Canadian French refers to the language as spoken in Canada and is the mother tongue of nearly seven million Canadians (roughly 22% of the national population). The dialects of French spoken in Canada are Quebec, Acadian, M\u00e9tis, Newfoundland and Brayon dialects. You will also find Canadian French spoken in parts of New England in the United States. Both English and French are the official languages of Canada, and in New Brunswick and Quebec French is the only official language. Quebec French is not only spoken in Quebec, but closely related varieties are spoken by francophone communities in Ontario, Western Canada, Labrador and in the New England region of the United States.<\/p>\n
One thing I’ve heard a lot over the years is “French is French, you can understand it no matter where you go”. Well, that’s true to a point. The Quebec French accent is close to the French spoken in Poitou or Normandy, so most Francophone Canadians are able to communicate with European Francophones with some modifications to their accent and shifting to a slightly more formal, “international” type of speech by avoiding idioms or slang. Metropolitan French speakers have no problems understanding Quebec newscasts or other moderately formal Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois speech. The difficulties may come in informal speech, such as the dialogue in a sitcom where idioms, slang, local vocabulary are used.<\/p>\n
Formal language<\/strong><\/p>\n A notable difference in grammar is the feminine form of many professions, which traditionally do not have a feminine form. There are other, sporadic spelling differences. For example, the spelling tofou<\/em><\/strong> for what is in France tofu<\/em><\/strong>. In grammar, the adjective inuit<\/em><\/strong> (Inuit<\/em>) is invariable in France but, according to official recommendations in Quebec, it has regular feminine and plural forms.<\/p>\n Informal language<\/strong><\/p>\n You will also find many grammatical differences between informal spoken Quebec French and the formal language. There is the omission of the negative particle ne<\/em><\/strong>, in Metropolitan French (Je parle pas anglais<\/em><\/strong>, Je comprends pas<\/em><\/strong>), while other features, such as use of the interrogative particle –tu<\/em><\/strong>, are used in Quebec or Canadian French.<\/p>\n Here’s some examples showing a few differences between French as spoken in Europe and Quebec:<\/p>\n Vocabulary<\/strong><\/p>\n Common phrases<\/strong><\/p>\n One major characteristic distinguishing Quebec French from Metropolitan French is the greater number of borrowings from English in the informal spoken language, whereas in formal contexts, the use of Anglicisms are more strictly avoided than in Metropolitan French.<\/p>\n barfer<\/strong> – to barf, vomit\n\n
\n Quebec<\/th>\n Europe<\/th>\n English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n abrier<\/td>\n couvrir<\/td>\n to cover<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n astheure<\/td>\n maintenant<\/td>\n now<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n chum (m)<\/td>\n copain (m)<\/td>\n (male) friend\/boyfriend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n magasiner<\/td>\n faire des courses<\/td>\n to go shopping\/do errands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n placoter<\/td>\n papoter<\/td>\n to chat\/chatter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n Quebec<\/th>\n Europe<\/th>\n English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n avoir le corps d\u00e9rang\u00e9<\/td>\n avoir la diarrh\u00e9e<\/td>\n to have diarrhea<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n avoir le go\u00fbt d\u00e9rang\u00e9<\/td>\n gouter une saveur \u00e9trange<\/td>\n to taste something strange, unexpected<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n en arracher<\/td>\n en baver<\/td>\n to have a rough time<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n faire beau soleil<\/td>\n faire un temps radieux<\/td>\n to have radiant\/sunny weather<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n prendre une marche<\/td>\n faire une promenade<\/td>\n to take a walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n avoir le bec fin<\/td>\n faire le difficile<\/td>\n to be picky<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n se faire passer un sapin<\/td>\n se faire duper<\/td>\n to be tricked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n parler \u00e0 travers son chapeau<\/td>\n parler \u00e0 tort et \u00e0 travers<\/td>\n to talk through one’s hat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nbosser<\/strong> – to boss others around
\nc\u00e9dule<\/strong> – schedule
\n\u00eatre badloqu\u00e9<\/strong> – From the English \u2018to be\/have bad luck.\u2019
\nkiquer<\/strong> – To give something or someone a kick
\nouatcher<\/strong> – to watch or keep an eye on
\npuncher<\/strong> – to punch
\ntripper<\/strong> – From English 60s hippie slang, je trippe<\/em><\/strong> \u2018I am tripping out, dude!\u2019
\nla poque<\/strong> – hockey puck<\/p>\n