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!
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Category |
English |
Canadian |
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Clothing |
winter hat |
toque (tuque) |
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fancy dress |
costume |
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knickers, pants |
underwear |
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trousers |
pants |
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jumper |
sweater |
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nappy |
diaper |
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trainers |
running shoes |
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Sayings |
jaded |
cynical |
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tired |
jaded |
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live “in” a road |
live “on” a road |
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cheers |
thank you |
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Bloody Hell! |
Oh my god! |
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Bollocks! |
Bullshit! |
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spend a penny |
go to the toilet/go pee |
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Food |
sweets |
candies |
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pudding |
desert |
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aubergine |
eggplant |
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swede |
rutabaga |
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bap |
roll/bun |
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ale, bitter, lager |
beer |
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butty |
sandwich |
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chickory |
endive |
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chips |
French fries |
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crisps |
potato chips |
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coriander |
cilantro |
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prawn |
shrimp |
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Shandy |
beer with lemonade |
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lemonade |
7up, sprite |
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tea |
dinner OR tea |
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twenty four bottles/cans |
two-four |
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Transport |
pavement |
sidewalk |
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car boot |
car trunk |
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amber light |
yellow light |
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estate car |
station wagon |
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junction |
exit |
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motorway |
highway |
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lorry |
truck |
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bike |
motorbike |
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zebra crossing |
cross walk |
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people carrier |
minivan |
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petrol (station) |
gas (station) |
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tarmac |
asphalt |
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Other |
hockey |
field hockey |
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ice hockey |
hockey |
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football |
soccer |
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american football |
football |
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loo |
toilet |
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Alsatian |
German shepherd |
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arse |
ass |
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biro |
pen |
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sello tape |
scotch tape |
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hoover |
vacuum |
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bloke |
guy |
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brolly |
umbrella |
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doctor’s surgery |
doctor’s office |
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chemist |
pharmacy |
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durex, french letter, johnny |
condom |
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creche |
day care |
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dummy |
pacifier (baby) |
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dustbin |
garbage pail |
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rubbish |
garbage |
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fag |
cigarette |
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fanny |
vagina |
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flat |
apartment |
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snog |
kiss/make out |
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garden |
backyard |
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to hire |
to rent |
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lad, geezer |
guy |
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lie in |
sleep in |
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maths |
math |
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mobile phone |
cell phone |
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OAP (old age pensioner) |
senior citizen |
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off –license |
corner store, depanneur (dep) |
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poorly |
sick |
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queue |
line-up |
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roundabout |
traffic circle |
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fortnight |
two weeks |
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torch |
flashlight |