By Robin Esrock

International visitors to Canada will undoubtedly find some things familiar and others very different. Folks from the UK will see the late Queen on our money and many recognizable products on the shelves. Visitors from the USA will hear a softened North American accent (or something wholly different in Quebec and Newfoundland) but recognize many product brands. If you’re coming from Germany, Japan, France or Mexico, it’s going to feel very foreign indeed. Whatever your origin, expect to hear words, terms and phrases that are wholly unique to the north. Below is a handy primer to explain what they mean. Welcome to Canada!

CURRENCY:

Loonie: This is our gold-coloured Canadian one-dollar coin, named for the common loon bird depicted on its back. 

Toonie/Twoonie: Canada’s silver/bi-metallic two-dollar coin is our highest value coin. Loonies and toonies can quickly add up!

GST/PST/HST: Things cost a little more than what you initially see, with a federal goods and services tax (GST), provincial sales tax (PST) or HST (harmonized sales tax) added at checkout. This ranges from 5% GST and 7% PST in British Columbia to a combined 15% HST in Newfoundland. Alberta and Canada’s three northern territories only tack on 5% for GST. 

Debit or Interac: This refers to a bank card connected to the Interac network, for example, “We take credit and debit.”

FOOD AND DRINK

Double-Double/Single-Single: Tim Hortons, a coffee/doughnut/sandwich franchise, is as ubiquitous as our stop signs. When you order coffee, a double or single refers to the amount of cream and sugar. Double-Double is, therefore, 2 creams and 2 sugars.

Timbits: Still at Tim Hortons (a.k.a Tims or Timmies), you’ll find Timbits, small doughnut-hole sized pastries, ordered by the half or dozen. 

Pop: We don’t order a soda; we order a pop. Fast food chains give you a paper cup to fill up with pop at the ‘fountain.’

Mickey and Two-Fours: If Canadians ask you to pick up a ‘mickey of Jack’, they’re referring to a 375ml bottle of Jack Daniels. A Mickey is a small bottle of booze. A two-four is a case of 24 beers. 

Homo milk: Not a slur, but homogenized whole milk with 3.25% fat content, or full-fat. 

Serviette: You might call it a napkin.

Caesar: A popular Canadian cocktail similar to a Bloody Mary but made with Clamato (tomato juice made with clam broth and spices). Don’t mock it until you try it!

Rye: Also known as Canadian whisky, made with a single rye, barley, or corn grain. Crown Royal and Canadian Club are two popular brands. 

Screech: A rum sold in Newfoundland with 40% alcohol by volume. Used in a local welcoming ceremony that involves one getting “screeched-in.”

Brown bread: Do you want your eggs with white, multi-grain, sourdough or brown? Brown refers to whole wheat bread.

Poutine: Canada’s gift to world cuisine is French fries smothered in brown gravy with lumps of squeaky cheese curds. Don’t mock this meal-bomb until you try it, preferably somewhere in Quebec.

All-dressed: A hodgepodge savoury flavour with multiple ingredients, common in chips.

Beaver Tail: We don’t eat our national animal, but rather a fried dough pastry with sugar, spices, chocolate or other fillings. The pastry’s shape resembles a beaver tail.

PHRASES AND SLANG

Sorry: It’s true, Canadians apologize a lot, especially compared to our southern neighbours. But we’re not necessarily apologizing when we say sorry, it’s often just a form of courtesy, as in: “Sorry, I’m passing on the left!” 

Give'r: If you’re going to put in maximum effort or really go for it, then give’r!

Eh: This one comes up more in parodies than real life, but no doubt you’ll hear it at the end of a sentence, used for emphasis or as a question. For example: “It’s a great day on the trail, eh?”

Keener: Used to describe an enthusiastic person or overachiever. For example: “Mary’s opting for the extra miles today, she’s a real keener.”

Wind Chill: What it actually feels like out there, compared to the weather reports. It might only be 12°C/53°F, but with the wind chill, it’s colder than a polar bear’s toenails!

Fill ya boots: Sure, go ahead, help yourself. For example: “Can I have some extra poutine?” Go ahead, fill ya boots!

Gong show: A complete mess or chaotic situation, although the phrase is not always used negatively. For example: “Last night we got screeched on George St, and it turned into a total gong show!”

Snowbirds: Canadians who head south to winter in warmer climates.

Canuck: A common nickname for a Canadian, not to be confused with NHL hockey team the Vancouver Canucks. Montreal’s NHL team are called the Canadiens (with an e).

Skookum: Something that is strong, reliable, or impressive.

Hoser: A uniquely Canadian fool or idiot, although not always used in an insulting manner. For example: “Peter jumped into the frozen lake, what a hoser!”

CLOTHING

Toque: This is what we call a knitted winter hat or beanie, and it’s an essential item for any outdoor adventure in Canada (even in summer!)

Mukluks: Traditional warm fur-lined winter boots.

Anorak: A traditional pullover jacket.

Tilley hat: An iconic, packable, wide-brimmed Canadian-made hat for sun and shade. 

GEOGRAPHY AND PLACES

Maritimes: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island make up the Maritimes, but not Newfoundland and Labrador.

Atlantic Canada: OK, now you can include Newfoundland with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island!

Up North: This usually refers to anywhere in Canada’s three territories (The Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut). Remember, more than 90 percent of Canadians live within 150 miles/240 kilometres of the US border.

Lower Mainland and GTA: The Lower Mainland refers to the Vancouver metropolitan area, while GTA refers to the Greater Toronto Area. Both encompass satellite cities and towns.

Click/Klick: This refers to a kilometre, for example: “Today we’ll be riding about 28 clicks.”

Out East/East Coast: Typically refers to Atlantic Canada, although people in Vancouver might refer to Toronto as out east.

Out West: Typically refers to British Columbia.

The Island: Canada has 52,455 islands, so ‘the island’ covers a lot! In B.C, it typically refers to Vancouver Island, and in the Maritimes, to Prince Edward Island.

YYZ/YVR/YYC etc: All Canadian Airports start with a Y. YYZ is Toronto, YVR is Vancouver, YYC is Calgary, YUL is Montreal, YYG is Charlottetown, YOW is Ottawa.

The Rock: A nickname for Newfoundland. For example, if you meet a local while hiking the East Coast Trail, they might ask you: “How ya enjoying your time on the rock?”

Chinook: A warm, unseasonal winter wind that blows from the mountains of Alberta and B.C.

Canadian Tire: A popular national store that sells just about everything except fresh food. Yes, they sell tires too.

Washroom: As an immigrant, this one took a while as I kept asking people where the toilet or bathroom was. Just go with washroom.

Cowtown: Also known as Calgary

T-Dot: Also known as Toronto (or T’ronna).

Parkade: What Canadians call a large parking garage, for example: “There’s ample parking in the adjacent parkade.”

Parks Canada: The government organization that operates and maintains Canada’s national park system.

Provincial Park: Provincially protected parks not under the auspices of Parks Canada.

NATURE AND OUTDOORS

Backcountry: In the wilderness.

Muskeg: A bog or swamp.

Portage: When you carry a canoe between waterways (and also the main thoroughfare in Winnipeg).

Inukshuk: An Inuit or Indigenous stacked stone landmark, traditionally used for navigation, similar to a cairn.

Animal corridor: An established wildlife migration route, typically in large national parks or backcountry areas.

Section hike: A shorter part of a much longer trail.

WEATHER

Celsius: Our temperature measurement is in Celsius as opposed to Fahrenheit. 0°C is the freezing point, as opposed to 32°F. That makes more sense, eh? Canada uses the metric system, but due to the influence of the USA, it’s not uncommon to hear people talk about miles, feet or inches.

Socked in: When heavy fog blows in or there’s poor visibility, you’re socked in.

Canadian expressions continue to evolve, and some are specific to certain regions or communities. Common throughout the country, however, is a universal sense of politeness, hospitality, and locals who will gladly engage you in a conversation. With a little help from this primer, you might even know what they’re talking about!

Robin Esrock is the bestselling author of  The Great Canadian Bucket List, and  The Great Global Bucket List.