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About This Quiz
Canada is known for being cold, having citizens who love hockey, and having both French and English as national languages. However, it is so much more than that and that comes across in Canadian English.
While Canadians tend to get stereotyped as a bunch of people who sound mostly like Americans, except for when they say "out and about." it's not accurate at all. The accents might be similar, but Canadians have their own unique vocabulary that baffles their fellow English speakers. This vocabulary has been shaped by British English, French, Chinook Jargon and a myriad of other influences.Â
Unlike American English, Canadian English kept many of the features found in British English. Canada spells meter as "metre" and center as "centre." The last letter of the alphabet is called "zed" instead of "zee." Both also have "eh" as part of their vocabulary, although Canadians get more mileage out of the word with its many different meanings, which change based on the inflection used.Â
Are you ready for this quiz? Grab a plate of poutine, make yourself a Caesar and enjoy a Nanaimo bar! For the uninitiated, those are a plate of french fries with cheese curds and gravy, a bloody Mary made with clamato juice, and a bar that contains a wafer, butter icing and chocolate ganache. It's time to test your knowledge of Canadian slang!Â
If a Canadian wears their runners, what type of shoe are they wearing?
Running shoe
Runners have many names. Depending on where you are from, you may call them sneakers, tennis shoes, walkers or walking shoes.
High heels
Oxfords
Sandals
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When someone says they are a Newfie, where are they from?
Alberta
British Columbia
Newfoundland
Newfie is a shortening of Newfoundlander. It can be considered offensive or a term of endearment.
Northwest Territories
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If a Canadian says they are going to the store for a two-four, what are they picking up?
24 roses
A case of 24 beers
Victoria Day, which is Queen Victoria's birthday, is on May 24. In Canada, this is sometimes called May two-four, which is both a reference to her birthday at the large amount of beer consumed.
24 donuts
A case of 24 water bottles
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Why would you call someone a Canuck?
They're happy.
They're Canadian.
The word Canuck first appeared in 1835. In 1869, a political cartoon featuring a man named Johnny Canuck appeared. He was reinvented as a World War II action hero in the 1940s.
They're nice.
They dislike Canada.
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Why should you look out for a Mountie?
It's a small child.
It's a strict teacher.
It's the police.
A Mountie is an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It first appeared in 1914. While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police rode horses at the time, horses are no longer used regularly.
It's an angry Canadian.
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What is a Canadian eating if they are having Kraft Dinner?
Chicken
A frozen meal
Macaroni and cheese
Kraft Dinner is so popular in Canada that it is often referred to only by its initials, K.K. The dish received a shout out in the song "If I Had $1000000" by the Barenaked Ladies.
A grilled cheese sandwich
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What unit of measure is a klick?
Inch
Kilometer
"Klick" is shortened form of kilometers. Someone may say something is "3 klicks." A klick is about five-eighths of a mile.
Gram
Yard
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Why would a Canadian say "eh?"
To ask if you agree or ask for something to be repeated.
"Eh" was first recorded in the mid-16th century. Merriam-Webster believes it comes from the Middle English "ey."
To disagree or dismiss something.
To express resentment.
To cheer on their favorite hockey team.
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What kind of pants are joggers?
Sweatpants
In Canada, sweatpants are called joggers. In Australia, they may be called trackpants, tracky daks or trackies.
Khakis
Trousers
Jeans
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The milk that Canadians call "homo milk" is better known as what?
Skim milk
1 percent milk
Boxed milk
Homogenized milk
In Canada, whole milk is unhomogenized. On Canadian milk labels, it is common to see homogenized milk shortened to homo milk. Homogenized milk has the fat molecules broken down so it won't separate.
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If you put your leftover food in the garburator, where is it going?
In the freezer
In the fridge
In the trash can
In the garbage disposal
"Garburator" entered Canadian English in 1948. It refers to the electric device in a kitchen sink that shreds food waste.
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If you left your car in a parkade, where is it?
In an abandoned lot
In a multistory parking garage
Parkade dates from the 1940s. It is a combination of "park" and "arcade."
In a shopping center parking lot
In your driveway
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When it gets cold out, a Canadian might put on a tuque, which is what?
A type of jacket
Earmuffs
A knit cap
Tuque originated as a French Canadian word. CBC reports that the word most likely comes from the Old Spanish word for a type of headdress, which was called a toca.
Gloves
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If you ask for a double-double, what will you get in your coffee?
Black coffee
Nonfat milk and two sugars
One cream and one sugar
Two creams and two sugar
Double-double is strongly associated with the donut chain Tim Hortons. Another Tim Hortons specialty is Timbits, which are donut holes.
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What type of person is a rink rat?
A young person who spends lots of time at a hockey rink.
The term rink rat was first recorded in the mid-1900s. It is specifically a young person who helps out at the hockey rink in return for free admission.
An old person who likes roller skating.
A person who watches sports on television.
A racing fan
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If you ask for a freezie on a hot summer day, what will you receive?
A scoop of ice cream
An ice pop
Freezies are the type of ice pop that comes in a thin plastic sleeve. You may know them as freeze pops.
An ice pack
A bottle of cold water
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Why would you congratulate a woman on her stagette?
It's her wedding day.
It's her bachelorette party.
The different English-speaking nations all have their own word for the party held for a woman before her wedding. In Canada, staggette is used. However, the United States uses bachelorette party and the United Kingdom uses hen do.
She's celebrating a pregnancy.
She's celebrating dumping a bad boyfriend.
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What are you wearing if someone comments on your bunny hug?
A baseball cap
Sweatpants
Slippers
A hooded sweatshirt
While a Canadian will know what you mean, calling a hoodie a "bunny hug" is mostly done in Saskatchewan. The bunny hug was also a dance
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If you ask for a pencil crayon, what kind of coloring tool will you receive?
A washable marker
A crayon
A permanent marker
A colored pencil
Pencil crayon may derive from the English "colored pencil" and the French "crayon de couleur." In the United Kingdom, they are called "colouring pencils."
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What type of outdoor chair is a Muskoka chair?
Wicker chair
Adirondack chair
Muskoka is a region in Central Ontario. The original Muskoka or Adirondack chair was created by Thomas Lee.
Plastic
Folding
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Why might Canadians disapprove of a keener?
They have a short temper.
They steal.
They are rude to sales people.
They're a brown-noser.
Keener comes from the word keen, which means eager. The word specifically refers to someone who is overly enthusiastic and tries to hard to please others.
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While America Runs on Dunkin', Canada runs to Timmies, which is formally known as what?
Tim McGraw's
Tim Burton's
Tim Cook's
Tim Hortons
In 1964, Tim Horton opened the first Tim Hortons in Hamilton, Ontario. The company branched out to the United States in 1985 with its first location in Amherst, New York.
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If an event is describe as a gong-show, what was it?
Fun
A smashing success
A total disaster
A "gong show" or "gonger" describes an even that went out of control. The term comes from the 1970s show called "The Gong Show," which featured people doing outrageous stunts. If the judges didn't like it, they would gong the participants.
Boring
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When two people are chirping each other, what are they doing?
Complimenting
Insulting
Chirping is used in eastern Canada. The western Canadian equivalent is beaking.
Hugging
Hanging out
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When someone is called a hoser, what are they being called?
Arrogant
Nice
Suave
Unsophisticated
The term hoser gained popularity after it was featured on the Canadian sketch show SCTV. In "The Great White North" segments, Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas would use the word while in character as Bob and Doug McKenzie.
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What are you carrying around if you have a Toonie in your pocket?
1 dollar coin
2 dollar coin
The Canadian two-dollar coin gets its nickname from combining two with loonie, which is the name of the Canadian one-dollar coin. On Feb. 19, 1996, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced the Toonie, which it estimates has a life span 20 times greater than its paper equivalent.
5 dollar coin
10 dollar coin
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When a Canadian says they are on the pogey, what are they referring to?
Health insurance
Car insurance
Their sobriety.
Unemployment insurance
The word "pogey" may come from slang for poorhouse. It can be used for any kind of relief given to the unemployed. However, it usually refers specifically to unemployment insurance.
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If a Canadian is sitting on a chesterfield, what are they sitting on?
A folding chair
A bench
A stool
A couch
In Canada, chesterfield is used to describe any couch. In the United Kingdom, a chesterfield is specifically a buttoned sofa usually made out of leather.
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What is a hockey player doing if he dekes out another player?
Hits them
Fakes them out
The ice hockey term is a shortened form of "decoy." In Canadian English, "deke" is also used to describe a quick detour, such as stopping at a convenience store.
Starts a fight
Loses to
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You may be loony if you're carrying 100 loonies around because they are only worth what?
1 cent
50 cents
75 cents
1 dollar
The Canadian one-dollar coin is called the loonie because the most common version has Queen Elizabeth II on one side and the common loon, a type of bird, on the other. The steel coin with brass plating was first minted in 1987.
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When someone goes to the liquor store for a mickey, what are they purchasing?
A bottle of wine
A beer
A small bottle of liquor
In Canada, a mickey is specifically a 375-milliliter bottle of liquor. A liquor bottle that contain 750 milliliters is called a twenty-sixer.
A mixer
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If you get whitener in your coffee, what are you putting in it?
Sugar
Whole milk
Artificial sweetener
A powder added to coffee
A whitener can apply to any non-dairy creamer. However, it is usually used for the powdered kind.
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Which Canadian city do you live in if you are in The Six?
Toronto
Drake popularized The Six as a nickname for Toronto. On an episode of "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon," Drake said it is both a reference to the area code 416 and the six areas Toronto used to be broken up into. Those areas are Old Toronto, North York, East York, York, Scarborough and Etobicoke.
Montreal
Quebec
Vancouver
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If you're going out for a rip, what are you doing?
Going for a drive
Going for a rip means going for a drive, which can involve a car or a snowmobile. It can also mean going out for a good time with friends.
Going for a walk
Going to let off some steam
Going to the mall
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Someone who is skookum is what?
Brave or strong
Skookum comes from Chinook Jargon. In Chinook Jargon, the word can mean powerful or evil spirit.
Weak or cowardly
Happy and successful
Bitter and angry
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