What keeps Vermonters from venturing to Québec more often? Whether they admit it or not, for most Anglophones, it’s the official language of: French, aka français — and not the kind you learned in high school.
Although many Québécois speak both French and English, especially in Montréal, they prefer their native tongue and may switch reluctantly. Lots of signs, menus and instructions are not translated into anglais. The language laws of the land, strengthened earlier this month, are on their side (see “Tongue-Tied” ).
Even if you do know a little French, French Canadian sounds different from what you hear in Paris. Québécois French retains some linguistic nuances passed down by 16th- and 17th-century settlers from northern and western France, with a distinctive accent all its own — like the Queen’s English compared to an American southern accent. Plus, the Québécois tend to adopt and adapt English words at will, sometimes to playful effect. Example: C’est le fun. Don’t be surprised if the mystery word you’re puzzling over turns out to be an English one.
Google Translate can only do so much. Plus, it’s kind of rude and potentially dangerous to employ when you’re driving.
All of which is to say: It’s best to know a few French words and phrases before you visit Québec. A basic vocabulary will keep you safer on the roads, which, in summer, may be slowed by construction (travaux). And speaking the language of your hosts — or at least greeting them in it — communicates appropriate respect. Qui sait? (Who knows?) You might even make a friend or two.
Dépanneur
Convenience store
Couche-Tard
A Canadian convenience store chain. Literally, someone who goes to bed late.
À emporter
To go. But some French-speaking Québécois opt for le take out. In 2020, a Québécois language watchdog called on the province to avoid the anglicism and order meals à emporter instead.
Apportez votre vin
Bring your own wine (to a restaurant with this notice posted)
Épicerie
Grocery store or shop
Érablière
Sugar bush
Cabane à sucre
Sugar shack
Vignoble
Vineyard
Dégustation de vin
Wine tasting
PFK
Poulet Frit Kentucky. What would Col. Sanders think?
Est/Ouest
East/west. Sometimes abbreviated to E/O on street signs and in addresses.
Arrêt
Stop. Some Québécois signs use the French word; some just say “Stop.” Regardless, you’ll recognize the bright red octagonal signs.
Circulation
Traffic
Rue
Street or road. Also: chemin, voie, route
Rue barrée
Road closed
Limite de vitesse
Speed limit. It’s in kilometers per hour.
Travaux en cours
Roadwork
Frontière
Border
Bonjour
Hello
Salut or Bonjour-hi
Hi
Au revoir or bye
Goodbye
Ça va? Also: Quoi de neuf?
What’s up?
Ça va bien
I’m/we’re good
Merci
Thanks
Merci beaucoup
Thanks a lot
De rien
You’re welcome
S’il vous plaît
Please
Excusez-moi
Excuse me (when cutting the line at Schwartz’s deli)
C’est le fun!
It’s awesome. Québécois aren’t shy about mix-and-matching languages, and the English “fun” was just too good to pass up.
C’est tiguidou
It’s all good! An air of mystery surrounds the word’s origins. Some sources claim it’s an adaptation of the British “tickety-boo,” while others point to the American exclamation “hot diggity dog!”
Mon chum/ma blonde
My boyfriend/girlfriend
Ça va bien aller
Everything will be OK. (This recalls the ubiquitous phrase exchanged among Québécois during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
The Five Ws
Qui
Who
Quoi
What
Quand
When
Où
Where
Pourquoi
Why
The original print version of this article was headlined “Way to Say… | Functional French for the northbound”
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This article appears in The Québec Issue.
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