Canada-isms.

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada) 04/04/2016 at 18:04 • Filed to: None

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Parkade. (Parking Garage and Car Park are used relatively often too, but Parkade is unique to Canada, and weirdly, South Africa as well. We coined the term however.)

Gas Bar. (Usually mainly refers to smaller filling stations, bigger filling stations are usually referred to as gas stations, or service stations, the latter of which is used especially when there’s a mechanic’s shop attached)

Toque. (This one’s pretty famous, because of course.)

Allure (We didn’t call the first gen LaCrosse the LaCrosse in Canada, because LaCrosse is a French Canadian slang for masturbation. Fun Facts with For Canada! Rather ironically, Lacrosse happens to be our national summer sport. I bet the Quebecois make a lot of jokes whenever that anecdote comes about.)

And no, I’ve never met anybody that calls a hoodie a “bunny hug”. I’m pretty sure that’s just something Buzzfeed made up. Although, I’ve never been to Saskatchewan, maybe it’s a whole different world there.

vicali > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:09

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Bunnyhug is a SK thing - 4/4 Saskachewanians I know agree.

I laugh when someone calls a touque a ‘knit cap’..

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:12

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Parkade and Gas Bar go relatively unused in ON. :)

thebigbossyboss > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:13

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I've been all over this great country except the territories, and newfoundland and agree with this 10 out of 10. Also chesterfield (sask again) and a BC word you won't hear anywhere else....skookum. That's a good word but they only use it in BC.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:15

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What about pronouncing the word decal as “deck-el” or “deck-al”? To the Americans here, it isn’t just a Ricky-ism.

not for canada - australian in disguise > thebigbossyboss 04/04/2016 at 18:16

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I’ve heard chesterfield used before by non-Saskatchewanians. I’ve literally never heard skookum used, so yes, it’s most likely a very BC word.

thebigbossyboss > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] 04/04/2016 at 18:18

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Yeah. When I got to Ontario and used parkade people were like "what".

not for canada - australian in disguise > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 04/04/2016 at 18:20

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Funny thing is, a shit ton of people in this country actually talk like Ricky. He’s a literal representation of Canada.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:24

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You’re not wrong. I sometimes talk like Ricky.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 04/04/2016 at 18:26

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actually I don’t know which one is the correct one. I’ve always said it as “dee-kal”. But I could be way wrong I am french after all.

deekster_caddy > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:42

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Who is Ricky?

deekster_caddy > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:44

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Another Canada-ism, or maybe it’s just a Nova Scotia thing, are Loonies and Toonies for the $1 and $2 coins

not for canada - australian in disguise > deekster_caddy 04/04/2016 at 18:45

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This guy.

deekster_caddy > vicali 04/04/2016 at 18:45

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Not just any hat is a Toque? Does it have to be knit with the ball on top?

deekster_caddy > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:48

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Wow. I always thought Bob & Doug MacKenzie were the teachers of Great White North linguistics.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 18:50

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Bunnyhug is definitely not made-up. I only lived there for a few winters, and moved away almost a year ago, and still catch myself saying it. It’s only if there isn’t a zipper, then it’s just a hoodie. But when it’s just a nice, warm pull-over, then it's a bunnyhug. It's one of the best/worst words ever. :D

vicali > deekster_caddy 04/04/2016 at 18:51

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Nope, here in BC too.. I sometimes wonder what the rest of the world does on Toonie-Tuesday..

vicali > deekster_caddy 04/04/2016 at 18:57

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No

vicali > thebigbossyboss 04/04/2016 at 19:01

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We say skookum.. and there are two different places in BC called Skookumchuck; one is rad and the other stinks. *Edit - aparantly there is a third Skookumchuck near Lillooet..

Thunderface > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 19:05

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SASKATCHEWAN REPRESENT SON!

(even though I slightly don't live there anymore)

lone_liberal > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 19:11

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Are you sure Parkade is unique to Canada? Because I see this sign every day.

deekster_caddy > vicali 04/04/2016 at 19:14

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We all have TACO TUESDAY!!!!!

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > deekster_caddy 04/04/2016 at 19:51

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Ontario too. I think it’s nation wide.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 20:47

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I don’t think I’ve ever called them gas bars....always gas stations for me! Or just “going to get gas”, haha!

As for parkades, I use it on occasion, but usually car park for me!

deekster_caddy > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 04/04/2016 at 20:50

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We found out about them on our honeymoon in Nova Scotia. A nice cashier clued us in when she realized we weren’t native...

gin-san - shitpost specialist > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 04/04/2016 at 20:59

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To be fair, he pronounces it like “deck-nal.” I don’t have consistent pronunciation of “decal” since I hear it both ways. Deck-al, dee-cal, doesn’t matter to me.

The Compromiser > thebigbossyboss 04/04/2016 at 21:02

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We call it a parking garage. Or covered parking, if it’s one level. And gas bar is relatively lightly used, but still present.

The Compromiser > vicali 04/04/2016 at 21:02

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Uses bills.

The Compromiser > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 04/04/2016 at 21:06

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Deckle. Dee cal.

FromCanadaWithLove > deekster_caddy 04/04/2016 at 21:51

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Whaaaa? I’m in Halifax, and I never hear that.

LOREM IPSUM > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2016 at 21:53

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Also, the bathroom/rest room is referred to as the washroom.

American cheese does not exist. Not an ism, but true. It’s just called processed cheese. Aka Kraft Singles.

Speaking of Kraft, Maccaroni and Cheese is sold as Kraft Dinner, or simply “KD”.

Nabisco isn’t Nabisco, it’s Mr. Christie. Same red triangle in the corner of the box.

Calling someone a “goof” is about the most offensive thing you could say to a person. Literally fighting words.

...and so much more.

deekster_caddy > FromCanadaWithLove 04/05/2016 at 12:36

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Don’t ask me, I’m not from Canada. But it’s definitely a thing!

Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/05/2016 at 15:26

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Parkade sees some use outside Canada. I parked in the Padres Parkade last night in San Diego.