11 Examples Of Provincial Slang From All Across Canada
Everyone is probably familiar with the fact that people in Canada say "eh" a lot. However, they may not know about some of the other Canadian slang found throughout the country. It can even be wildly different depending on the province.
From the east coast to the west, Canucks have come up with plenty of their own regional slang variations. Have you ever had a run-in with a coastie? How about a sourdough? With so many terms across the nation, There's definitely enough to fill hundreds of Sobeys bags.
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Sourdough
No, this isn't referring to the bread everyone was trying to perfect all year. This is actually Yukon-specific slang for someone who has lived in the territory for all four seasons.
Bluenose
Yes, this is the name of the famous schooner that adorns Canada's dimes to this day, but the term was actually coined as a derogatory term for people from Nova Scotia. Apparently, they reclaimed it for themselves with the famous racing boat.
Coastie
This term is used primarily on just one of Canada's coasts: the west. It refers to anyone from Vancouver or the lower mainland, specifically those who are more inclined to spend their time in the city.
Sobeys Bag
How can an object be a slang term? Apparently, on the east coast, pretty much every plastic bag, no matter which store it came from, is affectionately referred to as a Sobeys bag. This may remain true even after the chain stopped using plastic bags earlier this year.
Skookum
This word has historical roots in Chinook Jargon, which was used as a pidgin language among early traders on the west coast. Today, it still gets used in BC to describe things that are great or excellent.
May Longy
The May long weekend is one of the times of year that most Canadians look forward to, and what people call it can vary by province. For example, Albertans sometimes refer to it as "May Longy," which certainly has less of an overt reference to drinking than "May two-four."
Gotch
In Saskatchewan, men don't wear boxers or briefs. They wear a "gotch," which may also sometimes be referred to as a "gitch" or "gonch."
Booter
In Manitoba, if you step in a slushy puddle during the winter and the water pours into your footwear, it's referred to as a "booter." In other regions, this unfortunate event is sometimes known as a "soaker."
Chirp
Anyone who has enjoyed more than a few episodes of Letterkenny may be more familiar with this Ontario slang term, which is basically just a shorthand for "trash-talk."
Greasy
Moving back to the east coast, this slang adjective, which more people might have been familiarized with through Trailer Park Boys, is used to describe someone as sketchy or untrustworthy.
Dep
In Quebec, if you're heading to the convenience store for snacks, you say you're going to the "dep," which is shorthand for depanneur.