Canadian Slang Trivia Quiz

Answer: Yukon

In the Yukon, the term "sourdough" is used both as a reference to the bread, and to people. Anyone who has lived in the territory for longer than the four seasons is referred to as a "sourdough". The term "cheechako" is used in the Yukon to refer to a newbie or someone who has only recently moved to the northern territory. Both of these slang terms stem back to the gold rush in the 1890s when miners who lasted the seasons needed sourdough to make food, and the Indigenous Chinook word for a person who was newly arrived to the mines was used for newcomers.

Answer: Both refer to articles of clothing

In this case, it is very common for the people of Alberta to refer to men's underwear as "gitch" or "gotch". On the other hand, the people of Saskatchewan call a hooded sweatshirt a "bunnyhug" even if it is worn by adults. How cute is that? ;-)

Answer: True

In Canada, road speed and car speedometers are presented in kilometres per hour (kph). These are also known as "klicks" in Ontario. So, if the posted speed limit is 80 kph, it is said to be "80 klicks". If you drive faster than the speed limit and travel at 105 kph in an 80 kph zone, you are said to be travelling "25 klicks over".

Answer: Hosting a dinner and dance

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are known for hosting kitchen parties where they eat delicious meals, then kick up their heels to dance the night away. Most of the music at these parties is quite lively, and is influenced by the British Isles.

Answer: Prince Edward Island (PEI)

"Mayzel" is typically heard in PEI as a squished response to a question. If the response is "May as well" in other parts of the world, it comes out as "Mayzel" in PEI. Maybe the folks there figure that it is best not to waste time on saying all of the syllables and spaces. ;-)

Answer: A corner store

Quebec is Canada's French-speaking province. The word "dep" comes from the French word "depanneur". A "depanneur" is a corner variety store. Over the years it has been shortened to "dep" so both French and English speaking residents of the province are often heard to be going on a trip to the "dep" for cigarettes, snacks, or beer.

Answer: Manitoba

"Booters" occur in Manitoba, usually in the spring. When the snow melts and it rains, and you walk into what you think is a shallow puddle, but find yourself in mid-shin deep water, you experience one of these when your footwear becomes full of really cold water. Should have worn your boots after all. ;-)

Answer: Ever

If you are in the NWT, and hear someone say a word preceded by "ever", that means that it is even more so. For example, "ever good!" might be used to describe a delicious meal. If the aurora borealis is particularly beautiful one night, you might hear "ever amazing!"

Answer: Skookum

Skookum is from the Chinook First Nations trading language, meaning strong. Cree is the most common First Nations language spoken in Canada. The Cree people live in the sub-Arctic plains from Alberta to Quebec. Maskawatisiwin is the Cree word for "strength of character".

The Ojibway people live in Canada and the US around the Great Lakes. Mashkawizii is the Ojibway word meaning s/he is strong (of a person); s/he has inner strength. The Mi'kmaq people live in Canada's Maritime provinces. Melgitaʼt is the Mi'kmaq word for strong in the face of fear; courageous.

Answer: Delicious

"Mamaqtuq" is an Inuktitut word for "delicious". It is also the title of a song by "The Jerry Cans", a very popular musical group in Iqaluit, Nunavut's capital city. Inuktitut is a language that has been spoken by the Inuit people for many generations, but it wasn't written down until relatively recently. Now, non-speakers can used written reference guides to learn this language that was once only passed along using an oral tradition.