement? I was fascinated to learn how differently people speak a province over or a few cities north. 'a#Mm1U%UNa xR/P?lpfn[yVSsHoB*i{?'%88? This term is starting to gain traction in Ontario, but its got its roots in the East Coast. dont use the word BY in america dont forget if its pronounced bi , in america that term is short for bisexual (person who is attracted to both genders) =] so becareful with that word in america newfies btw idk if u guys use it but in my island region in the florida keys we use O instead of or like EX: would you like a coke O some pepsi? we also use Pok kinda like pork but just take the are away we use it to refer to pig products like bacon and porkchops EX: would you like some Pok for breakfast? These are some of the most popular Canadian words and phrases used as slang. Pencil Crayons coloured pencils (also only we spell colour with a u). Not all Canadians use it but Ive only ever heard Canadians say it. endobj Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Thanks John, I am always learning so much on this blog. However, if youre ordering fries and youre asked if youd like poutine instead, your answer should always be yes. , F**k you, Jonesy! One more a crummy. Please! To help keep track of where these Canadian slang terms come from, Ill be grouping them by their location. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! I thought that the US called it a bathroom and a restroom. I kind of like comfort room. Any potential backpackers heading to Canada need to know a few of these sayings. Maybe Some American companies work in Canada, but many will not. We now use it to refer to any energy bill. 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. 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. Thats because use the can is vulgar; the only people in Canada who youd probably hear saying it would be teenage boys, if that. For the uninitiated, poutine is a common Canadian dish that consists of french fries topped with squeaky cheese curds and gravy. Save more in booking your flights and accommodations by using this platform! It is so simple to use and anyone can do it. In the US, what they call Smarties, we call Rockets. I dont think that I have ever heard the term washroom anywhere else except for Canada. Ha, love this! Whats the best way to book my Canada accommodations? Good to know that we have similar tastes when it comes to our toilet chat:). Can often replace 'Pardon' or 'Excuse Me'. And I know in the US, students will identify themselves as a Senior, or Sophmore. We have Toffee Crisps here (must be close) and Smarties too, but cant remember the last time I saw them on sale. Nina Out and About contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Here, a recent Canadian immigrant shares what he wishes hed known before moving to Canada. 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. One win. You can have the alcohol of your choice, drink it fast or slow, but your lips must touch the toe. my grandma also calls couches CHESTERFIELDS! A half-sack of beer is half a dozen. 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. taking a shower, and a nap. Then we can throw it down with the best of em with a repertoire of insults that are uniquely our own. That would be giving someone his or her "due.". Like Americans, we refer to dollars and bucks. Toronto even gets heatwaves! All rights reserved. . I know in the States, universities are often called colleges. Not a common term in Southern Ontario. If someone says something entertaining, youd respond with jokes. We call them Smarties and we like to eat the red ones last. I didnt realize that we are the only people in the world that call their electricity Hydro. I dont know which came first: Americas obsession with it or our general use. I dont know what I was thinking of hahah. Recommended for you "Just licking the flavour": Concerned dad shouts after catching his little. Typically its an outdoor structure, but we use it interchangeably to refer to an underground parking garage as well. garbage disposal is called a garburator in Canada gutters are eavestroughs. I dont know if its uniquely Canadian but Ive heard clicks used quite a bit instead of kilometres. A toque is a knit winter hat like a beanie. I should have put that in. Actually, many parts of Canada can get extremely warm summers that mimic tropical heat. Even though the series has been around for quite some time, fans still ask, is Letterkenny over? I just replied about this on another comment but I think you are right. Our humidex, short for humidity index, is how Canadian meteorologists determine how hot it feels outside. What is the Canadian slang for giving credit? It's one more typical Canadian insult. Anything other than "Sorry" when you bump into someone. Boy, its a newphie term for boys. Tell the bys Im cooking dinner. Here is what we recommend: Need more help planning your trip? If youre concerned about that expanding gut of yours, many restaurants offer a healthier, vegetarian gravy substitute. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. I now use the term Backpack more often but I havent been able to say the term Rucksack, it is just odd to me. Across Canada, we tend to think of our home as being the centre of the country. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions Are the washrooms comfortable in the Philippines? 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). By using our site, you agree to our. No matter where you live, slang affects the English language in fascinating ways. So Im Canadian as well, Ontario raised. If you want to learn Australian curse words, read on. Yee Haw. So naturally, we all decided to call it a Loonie. The $1 Canadian coin. To learn more, like how to use online resources to practice Canadian slang, read on! Any of them familar to anyone? Take a look below at some of the most priceless Canadian slang words and where they came from. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,101,656 times. That package is going to be smaller than the one youre sportin now. A reference to anyone from the Prairies. 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. Usually used for driving directions. However, I sure have heard this in Burrrrtaa (Alberta)! Thanks for all the input, awesome additions. . When I hear cone I think of an icecream cone. Getty Images 1 / 50 Caesar So lets dive in to learn the most popular Canadian slang words! 17. funkme1ster 10 yr. ago. Andy, you are so right about the Buttertarts. 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. It might seem a bit weird, but tah-bar-nac (the box where the Eucharist is kept) is a common swear word uttered in a fit of agitation. 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. They dont have dill pickle, ketchup and all dressed chips in other countries?? Well with your permission allow me to take hold of your RSS feed to keep updated with drawing close post. It has a picture of a Loon on it. On the West Coast, a few words mixed in from Indigenous trade languages chuck for the ocean, Skookum for pretty big, pretty neat. Pepsi: French Canadians: Empty from the neck up. We sometimes shorten it to uni. It appears as though the characters have no limits on their insults and cuss words. Disclosure: I censored this post to remove any derogatory words or terms rooted in racism (youd be surprised how many I had to cut). This is a Commonwealth trait that we have leftover from Britain, as its just as rampant in New Zealand. , F**k you, Shoresy, youre a terrible fu**in ref! . A living room, family room, and den, are three different types of rooms. Youve given me some homework. However, older generations sometimes call U.S. residents Yankees.. Means chocolate milk in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. And yeah, pop! 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. These are all the names of the liquor stores across Canada. =-. Do you say supper? lol. , We only got one shot at this. .-= Shannon ODs last blog ..A Little WarmthA Wee Bit of Irish Hospitality =-. Yeah! (score! Also: ginch (ies) or gonch (ies). If youve ever watched an American version of Canadians then youve seen this. That is what they are made out of. They also have ketchup chips in some markets. As you can tell, I have a special relationship with out and about, since I named my blog after it. Its basically two loonies, so we came up with toonie. 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. I think Ill head over to one today to get myself some sasparilla:). Her name was Pearl Victoria,and sha and my Grandpa Victor Blackwell, spoke a lot of unique phrases as I was growing up in central NY in the 50s. I have lived in Ontario, BC and presently Alberta and I never hear people say where is the toilet, its usually washroom or bathroom. Forget the last Letterkenny meme you came across and check out the quotes below about the show. A very typical Canadian chocolate bar is a coffee crisp. I really miss my knapsack days. It is often used when stumbling into someone or wanting to get past and is widely used. Deke comes from the hockey move of faking to maneuver around an opponent. I use the word Parkette too and didnt know it was from Ontario, our home Province. These are a few examples of slang in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Nowadays, weve become properly American-ized and call then bathrobes or robes. Do this and youll be screeched in. The word pop to refer to what we know as soft drinks is traceable back to Faygo, a Detroit, Michigan company. Learn these 25 Canadian slang terms that will help you navigate life in the north a little bit easier. Living around Canada, especially in the Maritimes, I learned even more fascinating Canadian terms that I wish were more widely known. Dwight Schrute: Most hilarious quotes and memes from your favourite character. Many people wear a denim shirt with denim pants and/or a denim jacket. Hoser or hose-head is a slang term originating in Canada that is used to reference or imitate Canadians.. A keener is sort of a mix between a know-it-all and a goody-two-shoes. Also works as youre an idiot, but use a different tone. For example, it could be 'buddy over there' or 'buddy in the beer store'. Used as a negative, it basically means "idiot." When used positively, it's a phrase of light endearment. Yeah, No A term meaning they agree with you, even if no can be confusing. Likely Not US, UK, and EU passport holders dont need Canadian visas. The loonie.. 1 0 obj Whereas in Canada, we would call ourselves a Grade 12 or Grade 10 student. Keener. To us, the toilet sounds a bit vulgar. Posts must be Canadian insults. This comes from the famous Blue Nose ship that used to fish and race in Nova Scotia. If you tripped, you biffed it. 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).