Do you know your Quebecois?

Do you know your Quebecois? Quebec is internationally renowned for many things: maple syrup, poutine, Céline Dion, and our way of speaking. Depending on the region, there are many different accents in Quebec, but we all share the same colourful vocabulary. Here is a list of words emblematic of Quebec French:

Chicane

Quebecers don't quarrel, they "chican" each other. You can also say you "chican" someone who does something reprehensible. The word is so popular that there's even a band called La Chicane , but that's a whole other story!

Baboune

We often hear the expression "to pout." The word "baboon" comes from the word "babine," meaning lips. After an argument, we might "baboon," which means to sulk. This applies to children and adults alike!

Achaler

The adjective "achalant" comes from the verb "achaler" which means to bother, annoy or upset.

Sugar shack

In Quebec, we love to indulge our sweet tooth! Quebec produces 71% of the world's maple syrup, so it's not surprising to learn that the expression "sugare hut" is purely Quebecois.

Pogner

In Quebec, the word "pogner" has as many meanings as there are hockey fans . "Pogner" can be used as a synonym for catching, seizing, getting caught, understanding, and so on. It's incredibly versatile! For example, you can "pogner" your nerves if you "pogne" a ticket.

Repairman

A convenience store is a small neighborhood grocery store. The name comes from the verb "dépanner," which means to fix a problem. So, in short, a convenience store is there to help us out when we have a sudden craving for chips .

Flip-flops

"Gougounes" are beach sandals, or flip-flops, as our French friends would say. This term is truly typical of Quebec vocabulary and is more than pleasant to pronounce.

Broue

The word "broue" has quite a history. We know its origin is Norman and that the word has several derivatives. If you see a connection with the English word "brew," you're not wrong! Broue means foam. It can be bath foam, just like beer foam. Cheers!

Cry

In Quebec, "chialer" doesn't mean to cry. Here, "chialer" is more synonymous with anger. "Chialer" is defined as constantly complaining or criticizing. For example: "He never stops complaining about the price of gas!"

Scary

When something is scary, it's frightening. The word "épérant" is the Quebecois way of saying that something is frightening. For example: "That horror movie is frightening!"

To stumble

"S'enfarger" means to stumble or trip. It can be used in the expression, "Je me suis enfargé dans le tapis et je suis tombé" (I tripped over the rug and fell). It can also be used in the expression "s'enfarger dans ses mots" (to stumble over one's words), which means to speak imprecisely, or "s'enfarger dans les fleurs du tapis" (to get tangled up in the flowers of the rug), which means to complicate one's life with unimportant details.

Virailler

"Virailler" means to go around in circles or to lo