by Morgan Lowrie

Created on: April 25, 2009   Last Updated: September 11, 2010

So, you want to learn to speak Canadian, eh?

Well, look no further! Just follow the basic rules outlined in this tutorial, and you'll be able to pass for a local in no time. Yup, you'll be just another hockey-mad, maple syrup drinking, igloo-dwelling pacifist. So go ahead, shoo the moose off the highway and head on up here; the water's fine! (Well, a lot of times it's frozen, but you know what I mean)

Ok, introductions aside, here is my list of common words, phrases and mannerisms to adopt if you wish to learn to speak like a Canadian (and who wouldn't, I ask you? ).

CANADIANISMS FROM 'EH' TO ZED

Here is a list of things you will hear quite often in your journeys throughout Canada:

"EH?": This is probably the most famous element in the Canadian vocabulary, and it is satirized to no end by citizens of other countries. If you plan to pass as a true Canadian, you need to embrace this small word, and embrace it well.

Many people mistakenly believe "eh?" to be the equivalent of the more common American "huh?" That isn't so. Instead, Canadians use "eh" as a way of inviting a response.  In other words, the phrase "Nice day today, eh?" can be read as "Nice day today, don't you think?" or even "Nice day today. What are your thoughts?"

It can even be added to the end of a declarative sentence as a method of showing agreement, along the lines of "You're right, eh? It IS nice outside."

Note, however that no matter how it is meant, it is only ever used in question form.

BRITISH TERMS:

Canadian English, although close to that spoken by Americans, includes some British terms which tend to confuse our neighbors to the south. These include, but are not limited to: chesterfield  (meaning couch), cutlery (meaning silverware), and Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). Like the British, we also pronounce the last letter of the alphabet as zed, not zee.

OTHER UNIQUE CANADIAN TERMS

Pop = soda

Loonie = our one-dollar coin (we have no one-dollar bill)

Toonie = our two-dollar coin

Hoser = a white, lower to middle class beer drinking Canadian. It's the rough Canadian equivalent of a redneck

Mountie = A member of Canada's national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Thanks to their attention-getting red outfits, they are mocked by Canadians and foreigners alike.

Toque (pronounced touque) = A woolen winter hat, often with a pom-pom on top. We love our toques, the dorkier looking the better. Don't be afraid to buy the funniest-looking one you see (bonus if

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