Your browser is not supported. We do our best to optimize our websites to the most current web browsers. Please try another browser.

Pop Culture

30 Canadian Words our American Friends Don’t Understand

by Steven Shehori

Updated August 4, 2020

Canadian culture is more unique than you might think. In fact, drop any of these terms while visiting our neighbours to the south and expect to be greeted with a blank stare or two.

To go coffee cup from Tim Hortons

Getty Images

1 / 30

Double-Double

A coffee with two milk and two sugar. Often ordered at Tim Hortons.

Person standing in a puddle

Getty Images

2 / 30

Soaker/Booter

When water penetrates your poor unsuspecting shoes.

Canadian coins including loonies and toonies

Getty Images

3 / 30

Loonie/Toonie

The perfectly reasonable-sounding names of our one and two-dollar coins.

A croud celebrating

Getty Images

4 / 30

Give’r!

To really, truly go for it.

Thongs poolside

Getty Images

5 / 30

Thongs

No, we're not talking g-strings. Thongs are the casual style of footwear depicted here.

Drink sitting on a bar

Getty Images

6 / 30

Booze can

An after-hours bar. They're typically illegal, so shhhhh!

People at a McDonald's restaurant

Getty Images

7 / 30

Rotten Ronnie’s/McD*cks

Terms of 'endearment' for McDonald's.

Senior citizens sitting on a beach in lawn chairs

Getty Images

8 / 30

Snowbird

A Canadian who travels south for the winter. Usually to tacky parts of Florida.

Person heading out the front door

Getty Images

9 / 30

Head’r

To leave. "The meatloaf was superb, mom, but we've gotta head'r."

Person trying to fasten their jeans

Getty Images

10 / 30

Molson Muscle

A beer belly.

Government of Canada building

Getty Images

11 / 30

Pogey

Being on some form of social assistance, especially EI.

Hockey players playing a game

Getty Images

12 / 30

Deke

To physically outmaneuver an opponent. Typically in hockey.

A kerfuffle in the stands at a sporting event

Getty Images

13 / 30

Kerfuffle

A scuffle or commotion, typically resulting from conflicting views.

Person sitting on a chesterfield

Getty Images

14 / 30

Chesterfield

A couch or sofa.

Sign showing distances to different destinations

Getty Images

15 / 30

Klick

Slang term for kilometer.

Getty Images

16 / 30

Two-four

A case of 24 beers. Cans or bottles: your choice!

Electronic weather monitor

Getty Images

17 / 30

Humidex

Measurement used to gauge the combined effect of heat and humidity.

Stack of processed cheese slices

Getty Images

18 / 30

Processed cheese

American Cheese. Make your own joke here.

Chocolate bar on a table

Getty Images

19 / 30

Chocolate Bar

Americans call it a candy bar, which seems weird. To us, gummy worms are candy, ya know?

Men's underwear hanging on a line

Getty Images

20 / 30

Gitch/Gotch

A very classy term for men's underwear.

Mickey of whiskey

Getty Images

21 / 30

Mickey

A 13-ounce (give or take) bottle of hard alcohol.

Person wearing runners

Getty Images

22 / 30

Runners

Any kind of athletic footwear like sneakers or trainers.

Person putting waste in to garburator

Getty Images

23 / 30

Garburator

A garbage disposal unit found beneath a kitchen sink.

Person cleaning their eavestroughs of leaves

Getty Images

24 / 30

Eavestroughs

Rain gutters. Our term sounds way cooler, no?

Men's and women's bathrooms

Getty Images

25 / 30

Washroom

Americans call it the 'men's room' or 'ladies' room.'

Kid wearing knapsack

Getty Images

26 / 30

Knapsack

A backpack or a bookbag.

A letter Z balloon

Getty Images

27 / 30

The letter Z

Americans pronounce it 'zee.' Canadians pronounce it 'zed,' much to the detriment of the 'Alphabet Song.'

Child giving his teacher an apple

Getty Images

28 / 30

Keener

A brown-noser.

Person passed out on a chesterfield

Getty Images

29 / 30

Stag

A bachelor party. The female equivalent: stagette.

Person wearing a toque

Getty Images

30 / 30

Toque

A knit hat. Worn by everyone in winter and by hipsters over the summer.

Written BySteven Shehori

Watch Now:
Original Series

Latest News

Woman with curly hair with eyes closed and hands on chest.

Health

The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Self-Care Sunday

Because you deserve a day dedicated to your well-being.

September 25, 2023

Rhode skincare products on colourful background.

We Tried Rhode Skin — Here’s What We Really Think

We put Hailey Bieber's Rhode skincare products to the test.

May 3, 2023

The Super Tree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Travel

The 10 Best Places to Travel in May

If you needed an excuse to travel abroad this May 2023, here are 10.

April 21, 2023

'The Real Housewives of Miami' season 5 cast

RHOM

‘The Real Housewives of Miami’ Ranked by Net Worth

Luxury cars, penthouse suites, lavish mansions — here's how they can afford it all.

April 20, 2023

a young white woman with glasses sitting on the floor of her living room looking at her laptop

Ambition

The Pros and Cons of AI Writing Your Resume

Should you use AI to write your resume? We break it down.

April 20, 2023

A hand holding a polka dot plant in front of a pink background

Living

10 Pink Houseplants to Add a Pop of Colour to Your Apartment

Your apartment is about to look pretty in pink.

Chelsea Brimstin

April 19, 2023

Young woman on couch checks her phone

Self

What is an Ambivert? An Expert Reveals Signs That You are One

We break down the signs for those in a "personality limbo."

April 18, 2023

Collage of Beyonce, Rihanna, Shania Twain, Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift

20 Richest Singers of 2023, Ranked by Net Worth

Not only are they topping the charts, but they're also the world's wealthiest.

April 18, 2023

Lori Harvey at Revolve Fest Coachella 2023

trending

Get The Look: The Hottest Sunglasses Inspired by Celebrities

Upgrade your shade game with these sunnies.

April 17, 2023