X Nations - New Here

Welcome B

These lads speak funny here, eh. Here's some tranlatsions for ya!

Chinook - From the aboriginal word for the language of trade used by First Nations people. Refers to a warm westerly "trade" wind that blows east from British Columbia over the Rocky Mountains and blankets the Alberta foothills with out-of-season warmth, changing the temperature rapidly.

Deadly - A reaction to something done "over the top"; overdone; excessive. Can also be used as a response to something done very well. Circa 1974ish.

Hoser- calling someone is a "hoser" is really just calling them a loser. In the old days, the team that lost the hockey game would have to hose down the rink, and hence the reference "hoser".

Loonie - the Canadian one-dollar coin.

Toonie - the Canadian two-dollar coin.

Dooryard- The front garden.

How's She Bootin'er? - It's the equivalent of "How's it going?"

Beauty- A reaction to something done extremely well.

Double-Double - Said when ordering a coffee; indicating two creams and two sugars.

Growl - to yell.

Brutal- to be very bad at something.

Gorby- what some Canadians call a "tourist" (considered derogatory)

Eh - "Eh?" is a word you add to the end of a sentence, to ask for a response of agreement or disagreement, similar in meaning to "don't you think?" ex. "Looks like a storm comin' in, eh?" It is also sometimes used with "I know", and in that case it doesn't really mean anything. -"Wow, the Flames really kicked butt tonight!" -"I know, eh?"

Gawn- To showoff, or to force.

Newfie - a derogatory term used in Canada for a person from Newfoundland and Labrador. The term is primarily used in "Newfie jokes," the typical Canadian ethnic joke (akin to Polish jokes in the U.S. or Belgian jokes in France). While the term may be commonly used in a derogatory sense by those not from Newfoundland, many Newfoundlanders use the term with pride amongst themselves, not taking offense to it when used without intention to insult.

Two-Four - The Canuck way to buy beer, generally a 24-pack. For example, "I'll take two two-fours".

Whadda'yat? - How are you doing? A Newfoundland term.

Click- this means a kilometre.

Bunnyhug - Saskatchewanian term for Hoodie.

Poutine - Gravy poured over cheese curds and French fries. Found mostly in Quebec.

Caisse populaire - A kind of co-op bank, found mostly in Quebec. Popularly known as a caisse pop.

Back bacon - This is what Americans call Canadian bacon. The long strips you usually eat for breakfast are called side bacon in both countries.

Francophone - Someone who speaks French as a first language, as opposed to an Anglophone, who speaks English as a first language.

Housecoat - A housecoat is the kind of bathrobe you can wear to get the morning paper, and not worry about being seen by the neighbours.

Kerfuffle - This Scottish word refers to a flurry of agitation, as in, "There was quite a kerfuffle after Mike asked for the project three days early."

States - The US of A is almost always referred to as the States, except in writing, when it becomes the US.

Bathroom - Bathroom and washroom are used interchangeably in Canada to refer to a place where you would find toilets. Say "Bathroom" in some parts of the US, and you'll get a place with a bathtub in it. Biffy can also be used.
Frog - Pejorative way of saying French Canadians.

Square head - Pejorative way to call Anglophone Canadians. Principally used in Quebec.

Quebecois - Official term. People that are living in Quebec. Principally use for the Francophones. "Quebeckers" is often used by Angolophones.

Soda vs. pop vs. coke: Canadians drink pop. Ask for a soda and you'll get soda water.