Canada has two official languages, English and French, and a third unofficial one: Canadian slang.
In a multicultural society revolving around the simple things in life - leisure, friendly competition and courtesy - it is no coincidence that these are reflected in the common language.
Here are 50 Canadian slang words, terms and phrases that will sound like a native of the Great White North.
beauty
A phrase used to refer to something or someone exceptionally good. For example: “Too bad you missed the show last night. It was a real beauty."
British California
British Columbia is Canada's southwesternmost province known for its warmer winters, laid-back lifestyle, and high-quality marijuana. Hence the California of Canada.
Canuck
An informal term for a person from Canada, rather than the more formal "Canadian". Also the nickname of the Vancouver professional ice hockey team.
chirp
Not the sound a bird makes, but making fun of someone or badmouthing your opponents during a competition. "Those annoying fans wouldn't stop chirping the whole game."
clicks
A faster way to say "kilometer" (or "kilometre") when referring to distances and directions. "Suzie lives about 10 clicks away."
Kuhstadt
Nickname for Calgary, a city in western Canada's Alberta province known for its old western heritage and the world famous Calgary Stampede - an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival.
Darts
cigarettes. Like smoking darts.
Deke
Abbreviation of decoy, a hockey term that refers to a sporting move in which the player controlling the puck fakes or deceives their opponent.
Abt
Short forgeneral store, the name given to a convenience store in the French-speaking province of Quebec. Literally translated as "troubleshooter," the acronym has also entered the lexicon of Anglophones in reference to corner shops across the country.
double-double
A common way for Canadians to order their coffee - double cream, double sugar.
Eh
Pronounced "ay" and used in 99.99% of the sentences uttered by Canadians, it is the most versatile of Canadian slang words. Most commonly asked as a question meaning "sorry" or "don't you agree?" it can also be used to affirm or emphasize almost anything that follows.
fill your boots
This hospitable saying comes from the island of Newfoundland, off the east coast of mainland Canada, and means "do what you like" or "help yourself as much as you like".
Freezie
A nostalgic summer treat made with ice cream, sugar and food coloring presented in a clear plastic tube.
Ready
Phrase of encouragement when trying to finish something, as in "You've got a little more beer in your glass, done."
giver
Another word of encouragement to give your all, especially when it comes to sports and athletics. "Go out on the ice and give."
gate suck
A sports term, also known as a cherry picker, that refers to a player who neglects their defensive duties by staying close to the opponent's goal while waiting for easy scoring chances.
Gong-Show
A situation or event that is catastrophic or spiraling way too much out of control. “That party last night really got out of hand. It was a real gong show.”
Gotch (or Gitch or Gonch)
Underwear, especially the tight men's cotton briefs, also known as tighty whiteies.
Habs
Short forthe inhabitants(the residents, in French) and nickname of the Montreal Canadians ice hockey team. The use of the term dates back to 1914 when a local newspaper reported a 9-3 win over rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
Hang a Larry
Not really. If you're driving a car in Canada and the sat nav tells you to hang up a Larry, it simply means you need to turn left.
Hang a Roger
Again, do not physically harm a nearby Roger. Just turn right.
homo milk
Arguably the most surprising thing (lucky) tourists in Canada notice when visiting the local grocery stores. It's simply short for "homogenized milk" or whole milk at 3.25% fat.
Hoser
A term that became popular in the early 80'sGreat White North, a comedy sketch by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas on the television show SCTV. A hoser is slang for a dumb person, but in a manner of being polite and endearing that is unique to Canadians.
Jambuster
This will make your mouth water. It's a jam filled donut.
Jesus Murphy
To avoid the guilt and shame of blasphemy and still retain the satisfaction of swearing—usually after clumsily injuring themselves—Canadians cleverly substitute Murphy for the name of Christ.
KD
Abbreviation for Kraft Dinner; the non-perishable, box-packed macaroni and cheese that many mistake for thatAs a matter of factNational dish of Canada.
none
A person who is very eager or interested in pleasing others, not in a good way. Synonym for a brown nose or high flyer.
Kerfuffle
When two (or more) Canadians disagree or have a disagreement, a kerfuffle can ensue. It refers to everything from a small commotion or excitement to a full blown hockey fight.
Ketchup-Chips
A Canadian staple. Classic potato chips coated in a salty ketchup condiment that leaves a red stain on everything it touches - fingers, tongues, clothes and upholstery.
Loonie and Toonie
In 1987, when the Canadian dollar bill was replaced by a coin embossed with an image of a bird - the common loon - it didn't take long for the nickname "Loonie" to catch on. This set the scene less than a decade later when it came time to name the newly released $2 coin the "Toonie."
Micky
Not the name of the iconic Disney mouse, but a bottle-sized bottle of spirits (usually Canadian whiskey) that easily fits in a person's hand, purse, or pocket.
Molson-Muskel
Molson is a common Canadian beer brand and the muscle being referred to is the belly. It's simple math: beer + belly = Molson + muscle.
Berge
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canada's federal and national police service. Known colloquially as "Mounties," they are famous for their distinctive dress uniform, accented by a scarlet tunic and broad, flat-brimmed campaign hat.
Out for a rip
This sentence has two meanings. You go out for a ride, usually something extreme like off-roading or snowmobiling. The other relates to hanging out with friends — kicking back, taking it easy, and having a good time.
parking garage
A multi-storey car park, also called a multi-storey car park.
Pop
The common name for soda, a soft drink, or other flavored carbonated beverage.
Poutine
A hearty dish originating from the French Canadian province of Quebec, it consists of french fries and cheese curds covered in sauce.
Puck Hase
What groupies are to rock bands, puck bunnies are to hockey teams. They're not necessarily interested in the game, but they have their eyes (and hearts) on the players.
Rink rat
A person who spends most of their time at the ice rink. It can be a hockey parent who always watches their kid practice and play, or a youngster who has no social life outside of the rink – playing hockey or not.
runner
Running shoes or other casual sports shoes such as sneakers or tennis shoes
bastards
Cowboy boots or a heavy pair of shoes, you don't mind being covered in dirt and mud.
snowbirds
It's no secret that Canada's winters can be some of the longest and coldest in the world. And like the birds that migrate seasonally to warmer climates, some Canadians escape the snow by migrating south in search of sand and sun. Hence the nickname "Snowbirds".
Texas-Micky
A 3 liter bottle (or litre) of spirits. This oversized 101 ounces of liquor lend credibility to the unofficial state slogan that "Everything is Bigger in Texas."
The 6ix
Made famous by hip-hop artist Drake, "The Six" refers to his hometown of Toronto. Contrary to popular belief, the nickname comes from the city's 6 boroughs, not from area codes 416 and 647.
The pencil
Nickname for the city of Winnipeg, the capital of the province of Manitoba. The "Gateway to the West" is known for its extremely cold winters and mosquito-infested summers.
Timbits
donut holes. So named after the famous Canadian coffee house Tim Hortons, affectionately known as...
Timmies
Tim Hortons, Canada's largest - and most popular - fast food restaurant chain, specializing in coffee and donuts. It doesn't get much more Canadian than ordering a double-double and timbits from Timmies.
Toque
Pronounced "too-uk," it's a warm, brimmed knit hat - often with a tassel or pom-pom on top - that people outside of Canada usually refer to as a ski hat or beanie.
Two four
A case of twenty-four beers. A common courtesy to bring to a friend's and a great way to keep warm in winter.
washroom
The Canadian term for a bathroom or toilet and the variant that makes the most sense - not all have baths, public ones aren't usually great places to hang out and a friendly reminder to wash up before you go!
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Kevin Pollock, Writer and Content Manager at Wix
Born in Canada, raised in America, educated in England and living in Israel. That means it's Zed instead of Zee, miles instead of kilometers, chips instead of fries, and hummus on everything.
