What is Canadian slang? (2023)

Does Canada have slang?

Not only do us Canadians have our unique Canadian slang words but you can also find differences in speech between the cities, provinces and territories as well.

What Do Canadians Call Americans? Even though Canada and the United States are both part of North America, Canadians still call residents of the United States “Americans.” They don't really have a slang term for their neighbors to the south. However, older generations sometimes call U.S. residents “Yankees.”

French people stick to the usual “bonjour”. That said, if you're wondering how to say hello in French Canadian then look no further. In Canada, particularly in Quebec, we can say “bon matin”. As far as afternoons are concerned, there's no other special way to say hello during the day until the evening.

To talk like a Canadian, say “Eh” instead of “You know” and “Pardon?” like, “The weather's nice, eh?” You should also pronounce “About,” as “Aboot” and say, “Pardon me,” instead of “Excuse me.” Refer to other Canadians as “Canucks.” Use Canadian slang for money too, like a “loony” for a Canadian dollar, a “toony” for 2 ...

In other words, where many US speakers will pronounce "sorry" like "sari", (i.e. in the lot Lexical Set), Canadians make the first syllable like "sore." In fact, when Canadian actors learn that US speakers say "sorry/sari" in the same manner, they often remark "where's the pain in that?" For us, "sorry," the word many ...

Canada. The term bloody as an intensifier is now overall fairly rare in Canada.. It is more commonly spoken in the Atlantic provinces, particularly Newfoundland. It may be considered mildly vulgar depending on the circumstances.

Both “zed” and “zee” are acceptable pronunciations for the letter Z in Canada, though “zed” is much more common. Be warned, however, that some people feel very strongly that it is a betrayal of Canadian nationality to say “zee” and you may incur their wrath if you do so.

Good-bye – Au revoir. ..... which actually means 'see you again'.

The washroom is a polite word for the bathroom.

"Washroom" is basically the Canadian version of "restroom."

There are many stereotypes about Canada and Canadians that other nationalities get wrong. But when the country received the nickname of the Great White North, people were telling the truth. Here's why Canada is sometimes referred to as the Great White North.

What is a Canadian kiss?

Canadian maple whisky, fresh ginger and a touch of raspberry liqueur make for a well-balanced libation that's sure to be a hit among fans of both sweet and savoury drinks. If you have any whisky left over, it's delicious on its own over ice.

Using “eh” to end the statement of an opinion or an explanation is a way for the speaker to express solidarity with the listener. It's not exactly asking for reassurance or confirmation, but it's not far off: the speaker is basically saying, hey, we're on the same page here, we agree on this.

“Bon Matin” - “Good Morning,” but Only in Canada

The most common way of saying “good morning” in Quebec is bon matin, which literally means “good morning.” As mentioned, it is never used in France, but some learners find it easier to pronounce.

Canadians are known around the world for being very polite, and the term “bud” or “buddy” plays a big role in that regard. Because “hey buddy!” sounds a lot kinder than “hey you!” and less sarcastic than “hey pal!”

Some words that are stressed on the first syllable and start with pro- are often pronounced differently. Canadians often say words like process, project, and progress with an /oʊ/ sound (think of how you pronounce the letter “o”, whereas most Americans say these words with the vowel /ɑ/ (think “ahh”).

It seems that Canadians want to be seen as different from Americans, and one way they do this is by apologizing frequently. Conventional wisdom has it that people use sorry to express regret. However, Canadians could also use this word to avoid potential conflicts.

In its broadest sense, Canadian culture is a mixture of British, French, and American influences, all of which blend and sometimes compete in every aspect of cultural life, from filmmaking and writing to cooking and playing sports. Other peoples have added distinctive elements to this mixture.

Canadians prefer the spelling grey, although gray is also correct. Grey is the preferred spelling in Britain, while gray is favoured in the United States. A tolerant and forgiving person, my aunt never saw the world in black and white, but always in shades of grey.

Frick was first used around the 14th century. The word frick is used to refer to an expletive or swear word. Frick is used to referring to a person who is being used as an object or being referred to as an object.

What do Canadians call gas?

Americans have bachelors parties, but Canadians kept the British term — stag party. And the bachelorettes? They have a stagette. Another uniquely Canadian boozy reference, this one simply means a case of 24 beers.

In Canada we have "mums" (or at least we used to have them.) Americans have "moms."

So it isn't actually spelled 'zedbra' but that's how zebra is pronounced in Australia. Like Canadians, Aussies say 'zed' not 'zee' for the letter z but Canadians pronounce zebra as 'zeebra' not 'zedbra'.

Greater Toronto English, Multicultural Toronto English (abbreviated MTE), Toronto English, or informally Toronto Mans Accent, is a sociolect linguistic variety of English dialect that is spoken in Canada.

A handshake is the common greeting between strangers. Shaking with a firm hand and eye contact reflects confidence. Canadians may laugh lightly over handshakes to diffuse the formality. French Canadians may also greet each other by lightly kissing both cheeks once, starting on the left.

Mate is used in American (U.S. and Canadian) English, but it is not used as slang for friend.

Serviette: a napkin.

Until recently, in Canada, the word Hydro was synonymous with electricity. In many parts of the country, one spoke of “the hydro bill” or the “hydro going out” rather than the electricity bill or a power outage. This was partly because most of Canada's electricity was produced from waterpower.

What is something only Canadians know?

Canada is famous for scenery, ice hockey, maple syrup, and extreme politeness, to mention a few things. Canadians are known as the most polite people in the world.

The term “The 6” was popularized by Drake and refers to the six municipalities that made up Metro Toronto before it was amalgamated in 1998. The name is also derived from the city's first official area code, 416.

"The 6ix" — popularized by rapper Drake, a Toronto native who based the nickname on the shared digits of the 416 and 647 telephone area codes and/or referring to the six districts that make up the present city of Toronto.

Prior to 1870, it was known as the North-Western Territory. The name has always been a description of the location of the territory.

Canada has a broad definition of sexual assault. It includes all unwanted sexual activity, such as unwanted sexual grabbing, kissing, and fondling as well as rape. Sexual activity is only legal when both parties consent.

In Spain, people greet each other and say goodbye with a kiss on each cheek. Don't be mistaken – these aren't wet, sloppy kisses! In fact, these aren't really proper kisses at all. People usually touch their right cheeks together and make a kissing sound, then repeat the process on the left side.

Combine the Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, ginger beer and orange juice in an ice-filled glass. Garnish with the lime wheel, and serve.

In Canada's case, the milk comes in a larger package stuffed with three bladders adding up to four liters. Because the bags aren't rigid like a bottle, some bagged milk fans argue that they're easier to store in the refrigerator. The trade-off, of course, is that they're unwieldy and can't be refilled after opening.

The simple meaning of using the word 'eh' alone is to say 'huh?, asking you to repeat your statement. Northern Canadian people use this word commonly to express their emotions, respond to your comments, or request something.

How do Canadians say Canada?

How To Say Canada - YouTube

In Canada we mostly say check, as in the USA.

The Canadian one: Bienvenue

Bienvenue. You're welcome (Canada). However, if that seems unusual to you, just remember that “bienvenue” literally means “thank you” or “welcome” in French. So they are not wrong to use this expression in Canada.

As zed is the British pronunciation and zee is chiefly American, zed represents one of the rare occasions in which most Canadians prefer the British to the American pronunciation.

There are many stereotypes about Canada and Canadians that other nationalities get wrong. But when the country received the nickname of the Great White North, people were telling the truth. Here's why Canada is sometimes referred to as the Great White North.

Good-bye – Au revoir. ..... which actually means 'see you again'.

Although eh has its roots in Middle English and did not originate in Canada, the interjection acts as marker of anglophone Canadian identity and distinguishes Canadian English from other dialects. Eh is internationally recognized as a uniquely Canadian form of speech, often to the point of exaggeration and stereotype.

In Canada we have "mums" (or at least we used to have them.) Americans have "moms."

So it isn't actually spelled 'zedbra' but that's how zebra is pronounced in Australia. Like Canadians, Aussies say 'zed' not 'zee' for the letter z but Canadians pronounce zebra as 'zeebra' not 'zedbra'.

Why do British people say mum?

What you are hearing is not mum as in mother, but ma'am, contraction of madam, with a strongly reduced vowel. In British English, it is mostly used as a sign of repect for a woman of superior rank, say, in the military or police.

The term “The 6” was popularized by Drake and refers to the six municipalities that made up Metro Toronto before it was amalgamated in 1998. The name is also derived from the city's first official area code, 416.

"The 6ix" — popularized by rapper Drake, a Toronto native who based the nickname on the shared digits of the 416 and 647 telephone area codes and/or referring to the six districts that make up the present city of Toronto.

“Bon Matin” - “Good Morning,” but Only in Canada

The most common way of saying “good morning” in Quebec is bon matin, which literally means “good morning.” As mentioned, it is never used in France, but some learners find it easier to pronounce.

A handshake is the common greeting between strangers. Shaking with a firm hand and eye contact reflects confidence. Canadians may laugh lightly over handshakes to diffuse the formality. French Canadians may also greet each other by lightly kissing both cheeks once, starting on the left.

Mate is used in American (U.S. and Canadian) English, but it is not used as slang for friend.

In Canada's case, the milk comes in a larger package stuffed with three bladders adding up to four liters. Because the bags aren't rigid like a bottle, some bagged milk fans argue that they're easier to store in the refrigerator. The trade-off, of course, is that they're unwieldy and can't be refilled after opening.

The simple meaning of using the word 'eh' alone is to say 'huh?, asking you to repeat your statement. Northern Canadian people use this word commonly to express their emotions, respond to your comments, or request something.

It is sometimes used in Canadian English. The word is also common in the Indian subcontinent, where it has varied pronunciations of "O-ee" and "O-ye". "Oi" has been particularly associated with working class and Cockney speech. It is effectively a local pronunciation of "hoy" (see H-dropping), an older expression.