That is a good one, my family calls them that too, I didnt think of that one. Nobody really knew what to call it. Check out Grammar Girl. Do they serve ice-cream? Another funny one a grader/back hoe. Or brains. , 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. Eh. Everyone always makes fun of us. +}+(z Q0$DC- QW%.. Perhaps one of the most colloquial of Canadian slang words, it means trying very hard in a noble or impressive feat. , Its like algebrawhy you gotta put numbers and letters together? So when it comes to insulting the sport of hockey, just dont do it, unless you really want to see the gloves come off. Very true, but that is such a Canadian moment in its own way. As cute and quaint as it might sound, the Canadian accent sounds nothing at all like how actual Canadians speak. Many Canadian food chains have also used the term to describe a "double" menu. I could have used this a few years ago when we lived in Prague. This is an older Canadian term. How do you pronounce by? In Saskatchewan, people call hoodies bunnyhugs. 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. From a fellow Canadian residing temporarily in the U.S., Smarties in the U.S. are not the same. 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. Theyre most common in the Prairies, though Saskatchewan and Alberta debate the i vs. o. Deep fried pickles eh, that is one that I have not tried, it is amazing what you can learn from people visiting your own country. I thought that the US called it a bathroom and a restroom. Im definitely one to say, dont know me from Adam And I love the Beer Store. One more a crummy. I have heard Americans say that they dont like Smarties and I cant understand why. My mom and dad love to tell the story of a pair of boots that my grandmother sent to them to keep warm in the winter. I learned a only a few years ago that 'goof' is Canadian prison . Typically, they go to Florida where there are large pockets of elderly residents and the weather is more temperate through the winter. 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. Its more likely that if you hear someone say they are going north, they mean north of their current location. Twenty-sixer, by the way dont just stop at the 2-6. I linked to it from my site, Living Abroad in Canada, that provides advice for people relocating to Canada: http://www.livingabroadincanada.com/2009/07/03/speaking-canadian-tips-from-canadas-adventure-couple/. Newfoundland. Another is using the word line-up as a noun. My grandma also calls her sofa a Davenport. Can someone explain to me the reason for the cultural fascination that affluent Qubcois have with wanting to have back yard swimming pools? Now its become more synonymous with nerd, but it has an affectionate sound to it so its less offensive. They have no chocolate in them. If you dont expect it, its weird to see homo milk laid out in an aisle of the grocery story. I like in Ontario and never do we use that word. My dads family uses pop only when our aunt from Canada visits. Well, if you are a regular fan of the show, you probably are conversant with Letterkenny slang. my grandma also calls couches CHESTERFIELDS! CHESTERFIELD!!!! That comes from our history fur trading. Actually, bi would be the best example, hahaha. This is our most popular Canadian sayingthat we receive the most flack about from the rest of the world. Cockney Translator. Plus, it is the most beautiful country. One word that is mostly only used in SK, is BunnyHug. Do you say supper? 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. , That was well brought up. Bet your lobes aint the only thing that got a hole punched in em. Again, its mostly seen on American television. Nobody can do without their Timmies. Just be sure you dont put any stink on the word; as annoyed as you might be, its important to say sorry without sounding like youre trying to start something. We call them Smarties and we like to eat the red ones last. CBC Qs host Tom Power is a notable traitor that way, he boasts about saying zee, when he ought to be ashamed for promoting it on national radio. Captured below are some of the most popular quotes that will make you smile. Haha, that sounds like something I would do. Now we know, ours are just better in Canada. 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. In exploring where the expression can came from, it stemmed back from people from the 70s era that would have to pee while at a drive in. 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. I love this! Lol! Americans say About like it is A-Baow-T with a more open ah sound. no. "1) Where 14-year-old girls can walk home alone at 11:00pm. I agree, soda is weird to my ears. Then we can throw it down with the best of em with a repertoire of insults that are uniquely our own. Wonder rings of Goodness, I like that. Emjoying your blog, thanks. So lets look at some regional Canadian sayings! Commonly shortened to hali. Im not saying Canadians cant be vulgar or crude, but Canada doesnt quite have that raunch culture element that America does (and Im glad of that). Hillbilly Slang. : *Iuu!$\TV. . Im in Canada (40+ years), and we dont use that here. It's similar to ' white trash ,' poor people in the USA. 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. Except kids falling off bikes, maybe. The hat is an "ushanka" and the beer from the US. She explains the diphthong differences eloquently here. They didnt have Gortex then. My wife and I are getting ready to move to Canada after leaving 5 years ago. I shared an office with a Canadian and my husband did consulting for a Canadian-owned mobile phone company. This phrase is so Toronto that within months of moving here, you'll find yourself saying 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). chemo cheemoback in the seventies someone tried to promote an inuit? There I said it! I remember chesterfield from my early childhood in the 70s. But when an American pronounces those words, there is a huge difference. And i notice that those of us who lived in northern ON say packsackbut no one else does! I dont know about Canadian Baby. stream I have friends in Ukraine who use college to mean they have a two-year (Associate) degree and university to mean they have a four-year (Bachelor) degree I think thats the norm for the FSU counties. 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. 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. Often used by canadian soldiers. Tuque is the French spelling but the English have adopted Toque and even Touque. Toque A type of knit hat with no brim, worn in the winter time. Grits are members of the Liberal party of Canada. It typically refers to students who are teachers pets or trying to be. The term university is limited to schools which offer four-year, degree programs. It refers to the citys Ukrainian population apparently. I used that a lot even after I graduated. Is you do you Canadian slang or American? Mickie-I think we are the only ones that call the small bottle of booze a mickie..good one. Americans often make fun of Canadians for saying aboot rather than about. Close, but we actually pronounce it aboat., yep, my dad says clicks all the time living room anyone? Hahaha, theres also several ways you can use it. Its a military short form that weve adopted as a country. There are very few, rural areas that you cant. After familiarizing yourself with the actual slang terms, practice speaking and listening to those terms until they come more naturally to you. A word from Newfoundland meaning pretty obviously someone whos stupid. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions If you enjoyed these Canadian sayings and Canadian slang terms, save this to Pinterest for future vocabulary fun! Theyll love it. You look like a 12-year-old Dutch girl. For example, if youre born on July 15th, your 15th birthday is your champagne birthday. We use terms like sneakers and running shoes as well, but something about saying runners is apparently distinctly Canadian. By using our site, you agree to our. Geez, Im strangely authoritative about candy. But Canadians use it differently. In these parts, we also have chips flavoured like Roast Chicken and Fries and Gravy, and soft drinks like Pineapple Crush. 1 for Canada! Canadians call our Candy Bars Chocolate Bars and I like it like that. Kraft Dinner macaroni and cheese. This term comes from the reservations that our Indigenous people live on across the country. My husband will occasionaly say Zee (too much American Tv, I guess)and I always correct him. So true! I am thinking that perhaps it is a uniform? 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! Thanks for the information Zach. Well, it is simple, a tuque is a knitted hat is used to keep the head warm. With a multicultural society centered around the simple things in lifeleisure, friendly competition, and politenessit's no coincidence these are reflected in the common tongue. Despite its obvious similarities to the word "cousin," this phrase is more general. 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 Another term I had no idea was very Canadian-specific! The Canadian Provinces, known as the Prairies, in the middle of the country have their own unique slang terms. Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. I agree wholeheartedly on all the above terms (toilet sounds so much dirtier than washroom! Poutine: French Canadians: The name of a mixture of french fries, cheese, and gravy. % of people told us that this article helped them. Some people in Canada call it Dinner, but not as often. 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 Previous Versions. Awesome! We dont call it our electric bill. I also just recently realize that they call it a toilet around most of the rest of the world, including Australia. Oddly both terms mean the same thing: to seek a provider of alcohol. People must be pretty confused when we tell them: A Coffee Crisp costs about a Loonie, pretty good deal eh? Or, Id like a dozen Timbits with a large double double please. What on earth does that mean? Means go for it or help yourself, especially when referring to food. And thats your whole world right there. Whats the Great White North like for a newcomer? Yeah! Its just much more succinct and over the years its become a part of our national identity. For some reason, rather than saying ok, we say true.