Over the years, Canada’s vast geography and diverse communities have given rise to a variety of unique words and expressions. For more than 20 years, Sali Tagliamonte, a University of Toronto professor of linguistics, and her research team have been exploring Ontario’s linguistic diversity, from cities to smaller centres and rural areas. Their findings challenge the idea that Canadian English is becoming more American, or that it’s the same from sea to sea. Her lab supplied many of the unique words and expressions in this quiz.
So, whether you’ve lived here your whole life, or are a newcomer, the quiz will challenge your knowledge of quirky Canadian phrases and localisms.
Note: Throughout the quiz, we’ve identified places where you are likely to hear a certain word or phrase. This is not meant to indicate that the word could only be heard there; other places might use it, too.
AND: In the comments, please share words or expressions you know of that may be unique to your region of Canada!
Canadian Words
A Canadian word quiz
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