English to Canadian translations
Kate's thoughts on language & living in the UK!
Never did I expect that marrying an Englishman would bring with it a language barrier! I mean, we both speak English, or do we?
English English & Canadian English are similar, but have many differences! I find this out daily as I find myself asking Dave, yet again, "I'm sorry, what does that mean?".
To give you a flavour of this, we, in Canadian English, have a few words for getting "drunk". In England, they have an entire page of different words that mean drunk - here is but a sample:
drunk, plastered, smashed, slaughtered, arse-holed, sozzled, pissed, pissed as a fart, pissed as a newt, pissed up, battered, bevvied, shit-faced, bevvied up, caned, bladdered, blitzed, blootered, blotto, cabbaged, drunk as a skunk, gatted, lagered (up), lashed up, leathered, legless, ripped, mortalled, off one's chump, off one's face, off one's tits, out of it, paralytic, pickled, pie-eyed, rat-arsed, ratted, steaming, stewed, three sheets to the wind, trashed, trolleyed, trousered, twatfaced, twatted, sloshed, wankered, wasted, well gone, tanked up
I've therefore pulled together a collection of English English - Canadian-English translations that come up often for me - they may help or entertain, either way, enjoy! If you know of more, please send them along!
Category |
English |
Canadian |
|
|
|
Clothing |
winter hat |
toque (tuque) |
|
fancy dress |
costume |
|
knickers, pants |
underwear |
|
trousers |
pants |
|
jumper |
sweater |
|
nappy |
diaper |
|
trainers |
running shoes |
|
|
|
Sayings |
jaded |
cynical |
|
tired |
jaded |
|
live “in” a road |
live “on” a road |
|
cheers |
thank you |
|
Bloody Hell! |
Oh my god! |
|
Bollocks! |
Bullshit! |
|
spend a penny |
go to the toilet/go pee |
|
|
|
Food |
sweets |
candies |
|
pudding |
desert |
|
aubergine |
eggplant |
|
swede |
rutabaga |
|
bap |
roll/bun |
|
ale, bitter, lager |
beer |
|
butty |
sandwich |
|
chickory |
endive |
|
chips |
French fries |
|
crisps |
potato chips |
|
coriander |
cilantro |
|
prawn |
shrimp |
|
Shandy |
beer with lemonade |
|
lemonade |
7up, sprite |
|
tea |
dinner OR tea |
|
twenty four bottles/cans |
two-four |
|
|
|
Transport |
pavement |
sidewalk |
|
car boot |
car trunk |
|
amber light |
yellow light |
|
estate car |
station wagon |
|
junction |
exit |
|
motorway |
highway |
|
lorry |
truck |
|
bike |
motorbike |
|
zebra crossing |
cross walk |
|
people carrier |
minivan |
|
petrol (station) |
gas (station) |
|
tarmac |
asphalt |
|
|
|
Other |
hockey |
field hockey |
|
ice hockey |
hockey |
|
football |
soccer |
|
american football |
football |
|
loo |
toilet |
|
Alsatian |
German shepherd |
|
arse |
ass |
|
biro |
pen |
|
sello tape |
scotch tape |
|
hoover |
vacuum |
|
bloke |
guy |
|
brolly |
umbrella |
|
doctor’s surgery |
doctor’s office |
|
chemist |
pharmacy |
|
durex, french letter, johnny |
condom |
|
creche |
day care |
|
dummy |
pacifier (baby) |
|
dustbin |
garbage pail |
|
rubbish |
garbage |
|
fag |
cigarette |
|
fanny |
vagina |
|
flat |
apartment |
|
snog |
kiss/make out |
|
garden |
backyard |
|
to hire |
to rent |
|
lad, geezer |
guy |
|
lie in |
sleep in |
|
maths |
math |
|
mobile phone |
cell phone |
|
OAP (old age pensioner) |
senior citizen |
|
off –license |
corner store, depanneur (dep) |
|
poorly |
sick |
|
queue |
line-up |
|
roundabout |
traffic circle |
|
fortnight |
two weeks |
|
torch |
flashlight |