It’s no news that a lot of families are moving to Canada. Canada is known to have two official languages but there is a third one which unofficial of course but spoken by Canadians.
While trying to settle in the Great White North, here are some Canadian slangs you should get familiar with.
Eh?
Pronounced “ay”. This word is the classic term used in everyday Canadian vernacular. Used to indicate that you don’t understand something, can’t believe something is true or if you want the person to respond. Similar to “huh”, “right?” and “what?” commonly found in U.S. vocabulary.
“We’re gonna go tobogganing today, eh?”
“The Beer Store AND the LCBO was closed today.”
“Eh?!”
Loonie (Toonie)
A loonie, the Canadian $1 coin, gets its name from the picture of the Canadian bird, the loon, that appears on one side of the coin. A toonie, the name for the $2 coin, gained a similar nickname to match the sound of the loonie. Spoiler alert: these loonies and toonies aren’t the same as that commonly known American childhood cartoon.
“Yo, I’m short a toonie for the TTC.”
“All I’ve got is a loonie. Should we Uber instead?”
Timmies
Timmies refers to the much-loved (though, mediocre) fast-food coffee chain, Tim Hortons, which gets its name from a famous Canadian hockey player. If you don’t know or love Timmies, you’re not a true Canadian. And don’t forget the Timbits, or donut holes in layman’s terms, the perfect match with the popular double-double (see below for definition).
“I’m gonna go to Timmies real quick and grab me a box of Timbits.”
Toque
Pronounced: “too-uk” or “tuke”. Derived from the Arabic language, it found its way into the Medieval French lingo in the 15th century. Canada’s French influence is prevalent in this word, which refers to a cap with a small brim, or without a brim entirely (i.e., a beanie). It’s usually worn when it’s cold or in spring … so, pretty much year-round.
“Grab your toque. You never know when an ice storm might hit… this is Canada.”
Pop
This refers to soda, the delicious carbonated beverage.
“Let’s have a couple pops on the chesterfield.”
Canuck
A slang term for Canadians. It is also popular in the world of sports (the Vancouver Canucks).
“Look at those crazy Canucks!”
Klick
This term is used to refer to kilometres, the unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 meters. (Psst, America — one kilometer is approximately 0.6 miles!)
“There’s a moose on the loose! It’s about three klicks away.”
Give’er
A slang term that means to give it all you got when all else fails. Used when referring to work, drinking, sports, and any other activity that requires you to buckle down and get it done.
“I’m feeling under the weather today.”
“Just give’er.”
Kerfuffle
A commotion or fuss, usually caused by a disagreement or difference in opinion (most commonly found during, or after, sports games).
“There was a kerfuffle when Montreal beat the Leafs.”
Snowbirds
A word used to refer to Canadians who head south during winter to escape the cold. Destinations always include sandy beaches and tropical waters.
“My parents always get into a kerfuffle over my dad leaving for Florida every winter.”
“He’s a snowbird, eh?”
What you sayin’?
Used when asking what someone is doing. Similar to the phrase, “what are you up to?”
“What you sayin’ tonight?”
“Nothin’ much, just gonna chill on the chesterfield and drink a mickey.”
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