French is the city’s official language. In 2021, it was spoken at home by 59.1% of the population and 69.2% in the Montreal Census Metropolitan Area. Overall, 85.7% of the population of the city of Montreal considered themselves fluent in French while 90.2% could speak it in the metropolitan area.
Is it OK to speak English in Montreal?
French Language Requirements
Learning English is not encouraged by the government. These days, in Montreal, people will speak English to an Anglophone when they can. In other towns, they may be more reticent to do so because their English is limited.
What percentage of Montreal speak French?
Knowledge of official languages, Montréal, 2011 and 2016
| Language | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | |
| Total | 4,053,360 | 100 |
| English | 286,280 | 7.1 |
| French | 1,472,055 | 36.3 |
Can I go to Montreal if I don’t speak French?
If you’re visiting Quebec as a tourist or traveler, French is optional. It might help you get a better feel for Québécois culture, or it might help you avoid an awkward gesturing game if you encounter someone who speaks little-to-no English (which is somewhat likely outside of Montreal).
What parts of Montreal are French?
East of the Saint Lawrence River, right next to Brossard, Longueuil has an overwhelming majority of native French speakers, 79 percent according to the 2016 census. And to the north of Montreal Island, French is nearly as dominant in Deux-Montagnes, where it’s the mother tongue of about 75 percent of residents.
How do you say hello in Montreal?
SIMPLE STUFF
- Bonjour (bon-zhoor) Hello (literal translation: “Good day”)
- Bonsoir (bon-swahr) Good evening.
- Merci (mair-see) Thanks!
- De rien (duh ree-en) You’re welcome (literal translation: “of nothing”)
- S’il vous plaît (seel voo play) Please.
Is it expensive to live in Montreal?
The cost of living in Montreal is lower than in the likes of Vancouver and Toronto, but higher than in Calgary and Ottawa. Montreal placed 125th out of 227 cities surveyed in Mercer’s 2022 Cost of Living Survey, making it the third most expensive Canadian city.
Can you speak English in Quebec?
English is not banned in Quebec!
Just as in any other province of Canada, its official language may be French, but the English population is accounted for. This means you can speak and be served in Shakespeare’s tongue in pretty much any urban setting.
Is French mandatory in Montreal?
All students will have to take at least three 45-hour courses in French. For those with English eligibility, those can be French second-language courses — so, classes that just teach how to speak and write in French. For those without eligibility, it has to be three courses from your core curriculum.
Why is French declining in Quebec?
The relative decline of French in Quebec can be explained partly by a younger anglophone population, immigration from non-Francophone countries, and Quebec losing fewer English speakers to other parts of the country, according to a Statistics Canada analysis of Wednesday’s data.
Can you live in Montreal with only English?
You can definitely live a normal life in Montreal without speaking a single word of French, you won’t be the only one. But there is so much more in Montreal than that, if you wanna explore the city, you should at least learn enough of the language to get you through the day.
Is Montreal nice to live?
While the city is remarkably safe all around and one of the best places to live in Canada, it’s still better to stay away from some areas, at least when house hunting. Such are Montreal North, Park Extension, and St. Michael. The Old Port evokes the spirit of the time of the early settlements.
Do people in Montreal speak English with a French accent?
Francophone speakers of Quebec (including Montreal) also have their own second-language English that incorporates French accent features, vocabulary, etc.
Is there an English part of Montreal?
Montreal Ouest (or Montreal West) is a predominantly English-speaking neighbourhood that has Westminster Avenue as a vibrant focal point.
Can non French speakers live in Montreal?
Yes, you can live in Montreal without speaking French, but it’s not enough to emigrate. As we have established before, you must prove that you can speak, read, write and understand it to become a Canadian citizen. For newcomers, learning the mother tongue is a fundamental step of immigration.
What percentage of Montreal is black?
10.3%
City of Montreal
| Visible minority and Aboriginal population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Population group | % of total population (2011) | |
| Visible minority group | South Asian | 3.3% |
| Chinese | 3.3% | |
| Black | 10.3% |
How do Canadians say sorry?
In other words, where many US speakers will pronounce “sorry” like “sari”, (i.e. in the lot Lexical Set), Canadians make the first syllable like “sore.” In fact, when Canadian actors learn that US speakers say “sorry/sari” in the same manner, they often remark “where’s the pain in that?” For us, “sorry,” the word many
Why do Canadians always say eh?
Although eh has its roots in Middle English and did not originate in Canada, the interjection acts as marker of anglophone Canadian identity and distinguishes Canadian English from other dialects. Eh is internationally recognized as a uniquely Canadian form of speech, often to the point of exaggeration and stereotype.
How do you say sorry in Montreal?
Je suis désolé/e is by far the most common and one of the broadest ways to apologize. It’s essentially the equivalent of “I am sorry” in English.
Is Montreal too cold to live?
Montreal has a semi-continental climate with warm, humid summers and blistering cold winters. The harsh Canadian winters will likely be the biggest adjustment for expats moving to Montreal. Temperatures can drop to -4°F (-20°C), and it can feel even colder with the wind chill.
Can I live in Montreal without a car?
Thanks to Montreal’s public transportation system, there really is no need for a car. Parking is relatively cheap, but you might have difficulty finding a spot in the more touristy neighborhoods.