17 Common Canadian Words You Should Steal ...

17 Common Canadian Words You Should Steal ...
By Holly • Mar 6, 2021

If you've never set foot in Canada, there are a few words you probably haven't heard before. After all, every country has their own unique phrases. Here are a few common Canadian words we should all start using:

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1. Tuque

physical fitness, This is a beanie. So the next time you put one on your head, try asking everyone if they like your "tuque" and see how they respond to you.

2. Hoser

Hoser This is an insult. It's the equivalent of "idiot," so if you're fed up with one of your friends, you can try calling them a hoser and see how they respond.

3. Runners

Runners These are pretty self-explanatory. They're "sneakers." It makes sense, doesn't it? After all, you have to put on your runners in order to go for a run.

4. Parkade

car, vehicle, land vehicle, bmw, wheel, This is a "parking garage." It sounds a little more interesting than the word Americans are used to using.

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5. Pencil Crayon

Pencil Crayon You can probably guess what this word means. It's just a "colored pencil." Of course, "pencil crayon" makes just as much sense.

6. Gasbar

Gasbar This is what Canadians call the "gas station," but it's a lot more fun than our word for it. After all, when you fill up your tank, you're basically at a bar for your car.

7. Fire Hall

Fire Hall This is a "fire station." It isn't all that different than the word that Americans use for it.

8. All-dressed

speech, RAPO, This is a word you'd use to describe the way you want your food to be seasoned. So if you wanted a hot dog with everything on it, you'd say you wanted it "all-dressed."

9. Freezies

Freezies You might know these as "otter pops." They're basically flavored strips of ice that come in plastic. However, "otter pops" don't make much sense while "freezies" describes the frozen treat pretty accurately.

11. Rink Rat

Rink Rat It's no secret that Canadians love hockey. That's why they have a term like this. A "rink rat" is someone who loves spending time in the ice rink.

12. Chocolate Bar

Chocolate Bar We refer to pieces of pure chocolate as chocolate bars. However, in Canada, they'll refer to other types of candy bars, like Snickers, as chocolate bars.

13. Track Pants

Track Pants These are simply "sweatpants." Just like runners, they make perfect sense, because you'll put on your track pants before running around a track.

14. Rubber

mural, cartoon, art, graffiti, screenshot, This one is used in a few countries. No, it's not a condom. It's an "eraser."

15. Homo Millk

sense, cook, This has nothing to do with sexuality. It's what Canadians call their "homogenized whole milk."

16. Queue

Queue When you're stuck standing in a line, you could call it a "queue" instead. This word is used in quite a few countries, so most people will know what you're talking about without asking you to explain it to them.

17. Housecoat

Housecoat This is what some Canadians call their "robes." It sounds a lot fancier than the word that Americans use.

If you ever get the chance to visit Canada, take it. It's a beautiful country with super sweet people! What other common Canadian words do you use in everyday life?

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Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

  • Deova

    2016-01-04T13:12:23.810Z

    I am from Ontario, Canada. This article is simple English words. I don't call a gas station a gasbar and 'runners' is a British term. Britain is overseas FYI and Canada in USA's 'toque'. Please check authenticity before publishing there's been a lot of inaccuracy within AWS.
  • T

    2016-01-02T22:23:56.305Z

    Lots of negative people on here... I am Canadian and have used or heard all of these terms (except for rubber... I say eraser). Another couple to add to the list are 'eh' (I agree with Travelgalxo), and 'bunny hug'- aka hoodie or sweatshirt in Saskatchewan. :)
  • Cindy

    2016-01-03T04:35:59.975Z

    How about pop instead of soda.... I have heard of all of these except the rubber for eraser. I guess you have to a bit older to know these...
  • carrie

    2016-01-03T23:07:07.105Z

    A beanie and a toque are not the same thing. Also a rubber is a condom. I'm from Ontario so maybe it's different in more northern parts but I've never heard of most of these terms.
  • Sabrina

    2016-01-02T11:58:21.009Z

    I'm a Canadian and I also call it an eraser not a "rubber", a gas station not a "gas bar", I've never used "hoser, and "all dressed" is indeed a potato-chip flavour as Sev mentioned.
  • Sev

    2016-01-02T11:39:58.612Z

    I'm Canadian and have never called someone a hoser unless making fun of an American. Same with homo milk, gas bar and rubber. Never even heard those terms.
  • Halo

    2016-01-02T16:50:26.736Z

    @sable i agree
  • Sadie

    2016-01-03T03:37:29.533Z

    I'm from Michigan and we say most of these.
  • Katie

    2016-01-02T15:00:14.313Z

    I'm American and I use a lot of these.
  • Zoekb11

    2016-01-02T13:54:14.596Z

    I am Canadian and I have never heard some of these words
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