Canadianisms (contrasted and compared with the US)

EXPRESSIONS

"Eh?" Don't you think? Conversational device that allows an unconfrontational canadian to turn a statement into a poll of opinion. Canuck nickname for a Canadian clicks slang for kilometres or kilometres per hour hoser unsophisticated person keener boot-licker, brown-noser, suck-up kerfuffle commotion; flurry of agitation Molson muscle potbelly lineup line of people; queue "for sure" definitely to be on pogey to be on welfare mickey 375 ml. (13 oz.) bottle of liquor two-four case of beer containing 24 bottles arse, bum one's hind quarters. give'em a shout to call someone on the phone to phone someone to call someone on the phone going on holiday going on vacation

WE CALL IT, THEY CALL IT

Food backbacon Canadian bacon icing sugar powdered sugar whitener powdered non-dairy creamer put in coffee or tea processed cheese american cheese chocolate bar candy bar. brown bread whole wheat bread homo milk whole milk rye & ginger canadian whiskey and gingerale Academic write (a test) take a test invigilate (an exam) to proctor an exam tutorial recitation marking (a test) grading a test public school elementary school supply teacher substitute teacher college community college Other zed (Z) zee (Z) chesterfield couch the bill what Canadians ask for in a restaurant (Americans ask for the check) eavestrough rain gutter on the eaves (edge of the roof) of a house elastic rubber band girl guides girl scouts highway freeway housecoat robe or bathrobe hydro electricity serviette paper napkin tap faucet or spigot washroom bathroom track pants sweat pants runners tennis shoes muskoka chair large, usually wooden deck chair postal code zip code

Quirky Canadian Food

Food poutine French fries covered with cheese curds and gravy smoked meat similar to corned beef, served hot on a bun ketchup chips believe it or not vinegar on fries especially fish & chips butter tart a small, pecan-pie-like tart nanaimo bar a multilayer brownie and icing tourtiere a french-canadian meat pie milk in a bag comes in a group of 3 bags Brands Smarties something like M&Ms Crispy Crunch chocolate bar Coffee Crisp chocolate bar Caramilk chocolate bar Shreddies cereal Canadian Tire a hardware and household goods chain Canadian Tire Money currency good only at Canadian Tire Other 5-pin bowling a smaller ball, and only 5 pins---great for kids and drunks mountie member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (like the FBI) toonie (or twoonie) Canadian two-dollar coin (since 1996) toque (or tuque) woollen, usually pointed cap worn in the winter civic holiday a day off work for no good reason

MEDIA THAT IS POPULAR IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE US

David Wilcox not the american folk singer, the canadian blues guitarist and poet The Tragically Hip sell out multi-day festivals in canada, play 100-person bars in the US Bare Naked Ladies after many years, broke into the US on the "american pie" soundtrack Maclean and Maclean two low-brow Nova Scotian comedian/musicians

OTHER INTERESTING DIFFERENCES

The Canadian 'accent' can be heard most easily in the following words: out, about, house, and others with 'ou'. For example, canadian pronounciation of the word 'out' is like 'e' as in 'pet' followed by 'oot' as in 'boot', sounding like 'e'+'oot'. American pronounciation of 'out' is more like 'ow' as in 'cow', sounding like 'ow'+'t'. Other words often pronounced differenctly are 'pop', and 'roof'. Of course, the trademark 'eh' at the end of a statement is a dead giveaway.

Canadian spellings can also cause confusion: colour vs color, cheque vs check, centre vs center, etc.

Canada uses the metric system, although canadians quote their height and wieght in feet/inches and pounds. Industry, for the most part, still uses imperial units.

For measuring temperature, Canada uses celcius (rather than fahrenheit).

Canada does celebrate thanksgiving, but in October (as opposed to the US thanksgiving in November). Is this to provide more shopping days for christmas? Either way, the Canadian holiday does not at all revolve around football.

Although there are many differences in prices of things between US and Canada, two that stand out are the after-exchange lower prices of electronics in the US, and the far lower prices of CDs in Canada. Also, there is a pricing inversion for CDs such that in the US the older CDs are the cheapest, while in Canada it is the newest releases that are usually on sale.

The drinking age in Canada is 19 in most provinces, and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. Note that the provinces where it is 18 alternate as you go west to east. Coincidence?

Soda/pop is made with corn syrup in the US, and sugar in Canada---this changes the taste significantly.

It's been said that Canadians are simply disarmed Americans with health care.

Some of these 'Canadianisms' are of British origin, and can be found there as well.

Football rules: size of our footballs, football fields, and one less down

Canadian inventions: ski-doos, jet-skis, zippers, insulin, penicillin, the telephone, short wave radios, robertson screws (square hole)

Not invented in Canada: zamboni's

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