Although Canadians and Americans share a common language, we have a few words here north of the border that haven’t quite trickled down south. (If you’ve ever asked where the washroom was in Washington and gotten a blank stare, you’ve experienced the phenomenon first-hand.) Here are a few terms that you’ll only hear north of the 49th.
Double-double
Although primarily associated with Tim Hortons, double-double is now used across Canada as a generic expression meaning coffee with two creams and two sugars. Ask for double cream, double sugar if you don’t want to get a puzzled stare from the gal at the Dunkin’ Donuts in Duluth. (And if you need a snack, the standard term is “donut hole,” not Timbit.)
Two-four, beer store, and pint
We have nationalistic drinking tendencies here in Canada—you won’t hear any of these phrases in the States. Oh, sure, they have containers with 24 beers in them, but they’re called flats or cases. Stores that sell exclusively alcohol exist all over the US, but an institution called The Beer Store—well, that’s pretty much a Canadian thing. And there are pints in the States, but they’re 16 ounces, rather than the British/Canadian Imperial 20 ounces.
Peameal/back bacon
Peameal or back bacon in Canada refers to brined slices of pork loin coated in cornmeal—which resembles a thin pork chop more than traditional bacon. Back bacon shouldn’t be confused with “Canadian bacon” in the States, though—this term usually refers to a thin slice of smoked ham, rather than anything we’d call bacon up here.
Tuque/toque/touque
However you spell it, it’s most often called a knit cap, beanie, or stocking cap south of the border. This style of hat was a symbol of French-Canadian nationalism following the 1837 rebellion in Lower Canada—but now it’s simply the best way to keep ears toasty warm during a January cold snap. Thanks to Canadian cultural icons Bob and Doug Mackenzie, the use of the word “tuque” is slightly more familiar to our American neighbours than it used to be.
Toboggan
So much more evocative than “sled,” toboggan is (most likely) from the Micmac word “tobakun,” which means … sled.
Hydro
When you pay your hydro bill, what type of power are you paying for? In many parts of Canada, “hydro” refers to electricity—probably because much of our electricity comes from hydroelectric power. In the US, though, “hydro” means your water bill—although people are more likely to say “water” anyway.
Smarties, Coffee Crisp, Bloody Caesars, Kinder Surprise eggs, and ketchup and all-dressed chips
None of these are available in the US—and Kinder Surprise eggs are actually illegal.
For some real Canadian fun, try saying this to your next American visitor:
“I’m going to collect the loonies and toonies out of my knapsack and head to the Beer Store for a two-four. On my way back, I’ll pick us up a double-double and some Timbits, then we can have that back bacon for breakfast. If you spill your Tim’s because I’m driving 20 clicks over the speed limit, I’ll give you a serviette to use in the washroom. And don’t worry—I’ve got a mickey of vodka to put in our Caesars. Save me a seat on the chesterfield, eh?”
You want to see puzzled looks? Ask for vinegar for your fries! The blank stares are worse the further south you go. Same goes for iced tea - not the same as "sweet tea"!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
Biscuits and gravy isn't what you would think of up here. Stateside the biscuits are crumbly corn bread, while the gravy is whipped fat with some ground beef nuggets in it. (I think the ground beef is supposed to act like the little nuggets in Bars Leaks rad leak stopper. Bungs ya up a bit, and keeps ya from poopin yer pants.)
Get much more inland than 30 miles from the border and Rye n Coke is a blank stare as well.
Another Canuck word....pogey, as in UI.
I spent some time down south and can't believe the crap they eat.
Grits. More like cream of wheat.
I did like Mexican coffee in the morning....Coffee, Kahlua and Tequila.
ginger ale is not a common drink in yankee land either. we also sound like we are saying aboot when we say about i am told by some muricans i know
I don't really get the aboot thing. I think most Canadians pronounce "about" properly but I have noticed that many Americans say it differently than we do. They tend to pronounce the "out" part of the word about so that it rhymes with cow.
I've noticed in the last few years that even newscasters on American channels are starting to pronounce the word "important" as if it had a D in place of the T. It seems that it's now pronounced impordant.
In Canada roof and hoof rhyme with spoof, but in a lot of states roof and hoof rhyme with look.
In Canada greasy rhymes with fleecy, but in a lot of states greasy rhymes with easy.
You'd think that in this age of radio and television that regional dialects would be less common but that doesn't seem to be the case. If you were to put a guy from Newfoundland in a room with a black guy from the deep south, they'd probably only understand about half of what the other guy was saying.
Have you ever noticed how tv reality shows have to use word captions on the bottom of the screen so that we can understand what some people are saying.
I'm still surprised, that even today, many Americans still haven't heard of a "Bag of milk". My sister lives in California, and she is constantly baffled about how the Americans haven't heard of many things that are part of our daily conversations north of the border.
You want to see puzzled looks? Ask for vinegar for your fries! The blank stares are worse the further south you go. Same goes for iced tea - not the same as "sweet tea"!
I was in a McDonald's in Yonkers NY years ago and asked for Vinegar.
"Vinegar? Whatch you want Vinegar for?" was the reply from the rather large server.
"For my fries" I replied.
"For your fries?" she responded with a puzzled look on her face.
"Yes" I replied; "Why, what do you put on your fries?"
"Chocolate Milk Shake" she answered like I should have known the logical answer.
I asked for Vinegar for my fries......Deer in the headlight look....
She gave me the vinegar from the bottle that she used to clean the tables with
LMAO.....
And don't get me started about beer...they drink yellow water...cant tell you how many times I ran into "Billy Bob" who claimed he could drink a case.... and still drive home......
After I feed him 5-6 Canadian Beers....he's under the table...calling for "RALPH".....
Bunch of pussies...."Take OFF .....EH"...Freakin ...."HOSER'S"
But on the other side
When they go to war....they throw everything at their enemy but the kitchen sink.....Million $$$$ smart bombs 100's in one night
Canada...?we send 2 SEA KING helecopters ....on the back of a flatbed truck with 30 mechanics to try and get them flying
And.....the only working submarine Canada has......is in the West Edmonton Mall....1000 miles from the ocean.
Yup....were different EH...but I'm glad they are our neighbours.....Cheap Shopping.....EH?
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"If you don't pass on the knowledge you have to others, it Dies with you"
maybe 5 - 6 yrs ago in the States , I axeually heard the word .." Aight " not shure of the spelling , used properly in a sentence for the first time . Usually I,ve only heard it in rap video,s or American tv shows .
Like I,m going to the store to buy cigarettes . Aight ??.. pronounced eye eeet
up here we call them smokes , there , cigarettes .
try explaining the humidex to some one from States , or even another part of Canada ..77.
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I,m as cool as Milner , but axeually a bit more like Beckwith
THE WHITE GRAVEY THEY HAVE IN THE STATES IS NOT GROUND BEEF BUT SUSAGE MEAT IN IT GRITS AR WHITE CORN GROUND UP LIKE CORN MEAL IF YOU COOK THEM RIGHT THEY ARE REALY GOOD WITH GOOD OLD CANADIAN MAPEL SYOUP ON THEM AND BUTTER
lol nasty!!!! The stuff that passes for gravy is gross!
