For BC, that means that the whole country is out east. Running shoes or any other casual athletic shoes like sneakers or tennis shoes. In my four years in Nova Scotia, my accent changed and my vocabulary widened. "Hooooly" When you need to react to something, or if someone is annoying you, you opt for a "hooooly" to let out all your feelings into an exaggerated reaction. Canada has free healthcare but its only for citizens! 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. 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). Sasquatch isnt just a term, its actually a Canadian creature. Moving abroad? 2. If I could do it broke at 16, so can you! It doesn't need to be a person, this word can be used to describe objects as well. All Rights Reserved. When we're being dramatic or trying to emphasize a point, Americans will occasionally add "period" to the end of their sentence. Americans might casually say this when asking someone to move slightly, but those who aren't familiar with the term can be forgiven for not having a clue what the American is asking them to do. Not the sound a bird makes, but making fun of someone or trash-talking the opposition during a competition. And for hilarious instances of this, check out these50 Epic Fails We Can't Stop Laughing at. "Who on earth legalizes this substance, why is it served to children, and what possibly possessed the Board of Health to let it become so common it's an idiom?," asks Thorpe. Its simple math: Beer + Belly = Molson + Muscle. WebImportantly, Canadians do not intersperse either word at random throughout sentences. Nickname for the city of Winnipeg, the capital of the province of Manitoba. It jars me a bit when I hear Zee. Cowboy boots or a heavy pair of shoes you dont mind getting covered in dirt and mud. They come in a variety of flavours and are sold individually or by the box. Used interchangeably with terms like brownnoser and Fun fact: KD is our most consumed product in Canada, even beating out maple syrup! This refers to the oil industries in Alberta. '", Feeling sick or less than healthy might lead an American to say they feel "under the weather," leaving any non-English speakers translating it to feel totally confused as they try to work out how someone can physically be "under" weather. A multi-story parking lot, also known as a parking garage. This jacket is typically checkered with large black and red or green squares. Yes Renting a car is a necessity in most of Canada! WebCanadian Slang Words 1 Eh? A 3-liter (or litre) bottle of liquor. "They're not used widely outside of the U.S. But for an outsider to the U.S., it might have them asking, "What do rockets have to do with anything?". However, there are French-speaking people in other provinces such as Ontario. If you don't know what this word means, you've never been to Minnesota. Im sorry that these terms existed in our history. Ive found them most common in the Prairies although the Maritimes was full of them in Fall. They are the Canadian version of the FBI and deal with a lot of serious crimes. But as one Reddit user pointed out, the expression is not used outside the U.S., creating confusion for non-Americans. We now use it to refer to any energy bill. It doesnt matter where you are, thats the middle. It used to refer more to the French-Canadians but nowadays its a general term. Either way, you probably will hear someone say it in passing while youre in Canada. This word refers to a cap with a small brim or no "Green thumb" is yet another phrase that brings to mind a literal image (a person whose thumb is the color green) that doesn't describe what it's actually referring to (a person who's handy with gardening). Northern slang for frozen whale skin and blubber. A phrase that can sometimes be used in the same way as "jump the shark," this one also refers to something that's gotten old or gone on for too long. Kevin Pollock, Writer and Manager of Content at Wix. A nostalgic summertime treat consisting of ice, sugar, and food-coloring that comes in a clear plastic tube. Want to talk about MN or ask me a question? Without yeast, sourdough was the only kind of bread they could make. For us, it might seem like a powerful statement, but for outsiders, it can just seem weird. It can now be confused with the term joggers for baggy womens pants. Well its true what they say, Canadians are the kindest people in the world. To say hello to someone at a distance This is how Toronto mans flirt. Another term I had no idea was very Canadian-specific! Freezies are what Americans call ice pops, freeze pops or otter pops. To us, a beauty is something that has done well or a great person. Its a word gotten from the British Columbia. A double double is a coffee order from Tim Hortons. Its a less popular term nowadays, but you will still hear Canadians saying it. Some spell this word tuque. If you speak fluent Minnesotan, whether you care to admit it or not, these Minnesota phrases will sneak their way into your daily life. Please share your favorite Minnesotan words on the Only In Minnesota Facebook page. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Dotdash Meredith Publishing Family. An alternative for this word is kilometer. This word is one of the Canadian slang words used when referring to a multi-level parking structure. This messed-up spatial awareness continues when we talk about going north or south. 2023 Nina Out and About - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP - Privacy Policy, Wrap Up: Canadian Slang and Sayings You Need to Know. WebPronounced too-uk, its a warm, brimless, knit hatoften with a tassel or pom-pom on topwhich people outside of Canada usually call a ski hat or a beanie. That's the case with a number of AmericanismsAmerican sayings we are so used to uttering that we forget they don't actually make any sense or have been so removed from their original meanings that it takes a linguist to connect them. 1. Kyle Richardson. Its confusing to newcomers, especially if English isnt your first language. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. ", This American phrase seems to mean the opposite of what actually means, according to Huffington Post reader Mary Shirley. Take forever to say goodbye. I didnt know this was a Canadian thing for a long time. It refers to the citys Ukrainian population apparently. Nickname for Calgary, a city in the western Canadian province of Alberta, known for its Old Western heritage and world-famous Calgary Stampedean annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival. This weird colloquialism to describe trying to superficially improve something that's ugly or deficient makes sense when you explain it to an outsider, but, as Bustle's JR Thorpe puts it, "One of the main reasons the rest of the world finds American politics bizarre is that, often, we don't understand what on earth your politicians are saying. Note: this is not to be confused with May two-four (24) weekend, which is a holiday in Canada. It comes easier after a few tries. However, we ONLY do this if it makes it easier to say. "A friend told me once that her husband was doing that and I thought he got a job at the cemetery. In fact, the term means exactly the oppositea term of good luck that by saying it is supposed to make sure it does not actually happen. Our humidex, short for humidity index, is how Canadian meteorologists determine how hot it feels outside. If you love the outdoors, Minnesota is the perfect place to be. Likely Not US, UK, and EU passport holders dont need Canadian visas. "When you say to table something you mean to shelve it. Do this and youll be screeched in. Its unclear where this term came from but from what I can tell no actual hangings were involved (whew!). It is similar to a two-four . Initially, the term referred to French Canadian settlers of Quebec. 3. For example, you may say that Timmies is kitty-corner to your home if it is diagonally across an intersection. They also identify with the same references in the aspects of culture. The sour toe shot is a rite of passage in the Yukon. They'll be very aware if there's no shade. Even from Toronto, we refer to out west as everything west of us. BC has a lot of slang to refer to certain cities, often in a derogatory way. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { If you are driving with a Canadian and he/she says Hang a Larry, I know you will surely want to know this Larry guy you are supposed to hang. WebSynonyms for WEIRD: bizarre, strange, funny, odd, curious, peculiar, erratic, crazy; Antonyms of WEIRD: normal, typical, usual, ordinary, standard, average, commonplace, WebIf a Canadian is trying to encourage someone, they may say keep trying or giver. Real Canadians try as hard as they can! For the Maritimes, the rest of the country is out west. One of the best-known American phrases, it's no piece of cake for newcomers to the U.S. to understand what we're talking about or where baked goods might be involved. We actually use this term a lot in Canada. 2. But also, it seems weird to focus on one digit that wouldn't seem to necessarily be used more than the others. says Huffington Post reader Josiane Rocha. What could be confusing about that? Living around Canada, especially in the Maritimes, I learned even more fascinating Canadian terms that I wish were more widely known. Example I prefer cakes without icing sugar, Sounds funny right? Toronto. "In Canada, if I say 'bacon' without any qualifiers, I mean those strips of pork and fat that you fry," asks one Canadian redditor. Its become more of a colloquial term amongst Prairie residents. The number six comes from the last digit in Toronto's area code 416. Joggers used to mean sweatpants. This region includes Qubec and Ontario. The words that most often caused Americans to take notice of my accent were those that involved Not the name of the iconic Disney mouse, but a flask-sized bottle of liquor (usually Canadian whiskey) that easily fits into a persons hand, purse, or pocket. Thank you! There are so many more Canadina expressions that I couldnt fit into the post. Turn left (Larry) or right (Roger). An example is a skor. I mean, why on earth is it nearly 40C every single day?? Its called washroom. A sourdough is a permanent resident of the Yukon who has lived there for all four seasons. Commonly shortened to hali. Buzzin Meaning: To be slightly drunk or to be excited Example of usage: Johns had a couple of pints; hes buzzin' / Evies passed her exams; shes buzzin' Its chucking it down Translation: Its raining heavily Example Darling, you look so skookum in that dress, Mickey is a word referring to a bottle of liquor that is flask-sized, such as rum or Canadian rye whiskey. Foreigners visiting need travel insurance in case anything happens on their visit. If so, then what is 'Canadian bacon?'".