Great Read on How to Speak Canadian

We're always proud to see fellow Canadians recognized for their accomplishments, so feel free to tell us how much you admire Sid the Kid, Alex Trebek, Chris Hatfield, Celine Dion, Jim Carrey, Drake, Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, Michael J Fox, Pamela Anderson....big breath...Rachel McAdams, Ryan Reynolds, Mike Myers, Ryan Gosling, Seth Rogan, Bryan Adams, Paul Anka, Will Arnett, Dan Aykroyd, Michael Buble...phew.   And so many more.  Wow Canadians are talented!

We have many historical Canadian heroes as well. It doesn’t hurt to brush up on the accomplishments of Tommy Douglas, Nellie McClung, Romeo Dallaire, Terry Fox, and Fredrick Banting — we love hearing about their incredible contributions to the world.

Canadians are sensitive about being overshadowed by our close neighbour, the United States. Our countries may seem similar at first glance, but Canadians know that we have very different cultures, and we worry that our unique culture gets overlooked.

If you’re travelling to Canada, the best compliment you can give is acknowledging the cultural distinction between Canada and the United States. A simple, “Wow, things are so different here!” will bring a smile to your new Canadian friend’s face.

When you say "please" or "thank you" to a stranger in some countries, you're likely to be met with silence — or, at most, a curt "yep." 

Canadians are different. We show our national love of courtesy by saying “please” and “thank you” at every opportunity. Most of all, we like to say “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry” is the all-purpose courtesy word. Use it for everything: when you realize you’re blocking someone’s way at the grocery store – sorry! When you accidentally interrupt someone – sorry!, Or when you have to get someone’s attention – sorry! 

In Canada, you’ll even hear people apologize when someone else made a mistake. If you bump into someone else on the street, don’t be surprised if you get a “Sorry!” instead of a “Hey, I’m walking here!”

Canada doesn't have New York minutes.

Maybe it’s because Canada’s natural resource economy puts Canadians in touch with the slow rhythm of the seasons. Maybe it’s because Canada is a country made up of relaxed small towns as well as huge metropolis’s. Either way, rushing around isn’t Canada’s style. 

If you don’t want to come off as pushy and rude when you’re visiting Canada, step into our slower rhythm of life. If a checkout line moves slowly, take a deep breath and resist the urge to push forward. When someone needs to cut in front of you in traffic, give them a smile and wave them on.  Canadians are very courteous drivers.

The quintessential act of Canadian courtesy is holding the door for someone else. 

Hold the door for your friend as you both enter a coffee shop. Hold the door for a stranger as you head into a museum. Hold the door for your family when you come home. 

It might not be talking out loud, but holding the door will speak Canadians’ language. It’s just one of the little unspoken acts of courtesy that make Canada so unforgettable.

The weather is the perfect small-talk topic. We're all affected by it, so it's relatable to everyone. Everybody has something to say about it, but it won't generate any uncomfortable disagreements. That's why Canadians have made talking about the weather an art form.

If you're not sure how to lead into the conversation, comment on the rain, snow, heat, or cold. After all, the weather's always doing something.  As mentioned above, maybe one of the reasons Canadians are so pleasant is because we all bare the weather together.  On the flipside of bad weather, it's not unusual to make eye contact with a perfect stranger and mention gorgeous weather (of which we have plenty of too).

Canada is made up of distinct regions, each with its own regional traditions and pride. In Canada, asking, "Where are you from?" is normal.

If you’re not familiar with the regional differences in Canada, follow up by asking about what their region is like, because getting a Canadian talking about what they love about their region (including Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Western, or Northern Canada) is a sure way to help them warm up to you.

As well, Canadians love that question because it teaches us so much about other parts of the world from people who are now citizens.  Could this be the reason we love to travel so much?

Hockey might not be our national sport, but it's our national pastime. 

You can ask about someone’s favourite team and how they’re doing in this year’s playoffs, or about their rec league. Talking about hockey might even lead to an invitation to get in on a local game. 

Talking about hockey teams might touch off a heated argument about which one is the best. Be warned that the legendary rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens (also known as “the Habs”) always gets Canadians riled up. Don’t bring up the fact that Canada’s most iconic team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, hasn’t won the prestigious Stanley Cup in over 50 years. 

Let Canadians talk about their favourite team and that time that they got to meet Sydney Crosby, and you’ll make friends in no time.

Canada's history of brewing suds dates back to 1643, and beer has been part of what it means to be Canadian ever since.

We’re not saying Canadian brew is better…actually yes we are.  After all, everyone has their preference. However, Canadian beer has distinct qualities that keep Canadians loyal. 

Whether you’re talking about a big-name brand like Molsen Canadian or a craft brew from one of Canada’s innumerable small-town breweries, Canadians will love to give you their opinion on the best beer around. From there, don’t be afraid to invite them to grab a cold one so you can sample it yourself.

From the Toronto Film Festival to Montreal's Just for Laughs comedy festival to the Calgary Stampede, Canadian culture is full of festivals. Whether you love folk music, film, athletics, jazz, comedy, or something else, ask your new Canadian friend what festivals are coming up, and you'll find lots to talk about.  

Canada's culture, both rural and urban, is rich in creativity and music. We have folk music influences from our French Canadian roots, traditional music from our First Nations communities, and everything in between. 

You'll also find lots of up-and-coming artists in any city you find yourself in. Whether you like folk, pop, or hip-hop, Canadians will have lots to say about the local artists you should check out.

It's pronounced "the six," and it refers to the Toronto area. It's a reference to our original area code, 416. As the city has exploded in size, we've incorporated many more area codes, but this piece of slang connects us to our past. 

Example: “It's hot up in The 6ix right now.”

There's not much mystery about this one. Say, "what's going on," but say it faster. Congratulations, you speak Torontonian!

Your friend group, your squad, your fam. In Toronto, throw a "z" (pronounced "zed" in Canada) on the end of everything, and you'll fit right in.

Example: "Hey famz, wagwan?"

In some countries, it probably still refers to something easy or unchallenging — "that test was a breeze." In The 6ix, it's a verb that's best translated as "scram."

Example: "Breeze it."

• “I'm gonna go to Timmies real quick and grab me a box of Timbits.” Translation - “I’m going to Tim Hortons (our favourite coffee and doughnut franchise) quickly to grab a box of doughnut holes.
• "Double-double." Translation - 2 milk 2 sugar (either for coffee or tea)
• “S*it's hot up in The 6ix right now.” Translation - “Toronto is a very active and fun city.” 
•  "Two-four." Translation - a case of beer containing either 24 cans or 24 bottles.
• “Grab your toque." Translation - Grab your winter hat.
• “Just grab a mickey." Translation - Just get a small bottle of hard liquor.
• “Let's have a couple pops on the chesterfield.” Translation - Let’s drink a couple of sodas on the couch.
• “Look at those crazy Canucks!” Translation - this can mean two things. 1.  Look at those crazy Vancouver Canucks (the hockey team from Vancouver, British Columbia) 2.  Look at those crazy Canadians - we are often referred to as ‘Canucks.’
• “Her name starts with zed.” Translation - Her name starts with the letter Z.
• “There's a moose on the loose! Translation - There’s a very large forest animal running around somewhere it’s not supposed to be.