Canadian Terms - Canadianisms
5-Pin Bowling - A Canadian version of bowling with a smaller ball that fits in the palm of your hand, and only 5 pins.
ABM - A common term for an automated teller machine. Short for automated bank machine.
Alcool - A drink consisting of pure grain alcohol. Normally known in the USA as "Everclear". The name Alcool may actually come from the French word for alchohol which is "alcool".
All Dressed - A style of pizza, or a burger, which has all the toppings. The term also appears on a flavour of potato chips, only available in Canada.
Allophone - A resident whose first language is one other than English or French. Used only by linguists in other English-speaking countries, this word has come to be used by journalists and broadcasters, and then by the general public, in some parts of Canada.
Anglophone - A Canadian whose first language is English.
Arena - An ice rink with seats around it. Could be any enclosed area with seats for viewing surrounding it, but the implication is that it's primarily for hockey.
Arse - One's hind quarters. i.e. "He kicked me in the arse."
Autoroute - The commonly used name used for a highway in the province of Quebec.
Bachelor - A reference to a "Bachelor Apartment". Sometime referred to as a studio apartment. The term "Bachelor to Rent" is very confusing to American visitors.
Back Bacon - Canadian bacon, as referred to by our American neighbours.
Bag - The common Canadian name for a grocery sack.
Bare Naked Ladies - A popular Canadian band. They have had limited success in the USA, but remain extraordinarily popular in Canada.
BC Bud or BC Hydro - Marijuana (or Pot) grown in BC, often in Grow Ops (hidden hydroponic growing operations) scattered throughout the province in both urban and rural areas. BC Bud has a reputation of being very strong and is apparently sought after, especially in the United States, where much of it is 'exported' to. Rumor has it that BC Bud is the largest cash crop in the province and contributes significantly to the provincial economy.
Bean - One hundred dollars. Strictly a Quebec term.
Beater - An old beat-up car. "Winter Beater" qualifies that one is driving a beater only because the summer car is in storage. "Beater with a heater" is often used as well.
Beauty - A term of endearment. ie., "That goal was a beauty."
Beep - An orange drink sold in the Prairie Provinces and the Maritimes from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was sold in schools as a healthy alternative to pop, but it contained nearly the same amount of sugar.
Beer Store - Of course, the official place to buy beer... when you are in Ontario.
BFI - A "BFI" is a garbage dumpster. It is named after a prominent Canadian waste management company, and the initials "BFI" are painted on the outside of the metal container.
Big Smoke, The - Nickname sometimes used for large urban centres such as Vancouver and Toronto.
Bill - A restaurant check. Where Americans ask the waiter for the check, Canadians ask for the "Bill".
Biscuit - A hockey puck.
Blinds - Americans call them shades. Canadians refer to slatted window coverings as blinds.
Blockhead - A derogatory term for Anglophone, or English speaker in the province of Quebec. Considered by Quebecers as the equivalent to an Anglo-Canadian calling a Franco-Canadian a "frog".
Bloody Caesar - Just like a Bloody Mary, except it's made with Clamato (clam and tomato) juice instead of plain tomato juice.
Blue Cocaine - A nickname for Kokanee brand beer. Likely derived from its addictive qualities.
Bluenoser - A person from Nova Scotia. The nickname is derived from the historical schooner "The Bluenose" which had its home port in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
Booter - When snow or water gets in your boot or footwear.
Booting - A regional term (Alberta) which describes the act of buying liquor or cigarettes for minors. Short for "Bootlegging".
Boozcan - An illegal after-hours establishment where alcohol is served.
Boxing Day - The day after Christmas. So named because of the British tradition of giving gift boxes to people such as mail carriers, milkmen, etc., on December 26. In Canada, Boxing Day is the date for many huge annual sales, the equivalent to "Black Friday" in the USA.
Brown Bread - In most of Canada, whole wheat bread. If you are at a diner for breakfast and you ask for whole wheat toast, they'll understand you, but "brown toast" is a lot more Canadian. Down east, "brown bread" refers to sweetened, molasses bread.
Buckle Bunny - A term used in the west, particularly in Alberta, to refer to a rodeo groupie, always female, who chases rodeo riders or dates rodeo riders. Not necessarily derogatory, depending on usage. See also definition of Puck Bunny. May also be used in the U.S.
Bunny Hug - Term used in Saskatchewan that is a hooded sweatshirt with or without a zipper that has a pocket in the front. Also referred to as a Hoodie in most other provinces. At one time it was also referred to as a "Kangaroo Jacket".
Butter Tart - A very small (single-serving) pie. They taste like pecan pies without the pecans
Buttons - Loose change, like buttons you find on a shirt. May be a local Montreal term.
Bytown - The original name of Ottawa before its designation as national capital, often still used in the same context as "Hogtown" for Toronto or "Cowtown" for Calgary.
Cabin - In Canada this is used in the same context as cottage.
Caesar - See "Bloody Caesar".
Canada Day - Canada's birthday, held on July 1, the anniversary of the Confederation of Canada in 1867. The day is marked by parties and fireworks.
Canadian Tire - A very popular hardware and household goods chain.
Canadian Tire Money - A loyalty gimmick used at Canadian Tire stores. It looks and feels like real bills, and it features a picture of a "Scotsman".
Canadian Tuxedo - Wearing a denim jacket with blue jeans.
Candy Floss - What Canadians call "cotton candy".
Canuck - A slang term for "Canadian" in the U.S. and Canada. It sometimes means "French Canadian" in particular, especially when used in the Northeast of the United States and in Canada. Adopted as the name of the National Hockey League team in Vancouver. Sometimes jokingly pronounced can-OOK.
Cape Bretoner - A person that hails from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
Caper - A person originally born on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Typically used to identify someone who has left the island in search of employment.
Caramilk - A strictly Canadian chocolate bar, which markets itself as the candy with the caramel secret
Case (of beer) - A cardboard package containing twelve or twenty-four bottles of beer.
Celly - Short for "celebration," as in a celebration after a goal is scored.
Central Canada - What Ontarians and Quebecers like to call their provinces. A misnomer, as Manitoba is more central (geographically speaking) than Ontario and Quebec.
Centre of the Universe - How local Torontonians refer to Toronto, Ontario. Unfortunately, the remainder of Canada does not normally share the sentiment.
CFA - A derogatory term used in rural Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, acronym for "Come From Away", often shortened to "From Away" indicating someone who has immigrated to Nova Scotia from another province or country, purchased land, and criticized the local way of life.
Chesterfield - A Canadian term for a sofa or couch. Used somewhat in Northern California; obsolete in Britain (where it originated). Sometimes (as in classic furnishing terminology) refers to a sofa whose arms are the same height as the back, but more usually to any couch or sofa.
Chinook - 1. A warm, dry wind experienced along the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. Most common in winter and spring, a chinook wind can result in a rise in temperature of 20C in a quarter of an hour. Pronouned as "Shin-uk". 2. A Chinook in BC is also one of the five main varieties of salmon, also known as a "Spring".
Chips - Can be used to describe potato chips or french fries.
Chirp - Constantly talking trash. "Chirping" would be to issue a steady stream of insults.
Chocolate bar - Candy bar. Popular Canadian brands include Aero, Crispy Crunch, Crunchie, Coffee Crisp, Caramilk, Bounty. Mars Bars have darker chocolate and no nuts. Other Canadian candies include Smarties (imagine very sweet M&Ms in brightly colored boxes, not the sweet-tart chalky things), Mackintosh toffee, and Callard & Bowser toffees.
Civic Holiday - A day off work for no good reason. In Manitoba, the former name of the first Monday in August, which was a statutory holiday. (Recently renamed "Terry Fox Day")
Clamato - A bottled juice made by combining tomato juice and clam juice. Nobody really knows how this combination came about, but Clamato Juice is the main ingredient in a "Bloody Caesar", a very popular Canadian drink.
Clicks - Slang for kilometres, or kilometres per hour.
Coffee Crisp - A very popular candy bar only available in Canada. It has layers of wafer and coffee flavoured filling, and covered all over in chocolate. Are you hungry?
College - In Canada, "College" strictly refers to a community college.
Concession Road - In southern Ontario and southern Quebec, one of a set of roads laid out by the colonial government as part of the distribution of land in standard lot sizes. The roads were laid out in squares as nearly as possible equal to 1,000 acres. Many of the concession roads were known as sidelines, and in Ontario many roads are still called "lines".
Coriander - A leafy green the same as Cilantro.
Corner Store - A small variety store, usually on a corner in a residential neighbourhood of a city. Similar to the American "convenience store."
Cowtown - A nickname for Calgary, Alberta. Refers to its roots as a hub of ranching, livestock trade and the Calgary Stampede or rodeo culture.
Crappy Tire - Colloquialism for "Canadian Tire", a Canadian hardware chain store. Also see "Ukrainian Tire".
Crispy Crunch - A Canadian candy bar, featuring crunchy peanut butter filling covered in milk chocolate. Hungry yet?
Crokinole - A board game that includes elements of shuffleboard and curling where players take turns flicking wooden discs across a circular playing surface studded with wooden pegs. The goal of the game is to have your discs land in the higher-scoring regions of the board, while also making sure you knock out your opponent's discs. This game is especially popular among French-Canadian and Mennonite communities in Canada.
Dainties - Baked treats and goodies served at a social event. Used in western Canada.
Dart - A cigarette.
David Wilcox - A Canadian blues guitarist and poet, as opposed to the American folk singer.
Dayliner - A Budd Rail Diesel Car, a self-propelled diesel passenger railcar on the former British Columbia Railway, also called "Budd Car" after the company who made them (the dayliner is now out of service). Dayliners also saw service in Ontario on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the Canadian National Railway (CNR).
Dead Rear - A local term for Red Deer, Alberta. A play on its proper name and a supposed lack of culture or interesting activities available in the city.
Deadmonton - Sometimes used as a derogatory for Edmonton, Alberta. It is a play on its proper name and a supposed lack of culture or interesting activities available in the city. Made famous by a British journalist who asserted the same in a U.K publication. His description was withdrawn after actually visiting the city and being given a tour by the mayor.
Dec - A slang expression derived from the word "decent". Pronounced "dee-ss".
Deke - A word derived from "decoy" and used to describe a fake or feint intended to deceive a defensive player, often drawing that player out of position, usually in hockey. i.e. "I deked him out and scored."
Dep Wine - Cheap, nasty, house-brand wine purchased from a "depanneur," or corner store, in Quebec.
Depanneur - The common name for a corner store, in Quebec.
Dix (or Dixie) - A Quebecer term for ten dollars.
Donair - A pita containing spiced meat and a "sweet" sauce made from sugar, vinegar, milk, and garlic. Originated in Halifax NS, and is still a local favorite late-night food.
Donnybrook - A brawl or a fight involving multiple individuals. Often used to describe a hockey fight.
Double Double - From Tim Horton's, as in two milk and two sugar.
Down South - Almost always refers to the United States.
Drop the gloves - To begin a fight. It is a reference to a practice of removing gloves prior to a hockey fight.
DUI - Driving under the influence, referred to as "DWI" in the USA.
Duster - In hockey, a benchwarmer, ie. a player who sits and collects dust
Eavestroughs - Grooves or channels that attach to the underside of the roof of a house to collect rainwater. Known in the USA as "gutters".
Edmonchuk - A name for Edmonton, Alberta, making reference to the large Ukrainian population in the area.
Eh - 1. A spoken interjection to ascertain the comprehension, continued interest, agreement, etc., of the person or persons addressed i.e. "That was a good movie last night, eh?" 2. May also be used instead of "huh" meaning "please repeat" or "say again".
Elastic - A rubber band
Family Compact - A group of influential families who exercised substantial political control of Ontario during part of the 1800s. The Quebec equivalent was the "Chateau Clique".
Farmer Tan - Tan of the lower left arm, obtained by driving with the window open wearing a short-sleeve shirt.
Farmer Turn - A manoeuvre executed while driving an automobile in urban areas. A right turn that starts by veering to the left, often crossing into the adjacent lane before completing the (often slow) right turn. Name refers to the driving habits of rural farmers accustomed to large vehicles and unused to city traffic.
Farmer Vision - The basic broadcast TV channels that can be picked up on an antenna. Also referred to as "Peasant Vision" or "Country Cable".
Fin - Five dollars. i.e. "Spot me a fin, eh?"
Fire Hall - A fire station, or firehouse.
Fish Police - Derogatory reference to Federal or Provincial Fisheries or Wildlife Officers. Also referred to as "Tree Cop" or "Critter Cop".
Fishfly - A mayfly, which can infest many fresh water lake areas in certain times of the summer months.
Flat - Used to refer to a cardboard tray containing 24 cans of beer. i.e. "a flat of beer".
Flippin - An alternate to "friggin' or even the more colloquial uses of the same term.
Floater - In ice hockey, somebody who stays in the offensive zone and never plays defence. Also known as a "Cherry Picker" or a "Goal Suck".
Flow - Long hair that "flows" out of a hockey helmet, or any luxuriously long hard.
Flowerpots - Flower pot shaped monolithic outcroppings, visible in their entirety at low tide, located at Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick. Officially known as the Hopewell Rocks.
FOB - In B.C., a derogatory term used to describe a person of Oriental descent. An acronym for "Fresh Off the Boat."
For Sure - Means "Definitely". A commonly used Canadian term.
Force, The - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Fort McMoney - Common nickname for Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Forty Pounder - A bottle of liquor containing approximately 40 ounces. Also called a "pounder" or a "bottle."
Fox Vegas - Common nickname for Fox Creek, Alberta.
Francophone - A Canadian whose first language is French.
Freezie - A frozen flavoured sugar water snack common worldwide, but known by this name in Canada, mainly because of its brand name, "Mr. Freeze".
Frog - Derogatory term used to describe French Canadians.
Fuck the Dog - A term used to indicate doing nothing i.e. "I fucked the dog all day."
G'wan - Denotes disbelief. Popular in the Maritimes, it is a shortened version of "Go on!"
G'way - Denotes disbelief. Popular in the Maritimes, it is a shortened version of "Go away!"
Garburator - A garbage disposal unit located beneath the drain of a kitchen sink.
Garden City - Richmond, British Columbia's official sobriquet. However, more popularly applied to Victoria. Also, in reference to a suburb of Winnipeg.
Gas bar - A gas station with a central island, having pumps usually under an awning.
Gastown - A historical section of downtown Vancouver and the original nickname of the city. The name was derived from a contraction of "Gassy's Town", after the local steamboat captain "Gassy" Jack Deighton.
Get after it - An order to stop wasting time, or to get to the point; Stop talking and start doing, hurry up, etc.
Gino - Used to describe someone of Italian descent, especially in Southern Ontario.
Girl Guides - The Canadian version of the "Girl Scouts".
Gitch - Refers to underwear. There are a few variants like "Gitch" and "Ginch" .
Giv'n'r - Used to describe any act carried out with extreme exuberance or to its fullest potential. E.g. We were just Giv'n'r last night."
Give'em a Shout - To call someone on the phone.
Glosettes - Brand name for a type of chocolate-covered raisins.
Glove Box - How Canadians refer to the glove compartment.
Go Missing - To disappear, or become misplaced.
Goal Suck - In ice hockey, somebody who stays around the opposing teams goalie and does not play defence. Also known as a "Cherry Picker".
Going on Holiday - Elsewhere people say "going on vacation".
Goolie - In Manitoba, a local derogatory term for someone of Icelandic descent. From "Islendigur", meaning Icelander.
Gorby - A derogative term for a tourist or one who is severely ignorant to Canadian culture and believes in stereotypes (such as year-round snow, "eh", etc.)
Gordie Howe Hat Trick - When a hockey player scores a goal, gets an assist, and gets in a fight all in one game.
Gouge-and-Screw Tax - The Goods and Services Tax, a Canadian favourite.
Gravel Road Cop - A term used to describe the RCMP. Derived from the French acronym "GRC" that is associated with the RCMP.
Gravol - Canadian brand name for motion sickness drug Dramamine.
Gripper - The nickname for a large 66 oz (1/2 U.S. gal) or a 1.75 L bottle of liquor. So named for either having a looped handle on the bottle neck, or "grips" on the bottle.
Grit - The political nickname for a member of the Liberal Party, either federally or provincially, but normally excluding the province of Quebec.
Grocery Police - A Canadian Customs and Revenue Border Agent.
GST - The dreaded Goods and Services Tax. Also called the "Grab and Steal Tax" or the "Gouge and Screw Tax
GTA - frequently used acronym for the "Greater Toronto Area".
Guedille - A francophone term for a hot dog covered in spaghetti sauce. Pronounced as "gay-DEE."
Habs - From the historical Quebec term meaning "Habitants", it is the nickname of the Montreal Canadiens NHL hockey team.
Hack - A taxi cab, or cab driver.
Had the Biscuit - Dead, broken, spent, e.g. "My pickup truck has had the biscuit".
Half-Sack - A six pack of beer.
Hali - Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Haligonian - A resident of Halifax, NS.
Halloween Apples! - On Halloween, yelled out by children on the doorstep of a neighbors house to demand a serving of candy. Takes the place of "Trick or treat!" and more commonly used in the prairie provinces.
Hammer, The - Hamilton, Ontario.
Hat, The - Medicine Hat, Alberta
Head'r - Used as a verb, to leave. e.g. "I guess I'd better head'r."
Here Before Christ - A tongue-in-cheek acronym for The Hudson's Bay Company, which was founded in 1670.
Highway - How a Canadian refers to a "freeway".
Hockey Sock - A person might make reference to a "Hockey Sock" when they are implying that there is a large amount of anything. i.e. "There is a whole hockey sock of donuts in the break room".
Hockey Sweater - A hockey uniform top, normally called a "jersey" in the USA.
Hogtown - A common nickname for Toronto, Ontario.
Holiday - A vacation or a trip. Also used in the American sense, meaning a day off work or school.
Hollywood North - Used to describe Canadian cities where Hollywood productions are done, such as Toronto and Vancouver.
Homo Milk - A Canadian term for homogenized milk, particularly with a fat content greater than 2 percent. Referred to in the USA as "whole milk". Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of an American when they go to a grocery store and see the word "HOMO" in big letters on the side of a milk carton?
Hoodie - A hooded sweatshirt with or without a zipper.
Horny Tim's - A cute nickname for Tim Horton's coffee and doughnut chain
Hose - When used as a verb is means to trick, deceive or steal.
Hosed - Broken or not working. e.g. "My pickup truck is hosed."
Hoser - 1. A stereotype Canadian 2. A mild insult, for someone who is an exploiter. Derived from the Depression era in reference to gasoline thieves.
Housecoat - Robe or bathrobe, one wears around the house.
Huck - To thrown something, like a snowball, or any sports related ball. e.g. "He can really huck that football."
Humidex - A measurement used by meteorologists to reflect the combined effect of heat and humidity.
Hydro - A common term used as a synonym for electrical service in some regions of Canada.
Icing Sugar - Powdered sugar.
Inside Passage - The coastal passageways linking BC's south coast with the Central Coast and North Coast/Prince Rupert. The route is "inside" because it is sheltered by the coastal archipelago.
Inukshuk - A human-like figure made from piled stones constructed as a communication device throughout the Arctic. Traditionally constructed by the Inuit, Inukshuk are integral to Inuit culture and are often intertwined with representations of Canada and the North.
Invigilate - To proctor an exam.
Islander - A person from Prince Edward Island.
Jam Buster - A jelly-filled doughnut, generally covered with icing sugar.
Jaw, The - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Jawbone - A backcountry expression referring to giving credit at a store or bar. e.g. "The storekeeper gave me jawbone" meaning that the storekeeper or merchant advanced credit.
Jesus Murphy - A common exclamation, sometimes used as "Jesus H. Murphy".
Jockey Box - A Maritime term for a glove compartment in a car.
Joe Job - A low-class or low-paying job.
Joe Louis - A snack cake similar to a Twinkie, with chocolate cake and a white icing interior. Available in Ontario and Quebec.
Joggers - 1. A term used for jogging pants or sweatpants. 2. Referring to "sneakers" in some parts of the east coast.
Joual - A Quebec working-class dialect that's a striking mix of English and French. Varies from region to region. Sometimes called "Frenglish."
Keener - Someone very eager and enthusiastic. Sometimes derogatory, in the sense of brown-noser, suck up, bootlicker.
Kentucky Fried Pigeon - A disparaging term for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Also referred to as "Kentucky Fried Rabbit", "Dead Bird in a Box" or "The Dirty Bird".
Kerfuffle - A commotion; flurry of agitation.
Ketchup Chips - Why put ketchup on your chips when they already come that way? Only in Canada.
Klick - Kilometer, or kilometer per hour. e.g. "The speed limit is 60 klicks here."
Knapsack - A backpack, or book bag.
Kokanee - A British Columbian name for a species of land-locked salmon. Also the name of a popular beer made in the Kootenay district.
Kraft Dinner - A popular brand of packaged macaroni and cheese. Often it is used to describe any macaroni meal. Commonly abbreviated as "K.D.". Also called "Krap Dinner" or "Rubber Bullets".
Krim-Ko - The brand name for a variety of chocolate milk, sold on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. People may also spell as Krimco, Crimco or Crimcoe.
L.C. - A local Manitoba slang for the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), the government-run liquor stores in Manitoba. Also, used for Nova Scotia's "Liquor Commission".
Lakehead, (The) - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Laneway - A common term for a driveway.
Language Police - A Quebec provincial government that attempts to enforce Bill 101, the controversial language law that was meant to ensure that Quebec businesses predominantly feature the French language on signs, menus etc.
Late Lunch - At a Social, the meal served around 11:00 PM or Midnight usually consisting of rye bread, cheese, deli meat and pickles.
LCBO - The Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Generally refers to the government-run chain of liquor stores.
Left Coast - Term used to refer to British Columbia
Legion - Short for the Royal Canadian Legion, a veterans organization for former members of the Canadian military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other police. There is a branch hall in most Canadian towns, and these places are usually referred to as the "Legion."
Lick-Bo - Commonly used in Ontario, it is a reference to the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) government run liquor stores
Lineup - A line. e.g. "There was a really long lineup for the movie." Some Canadians also use the British term "queue".
Liquor Store - A specific reference to a government operated liquor store.
Loonie - A Canadian one dollar coin. Derived from the use of a "Loon" (a species of waterfowl) on the reverse.
Lord Stanley's Mug - A slang reference to the Stanley Cup, awarded annually to the champion team of the National Hockey League.
Loser Limousine/Loser Cruiser - City transit.
Lotus Land - British Columbia, especially the Lower Mainland located near the city of Vancouver.
Lower Mainland - The Greater Vancouver-Fraser Valley area of British Columbia.
Lumberman's Jacket - A thick flannel jacket, usually either red and black or green and black favoured by blue collar workers and heavy metal/grunge aficionados.
Mackinac - A plaid Melton jacket, typically red or green, at one time a hallmark of the Canadian working class. Pronounced "Mackinaw" and sometimes spelled that way.
Maclean and Maclean - Two low-brow Canadian comedian/musicians.
Mae West - A snack food similar to a Ring Ding. Popular mostly in Quebec.
Mainlander - Used by Newfoundlanders, Prince Edward Islanders, Cape Bretoners and Vancouver Islanders to refer to a person from mainland Canada; often used as a derogatory term.
Manisnowba - A tongue-in-cheek term for the province of Manitoba which plays upon the long Manitoba winters.
Maritimes - Used to describe residents of the Maritime provinces on Canada's east coast. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island make up the Maritimes, but not Newfoundland.
Marking (a test) - Grading a test.
Matrimonial Cake - In Western Canada, a date square (a rectangular cake with a date filling and a crumble topping) is more commonly known as matrimonial cake. Earliest use found in "Canadian Favourites Cook Book" circa 1940.
May Two-Four - Victoria Day, a holiday long-weekend in May.
Member - Used by the RCMP to refer to fellow Mounties.
Mickey - A small (13 oz.) bottle of liquor, shaped to fit in a pocket, much like a hip flask. Also fits conveniently alongside the calf of a cowboy boot or rubber boot, and can be referred to as a "Boot Bottle".
Milk in a Bag - Yes, milk comes in a bag in many regions of Canada.
Mini-Mickey - A smaller than normal micky bottle of liquor consisting of six and a half ounces.
Minty - Meaning "cool" it is a term used in some local regions such as Manitoba. e.g. "Your new pickup is real minty."
MLCC - Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. The official liquor vendor in the province of Manitoba.
Molson Muscle - The potbelly one gets from drinking a lot of beer. A beer gut.
Mother Corp - The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Mountie - A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Muddy Waters - A slang term for Winnipeg. Refers to the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red River which can be relatively murky on any given day.
Mugwump - Another term for a Sasquatch. Often used in reference to the Sasquatch that is used to market Kokanee Beer.
Muskoka Chair - A large, slatted, wooden deck chair.
Nanaimo Bar - A dessert named for the town of Nanaimo, British Columbia, made of egg custard with a Graham-cracker-based bottom and a thin layer of chocolate on top.
New West - A shortened version of New Westminster, British Columbia.
Newfie - A colloquial, often derisive term used to describe one who is from Newfoundland and Labrador. Historically used with light humour in "Newfie Jokes", use of the word is now considered to be offensive and in very bad taste.
Nip - A type of hamburger served at Salisbury House restaurants in Manitoba.
No-See-Um - A very small biting insect.
North of 60 - The Arctic, geographically any part of Canada that is above 60 degrees north latitude.
Number 1 - Another name for the "Trans-Canada" highway that stretches from coast to coast.
Oil Town - Nickname for Edmonton due to the oil refining that is done in the region.
Oilberta - A combination of "Oil" and "Alberta", making reference to Alberta's large oil industry.
Oilpatch - the local term of the oil industry of Alberta, especially the part involved directly with the oil industry. Also referred to as "The Patch".
Ontario Piss Pots - A slang term for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
Out East - A summary term used in Western Canada (BC specifically) to classify anyone born and raised east of Manitoba. Also used as "Back East and "Down East".
Out West - Term used to describe the general direction towards anywhere in Western Canada west of the Manitoba/Ontario border.
Parkade - A parking garage, especially in western Canada. Americans call it a "parking garage" or "parking structure".
Parliament Hill - The hill in Ottawa, Ontario where the Parliament buildings stand.
PC - 1. Short for "Progressive Conservative" a political party in some regions of Canada. 2. Sometimes referring to "President's Choice," the in-house brand of the Real Canadian Superstore supermarket chain.
Peg, The - Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Pencil Crayon - A coloured pencil often coming in packs of 8, 12 or more. Mostly used by school children.
Penitentiary - A federal corrections institute (jail) for longer-term convicts. "Pen" for short.
Pepsi - A derogatory term used to refer to francophone Quebecers. Derived from the perceived popularity of Pepsi Cola in the French-speaking population of the province. Sometimes used as "Pepper".
Péquiste - A member or supporter of the Parti Québecois, a political party originally advocating independent rule for Quebec.
Pickerel - A regional term for a Walleye (fish).
Pile O' Bones - A historical term for Regina, Saskatchewan.
Pissed - Drunk. Not generally used to mean "angry," as it is in the USA. Often elaborated as "pissed drunk".
Pitter Patter - Short for "pitter patter, let's get at her," which means "stop wasting time; get to the point; hurry up, etc."
Play Structure - A climbing structure commonly consisting of a slide and monkey bars for children to play on that is often found on school grounds and in parks.
Pogey - Unemployment benefits. Also spelled as "pogie"
Pogo - A brand name for a corn dog, a hot dog dipped in batter and then deep fried.
Pop - The commonly used term for any soft drink.
Porch climber - Moonshine or homemade alcohol. In Ontario it specifically refers to a beverage mixed of beer, vodka, and lemonade.
Postal Code - The Canadian equivalent of a ZIP code. Postal codes are six characters long and are a mixture of three letters and three numbers.
Poutine - A serving of french fries topped with cheese curds and covered with hot gravy. Originated in Quebec.
Poverty Pack - A mere six-pack of beer.
Puckster - (slang) A hockey player.
Pulling - A regional term (Saskatchewan) which describes the act of buying liquor or cigarettes for minors.
Queen City - Regina, Saskatchewan.
Queen's Hotel - A term for the local or county jail.
Quinzee - A popular way of making a snow shelter where you build a large pile of snow, wait for it to harden, and then hollow it out.
Rad - Short for radiator in a car or home heating.
Randy - Excited, as in turned on. i.e. "horny". A common British term, but not familiar to Americans.
RCs - A shortened version of RCMP, especially those that patrol the highways.
Regular - Used to describe a coffee with one cream and one sugar.
Remembrance Day - In Canada, the official name for November 11. Known as "Veterans' Day" in the USA.
Rez - 1. A First Nations reserve 2. Shortened term for a dormitory residence in University or College.
Rink Rat - Term used to describe personnel who work at a hockey rink and maintain the building and ice surface.
Rippers - Slang term for strippers and exotic dancers. Also known as "Peelers".
River City - A nickname for Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Robertson Screws - Screws with a square hole. Strictly a Canadian device, you won't find this type of screw in the USA.
Rock, The - The Island of Newfoundland.
Rockets - Colourful chalky candies packaged in rolls wrapped in clear plastic.
Rotten Ronnie's - McDonald's restaurants. Also referred to as "McDick's".
RRSP - Tax-sheltered retirement savings plan. Similar to 401K in US.
Runners - Athletic shoes.
Rye - Canadian Whiskey.
Rye and Ginger - Apparently, only Canadians love their rye whisky mixed with ginger ale.
Salisbury House - A Manitoba restaurant open 24 hours.
Sally Ann - The Salvation Army, or the nickname for a thrift shop operated by the Salvation Army.
Saltchuck - In British Columbia, refers to the ocean.
Saskabush - Saskatchewan, or even more specific, may refer to the city of Saskatoon.
Sasquatch - A creature similar to Bigfoot or Yeti. Derived from the Halkemeylem word "sesqac".
Sauga - Mississauga, in short form.
Scarberia - Scarborough, a suburban part of Toronto, a derogatory reference to its desolation.
Scare Canada - A derogatory term used to refer to the airline "Air Canada". This term has also been used in British Columbia as in "Scare BC", for "Air BC".
Scivey - An untrustworthy person; or someone who is considered un-generous or stingy. Used in the Maritime provinces. Pronounced as "SKY-vee".
Screech - Currently refers to a brand of dark rum in Newfoundland. Historically, "Screech" referred to any sort of strong moonshine or home brew that was consumed in the Atlantic provinces.
Screeching In - In Newfoundland, a colourful ceremony which makes a visitor an honourary Newfoundlander. It is usually done in a bar (or at a private party), and the rites include kissing a musty old cod fish, reciting a goofy poem and drinking an ounce of Newfoundland Screech (Dark Rum).
Second-Last - Next to last, or penultimate
Serviette - A paper napkin. Brought to Canada buy the British, however the term is actually derived from the French word for napkin.
Shinny - An early form of hockey, and now means a pick-up hockey game where people just show up and play.
Shreddies - A brand of breakfast cereal, vaguely resembling Chex. Many Canadians can recall the commercial jingle, "Good good whole-wheat Shreddies!"
Shwa (The) - Local slang for the city of Oshawa, Ontario.
SIN Number - Short for Social Insurance Number, a 9 digit number Canadians need to work in Canada or to access government programs and benefits.
Sir John A. - A reference to Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister.
Sixty-Pounder - A large bottle of liquor containing 66 ounces.
Ski-doo - A generic term for a snowmobile. The word "Ski-doo" is actually a brand name for snowmobiles made by a company named Bombardier (pronounced "bom-bar-dee-AY," not "bom-bar-DEER").
Skid - A reference to people who appear down and out with raggedy clothing, sometimes homeless but not always. Derived from the term "skid row".
Skookum - When something is great.
Slack - Term for low quality, disappointment, etc. Often prefaced with ever, as in "is it ever slack, eh" To "slack off" is to work slowly and minimally.
Sled - A snowmobile is often referred to simply as a "sled."
Sliveen - Commonly used in Newfoundland, refers to an individual of disreputable character.
Smarties - A candy resembling M&Ms. They do melt in your hand, and they're a lot sweeter. Smarties connoisseurs will always eat the red ones last.
Smogtown - Nickname for Toronto.
Smoked Meat - A Montreal delicacy, similar to corned beef. Usually served hot on a bun.
Snokked - Very drunk.
Snow Machine - A simpler way to refer to a snowmobile.
Snowbird - 1. A Canadian, often a senior citizens, who likes to spend their winters in the southern United States. 2. The Canadian Forces aerobatics team, that perform at local events and air shows.
Social - In Manitoba, a gathering at a town's legion or community for a night of dancing, drinking, and socialising. Often held as a fundraiser for a wedding, sports team, or a charitable cause.
Soo, The - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Sometimes referred to as "The Sault".'
South of the border - Refers to the USA.
Speedy Creek - Slang term for the small city of Swift Current in Southwestern Saskatchewan. Considered slightly pejorative by current and former residents who prefer "Swifty" or "Swift".
Spinnin' an Freakin' - To drive in a reckless fashion. Usually only used in small prairie towns where reckless driving is a common pastime.
Sponge hockey; Spongee - Hockey played on ice with a sponge puck, and spongy or gripping shoes instead of skates. More common in Manitoba.
Spudhead - A person from Prince Edward Island, in reference to the province's abundance of potato farming
Square Head - A term used to describe English/Anglo Canadians in the province of Quebec.
Stagette - The female equivalent of a stag party.
Steeltown - Hamilton, Ontario, in reference to the city's main industry.
Stinktown - Sarnia, Ontario, in reference to the smell from the petroleum refineries.
Stubble Jumper - Someone from Saskatchewan, or from the prairies in general. Relates to the province's vast farmlands that when harvested, leave stubble.
Stubby - A short-necked, fat beer bottle once the standard type of beer bottle used by Canadian breweries.
Sucking Slough Water - Exhausted. A prairie expression.
Suitcase - Case of twenty-four cans of beer with a handle so that you may carry the case like a suitcase.
Swish - Homemade low-quality liquor. Made by taking used, liquor barrels and swishing water in them to absorb the alcohol remaining in the wood.
T-Bar - Female underwear visible above the pants at rear end. Presumably, refers to fact it resembles a T-bar ski lift.
T. O. - Toronto, Ontario.
Take a Decision - A term used to mean "making a decision", or "deciding".
Take Off - An expression of disagreement or a command to leave, similar to "get lost". Used by SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie, as in "Take off you hoser!"
Takitish - Used in conversation as slang meaning "take it easy". Used mostly in Ontario.
Tap - A faucet or spigot.
Tarbish - A very popular card game played on Cape Breton Island.
Tea Towel - A dish towel.
Texas Mickey - A 3-litre (or 3.78 litre) or larger bottle of liquor. Despite the "Texas" reference, this is strictly a Canadian term.
Thanksgiving - In Canada it is celebrated on the second Monday of October, to reflect that Canada's harvest comes earlier than the American one. Very similar to the American Thanksgiving.
The States - The USA.
Thongs - Flexible sandals with a pair of straps anchored between the big and second toe, then across the toes. Referred to as "Flip-Flops" elsewhere.
Tights - Women's leggings.
Tim's, Timmy's - Slang terms for the popular "Tim Horton's" doughnut chain.
Timbits - Fried dough balls sold at "Tim Horton's" restaurants.
Tin - Older Canadians may say "Tin" as in, "a tin of tuna".
Toboggan - A snow sled.
Toon Town - A common nickname for Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Derived from the "Toon" in "Saskatoon".
Toonie - A Canadian two dollar coin, featuring a polar bear. Its name was actually derived from the previously released one dollar coin, named the "loonie".
Toque - A knitted winter hat, often with a pompon on the crown. In the USA it is referred to as a "Beanie".
Tortiere - A French-Canadian meat pie. A local delicacy in the province of Quebec.
Towney - In Newfoundland, to describe someone from the city of St. John's.
Track Pants - Sweat pants, whether they are used for athletics or not.
Trans-Canada - Reference to the Trans-Canada Highway, also called the Number 1. Begins in Victoria, British Columbia, ends in St John's, Newfoundland. Is also the world's longest national highway at 7821km.
Transport Truck - An 18-wheeler, or a tractor-trailer. This method of describing a truck is strictly a Canadian construct.
Twenty-sixer - A bottle of liquor containing 26 ounces. Sometimes called a "two-six" or a "twixer." This term is outdated; as the equivalent bottle now contains 750 milliliters.
Two-four - A box containing twenty-four bottles of beer.
Ukrainian Tire - Another colloquialism for "Canadian Tire", a hardware chain store in Canada. Also see "Crappy Tire".
Van - Local short form used to refer to certain districts and suburbs of Vancouver.
Vansterdam - Nickname for Vancouver, Canada. Similar to Amsterdam, Vancouver has a reputation for lax attitudes towards recreational drug use, specifically marijuana.
Vendor - The classic Manitoban name for an outlet where cold beer may be purchased. Often it was in the back door of the local hotel.
Vico - Synonymous with "chocolate milk", sold primarily throughout Saskatchewan.
Victoria Day - Queen Victoria's birthday, May 24th. It's a holiday celebrated on the second Monday in May.
Washroom - The general term for what is normally named a "public toilet". Americans often call it a "Restroom".
Wheels - A term for a person's vehicle, usually a car.
Whitener - Powdered milk substitute that is put into coffee or tea. Called "non-dairy creamer" in the US.
Wicket - The desk at the bank where you conduct transactions with a bank teller.
Windrow - The snow left at the end of a driveway after a snowplow has cleared the road.
Winterpeg - A common nickname for Winnipeg, Manitoba. Derived from the fact that Winnipeg is historically one of the coldest cities in North America.
Write (a test) - To take a test. Strictly a Canadian term.
Yankee (Yank) - Referring to an American.
Zed - It's not "Zee" in Canada, it's "Zed".