Canada is known for having one of the most diverse slang cultures in the English language. Indeed, Canadian slang words have not only English-derived terms, but also ones from French and even Arabic too!
As with British and Australian English, Canadian English is seen as one of the most sophisticated languages in the world. On top of this, Canadian English is one of the most spoken languages in the world.
15. Snowbird – Southern Traveler
The term Snowbird is very Canadian-specific, and requires an explanation as there is truly no other term for it in English. The Canadian winters are known for being really brutal, especially in the North.
As such, many Canadians who live in the North will migrate to Southern Canada so that they don’t freeze to death. Often, they come to stay with family, or stay in hotels or some other form of temporary housing.
On top of this, many of them will also take up temporary jobs, often picking a Canadian flower known as a Snowbird, until the weather gets better and they can return to the North. As such, they have become known as Snowbirds.
Example:
“My Dad is coming home this Christmas from Yellowknife”
“Oh, he’s a real Snowbird eh?”
“Certainly!”
14. Eh? – What?
Eh? is perhaps one of the most versatile Canadian slang words you can use. On top of this, it is also one of the most internationally understood slang phrases, also being used in New Zealand slang, among others.
Depending on the context, it can mean anything from what? to pardon? to agreed? It is most commonly used at the end of a sentence, although can be used all on its own (usually meaning what?/pardon?)
Depending on where you use it, the term can also have additional meanings, although for the most part, they are some variation of the aforementioned “translations”.
Example:
“We all going to the club tonight, eh?”
13. Two-Four – 24 Pack (of Beer)
As with most other Anglophones, Canadians are similarly very fond of beer. As such, it should come as no surprise that there are several Canadian slang words dedicated to alcohol in some way, shape or form.
Perhaps the most common is the term two-four. This is derived from the numbers on packs of beer- a two and four, more commonly used to connote that there are 24 bottles of beer in the crate.
You’ll generally hear people at supermarkets talking about buying two-fours. You’ll also hear it when Canadians, especially young men and/or young families, go camping, often with several two-fours…
Example:
“Honey, are you going to fetch any two-fours from Woolworths?”
“Yes I will, don’t worry.”
12. Chesterfield – Couch / Sofa
This one is perhaps not one you’ll hear often. And this is probably by design. You see, the term chesterfield is a fairly old one, and is really only used by older generations (like your grandma or granddad).
In Canada, people refer to what Americans call couches as sofas. However, when they were growing up, there was a type of sofa made by a company called Chesterfield, that were really popular.
Eventually, the term sofa and the term Chesterfield became synonymous with one another. Many younger people will still use the term, although, not as much as their grandparents’ generation will.
Example:
“Do you like the new Chesterfield? We bought it on Saturday.”
11. Toque – Small Brimmed Hat
Not all Canadian slang terms from English. Indeed, toque comes both from French and from Arabic. A toque is a small brimmed hat, usually worn during the Canadian summer time, usually by men although some women do wear them.
It is usually worn by young men who are trying to look cool and/or handsome, usually those who work in Toronto’s Financial District as stock traders or something similar.
The term originally comes from the Arabs in 15th century, who invented the hat. After a war with the French, young French soldiers brought them home as trophies. The Arabs called them troques and eventually, this name stuck with it.
With the French colonization of Quebec, they brought they troques with them, with the term eventually becoming well used in Canadian society.
Example:
“Look at him, he’s so cute in his troque!”
“Yeah he is!”
10. Double-Double – Coffee
No, a double-double doesn’t have anything to do with Canadian baseball… or any other type of sport for that matter. Instead, a double-double is something that you’d perhaps drink at a sports game…
In Canadian slang, a double-double is a type of coffee. More specifically, it is a coffee with a double shot of cream and sugar. It is commonly heard at Canada’s favorite coffee chain- Tim Horton’s.
Recent years have also seen the term be (somewhat) used in America. Many Canadian food chains have also used the term to describe a “double” menu. For instance, you can get double-double burgers and/or double-double milkshakes as well as double-double coffees.
Example:
“Hello, what can I get for you?”
“Hi, please can I have three double-doubles?”
9. That’s Jokes – That’s Funny
That’s jokes is perhaps one of the most common Canadian slang words used in Canada. When someone says something that you find incredibly funny or hilarious, you should respond with something like that’s jokes!
The phrase was originally made by the British, as a half-mockery of the British monarchy (it was originally illegal to criticize the royal family, but was made legal, with many “jokes” coming from it!)
Since then, the British have abandoned the phrase, but the Canadians have not. They have slightly altered the joke from its original meaning, but the essence is still very much the same.
Example:
“I saw your sister trying to ride the mouse yesterday.”
“Oh yeah?”
“That’s jokes!”
8. Kerfuffle – Minor Problem
Kerfuffle is perhaps one of my favorite Canadian slang words, if not for how common the word is, but for how… unique the word itself is! The term is incredibly common at schools and at places like your grandma’s.
Sometimes, you have an issue that’s not going to take you long to rectify, but what led up to it was completely avoidable. In Canada, that would be called a kerfuffle. For instance, spilling a glass of water on your new carpet would be a kerfuffle.
Kerfuffle can also be used to describe a small disagreement of some kind, usually in terms of political views. Usually, a kerfuffle will only last for a matter of minutes and will soon be resolved and forgotten about.
Example:
“Are you alright?”
“Oh yes, we’ve just had a little kerfuffle- John has spilled some water on the carpet.”
“Oh ok, do you want some help?”
7. Jesus Murphy – Jesus Christ
In American slang, we have several ways of expressing our surprise and/or disgust at something. The most common phrase is certainly Jesus Christ, however, many still do see it as quite profane.
In the late 19th century, an influx of Irish immigrants came to Canada. Prior to this, Canadians, just as with Americans, had used Jesus Christ. However, the Irish immigrants gave them a new name that allowed them to curse and also avoid hell.
This term was Jesus Murphy, substituting “Christ” for “Murphy.
However, I would be extremely cautious when using this in public. A few Irish-Canadians do see the term as a very offensive one, especially so when foreigners use it. However, this is only a small minority of them.
Example:
“Sorry Dan, you’ve been made redundant.”
“Jesus Murphy! Why did it have to be me?!”
6. Canuk – Canadians
Canuk is not to be confused with the equally as interesting term CANZUK. In most English dialects’ slang, there is some kind of slang term to refer to the nation as a whole, think Brits for the British or Ruskies for the Russians.
For Canadians, their term is Canuk, which many of them will gladly refer to themselves as. Although the origins of the term is unknown, it is believed to have come from a mispronunciation of “Canadian” by French and Dutch immigrants.
Originally, they pronounced it as something like Kanuk. However, was eventually anglicized to Canuk. Over time, many of these French and Dutch immigrants’ descendants had become “proper” Canadians, and used the name with pride.
Example:
“We’re all a bunch of Canuks here!”
5. Runners – Sneakers
In almost every dialect of English, there is a different word for shoes designed for running. In Canadian slang, this term is runners, roughly akin to the Australian slang trainers or the American slang sneakers.
Originally, this term was only for sports shoes that were designed specifically for running. Over time, however, it has become a blanket term for all sports shoes. Eventually, this has become a term used to describe shoes in general.
Whilst runners are still the most common way of describing running shoes, most Canadians are aware of the terms: trainers and sneakers. Many younger Canadians will use one or the other instead of runners!
Example:
“Are we going?”
“Yeah, just let me grab my runners.”
4. Keener – Nerd
Over the past 20 years or so, the terms “nerd” and “geek” have become quite common. Originally, these words were designed as insults, but have since been “rebranded” by the very same people as an ad-hoc badge of honor.
At the same time in Canada, they developed the Canadian slang term keener. As with its American counterparts, keener was an insult, with the term originally being used to describe someone who was always morning the loss of someone.
Since then, the term has become well used by the community as a whole. However, thanks to American media, the terms have fallen out of favor instead being replaced with nerd and geek.
Example:
“You know Bob? He’s a real keener, he’s always reading comics and thinks he’s some kind of Jedi!”
3. Sophonsified – Not Hungry
Sophonsified is certainly one of the oddest Canadian slang terms currently in use. Indeed, no other English dialect has a word even remotely close to what sophonsified means!
The term sophonsified is used to explain that you have satiated your hungry. In the way that you were hungry, however, eating something (eg. a meal) has made it so that you aren’t hungry now.
You may also see sophonsified spelled as suphonsified, with both meaning the exact same thing. The only real difference is how old you are- younger people tend to spell it with an “o” where older people tend to spell it with a “u”.
Example:
“Thanks for the meal. I’m completely sophonsified now!”
2. Mickey – Alcohol
As said earlier, Canadians love their alcohol. Other than a two-four, the only other widespread alcohol-based Canadian slang word is mickey, used to describe any kind of alcohol in a certain type of bottle.
For the most part, mickeys are bottles of wine (although are occasionally other types of alcohol) roughly in a flask-sized bottle. These are very common in the various state-ran liquor stores in Canada.
Generally, mickeys are small enough to fit in a purse (what Canadians call a handbag) or in your hand. If you’re in town on Friday or Saturday nights, you’ll often see people holding and drinking from mickeys.
Example:
“Get your bag out, I’m going to the SAQ to grab a mickey”
1. Serviette – Napkin
The term serviette isn’t really indigenous to Canada, indeed, we also use it in British slang, as well as being used in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. However, Canadians use the term far more than other country!
Mostly, this is down to the Anglo-French settlers in Canada. The term was originally brought over by British settlers, who’d borrowed it from their French neighbors. With the French settling Quebec, the term has even entered the dictionary!
At most restaurants, asking for a napkin will be met with odd looks, although many in the industry do know about the American term. However, it’s always best to ask for a serviette, rather than a napkin.
Which are your favorite Canadian slang words? Tell me in the comments!