Think English in Canada is just English? Clearly, you’ve never been to the Maritimes… Not only do us Canadians have our unique Canadian slang words but you can also find differences in speech between the cities, provinces and territories as well.
So, whether you’re visiting us from another country, or just a Canadian travelling to a new province or territory this year, it’s important to understand the ways and words of the locals. Learn these 25 Canadian slang terms that will help you navigate life in the north a little bit easier.
Buddy/ Bud
On the east coast predominantly (but also heard nationwide), buddy is a way to talk about a person without using a name. For example, it could be ‘buddy over there’ or ‘buddy in the beer store’. Buddy doesn’t have to be a friend, or someone you know at all. Heck no, we share the love freely. Similarly, bud is used affectionately to speak to others in Canada, in phrases like ‘How are ya, bud?’
Regular/ Double Double
We’re big on coffee here in Canada, so naturally, we have Canadian slang to make ordering it a bit easier. A regular refers to a coffee made with one cream and one sugar, while a double-double is a coffee made with two creams and two sugars. You can continue this trend with a triple-triple, or a 4-by-4 but you may get some judgy looks from your local Tim Hortons cashier if you order the last two…
Timmies/ Tims/ Timbits
Speaking of Tim Hortons, there are many variations for what we call this local coffee shop chain, but if anyone asks if you want something from Tims or Timmies, a coffee, donut, timbits or a bagel is usually a safe choice. Timbits are what Tim Hortons calls ‘donut holes’, or mini spherical donuts, but it has become the national term for these treats, regardless of where you buy them.
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Hang a Larry/ Hang a Roger
This phrase is used when giving directions, with Larry meaning a left turn and Roger meaning a right turn. Why Larry and Roger specifically? Your guess is as good as ours.
Mickey/ Texas mickey
While a mickey is a small bottle of alcohol (375mL or 13oz) a Texas mickey is a giant bottle of alcohol (3L or 101oz).
Two-Four
A case of 24 beers.
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Dart
A cigarette.
Chesterfield
A sofa or couch.
Toque
A winter hat or beanie.
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Bunnyhug
The Saskatchewan (a Canadian province) word for a sweater or hoodie.
Nize it
Most popular in the Toronto area, it’s a way to tell someone to be quiet or stop talking. Pronounced like ‘nice’ but with a ‘Z’ (and also the total opposite of nice).
The Rock
No, not the muscular and charismatic wrestler turned singer. The Rock is the nickname for the island province of Newfoundland. But don’t worry, we’re fans of Dwayne Johnson here too.
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T Dot/ The 6ix/ The 6/ The Big Smoke/ Hogtown/ T.O.
Lots of affectionate phrases for the city of Toronto. The ‘6’ comes from rapper Drake whose album 6 is named after his hometown – it refers to the city’s two area codes, 416 and 647.
The Peg
The city of Winnipeg.
Cowtown
The city of Calgary.
Yes b’y
A popular Newfoundland (an Island in east side Canada) phrase of affirmation.
Convenience Store/ Dep
You may call this a corner store, bodega, corner shop, milk bar, market or some other variation in other countries. Dep is used in Quebec, as it is short for the French word dépanneur – which means convenience store.
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Reach
Popular in the Toronto area, it means coming to or going to a place or event: “You reaching tonight?” “Imma reach“
Keener
Someone who’s over-eager; a suck-up; a try-hard; a brown-noser. You heard. Keener.
Loonie/ Toonie
A loonie is what we call our one-dollar coins which have a loon on them. Toonies are our two-dollar coins.
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Bucks
Dollars.
Beauty
Used to say something is good (a beauty), or in place of ‘awesome’ if used on its own. “That car’s beaut“
Clicks
Kilometres.
Jesus Murphy
Used as a safe expletive, as if changing The Lord’s last name makes the phrase any less blasphemous.
Eh
Last but not least, one of our favourite words. On its own or added to the end of a sentence is can mean ‘right?’, ‘what?’, but can also be added to most sentences just for the heck of it. “It’s so cold, eh!”
