Common Québécois Phrases
| Attache ta tuque! *A tuque is a Canadian word for beanie | Hold on tight! |
|---|---|
| C’est le fun! | It’s awesome! |
| Chauffer le char *A play on the word chauffeur | to drive the car |
| C’est tiguidou! | It’s all good! |
| Ça a pas d’allure! *Allure has a different meaning in English | It makes no sense at all! |
What are some Quebec expressions?
7 Phrases You Will Only Hear in Québécois
- Lâche pas la patate! Don’t let go of the potato!
- Se laisser manger la laine sur le dos. To let someone eat the wool off your back.
- C’est tiguidou. It’s good!
- Tire-toi une bû Take a log.
- Avoir du front tout le tour de la tête.
- Faire le boss de bécosses.
- Être vite sur ses patins.
What are some expressions in French?
General French sayings
- Battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud.
- Ce n’est pas la mer à boire.
- La nuit porte conseil.
- Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.
- Vouloir, c’est pouvoir.
- Impossible n’est pas français.
- Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.
- L’habit ne fait pas le moine.
Why is Quebecois French so different?
Accent and pronunciation differ due to the archaic nature of the language. Canadian French contains several 17th-century pronunciations, resulting in a noticeably different accent than other Francophones (French speakers).
How does Québécois differ from français?
Quebecois has over 15 vowel sounds, while French has around 13. An example would be the European French pronunciation of “moi” and the Quebecois pronunciation is “moé”. Quebecois also sounds significantly more nasal to the listener than French itself, and accent and intonation also will vary.
How do Québécois say hello?
French people stick to the usual “bonjour”. That said, if you’re wondering how to say hello in French Canadian then look no further. In Canada, particularly in Quebec, we can say “bon matin”. As far as afternoons are concerned, there’s no other special way to say hello during the day until the evening.
What is unique to Quebec?
It is the only remaining walled city in North America north of Mexico and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. Among its other distinguishing characteristics are its narrow cobblestone streets, stone buildings, fortifications, and rich French Canadian culture grounded in the French language.
What is the hardest French word to say?
Serrurerie
Brace yourself: The hardest French word to pronounce is the word for locksmith – “serrurerie“. It was the most commonly repeated response.
What are some popular expressions?
Common English idioms & expressions
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Don’t put all your eggs in one basket | What you’re doing is too risky |
| Every cloud has a silver lining | Good things come after bad things |
| Get a taste of your own medicine | Get treated the way you’ve been treating others (negative) |
| Give someone the cold shoulder | Ignore someone |
Why do people say je ne sais quoi?
If you say something has a certain je ne sais quoi, you’ll sound fancy instead of inarticulate. In French, je ne sais quoi literally means “I don’t know what.” It’s used to capture an indescribable, special distinguishing feature, or to name some unnamable quality.
Why do Québécois say LA?
I would say that là usually means “in this situation”, “then”, “now” or something along those lines. Là là is used in a situation where the first là has a full meaning, but the second là acts a bit like in the example Tu m’agaces, là, where là appears merely to emphasize the previous words.
Can French understand Québécois?
Although these accents may cause confusion, typically both Metropolitan French and Québécois speakers can understand one another. However, Québécois can be much more informal of a language by utilizing idioms, words, cultural references, and expressions unique to French-Canada.
Do Quebecers consider themselves Canadian?
Self-identification as Québécois became dominant starting in the 1960s; prior to this, the francophone people of Quebec mostly identified themselves as French Canadians and as Canadiens before anglophones started identifying as Canadians as well.
What is Québécois French called?
Quebec French (French: français québécois [fʁɑ̃sɛ kebekwa]), also known as Québécois French, is the predominant variety of the French language spoken in Canada. It is the dominant language of the province of Quebec, used in everyday communication, in education, the media, and government.
How are the Québécois different from other Canadians?
Quebec is the only region in North America with a French-speaking majority, as well as one of only two provinces in Canada where French is a constitutionally recognized official language.
What is so different about the people of Quebec?
As the only French-speaking region of North America, Quebec is unlike anywhere else on the continent. The majority of the population consists of French-Canadians, the descendants of 17th century French settlers who have resisted centuries of pressure to assimilate into Anglo society.
How do you respond to Merci in Quebec?
The usual response to merci is de rien (You’re welcome – literally, It’s nothing) or il n’y a pas de quoi. In a more formal context, you could say Je vous en prie or Je t’en prie.
How do Québécois say happy birthday?
In most French speaking countries, “Joyeux anniversaire” and “Bon anniversaire” are the most common expressions to wish a happy birthday. In Québec, they also use “Bonne fête”.
What are 5 things Quebec is known for?
Discover what Quebec is known for and get ready to be inspired for an incredible metropolitan escape.
- Old Quebec. Umbrella Alley art installation, Rue du Cul-de-Sac.
- Culture. Old Town.
- Cuisine. Poutine.
- Wine. Vineyard in Île d’Orléans.
- Montmorency Falls. Montmorency Falls.
- Plains of Abraham.
- Île d’Orléans.
- The New Grand Market.
What are 3 interesting facts about Quebec?
Cool Quebec Facts to Know as a Tourist
- The Chateau Frontenac Hotel holds the Guinness World Record for the most photographed hotel in the world!
- Quebec is home to one of the largest winter festivals in the world.
- You can sleep in a nun’s cell in Old Quebec!
- Quebec City is home to the oldest church in Canada.
What are important symbols of Quebec?
Québec’s Symbols
- Fleurdelisé Flag. The Québec flag was officially adopted in 1948.
- Coat of Arms. The coat of arms, in its present form, was adopted in 1939 to symbolize the historical realities of Québec.
- Yellow Birch.
- Blue Flag Iris.
- Snowy Owl.