Differences between French and Canadian French

Alright, picture this: you’re in Canada, surrounded by stunning natural beauty, forests, mountains, lakes, and cities. But in one province, Quebec, something really special happens. It’s the heart of French in Canada, with more French speakers than anywhere outside of France.

Now, French is spoken all over the world, in 29 countries. By 2050, about 700 million people are expected to speak it. But Quebec’s French? That’s where the magic happens. While it shares a history with French from France, Quebecois French has its own unique vibe. It’s shaped by the province’s history, landscape, and its people—lively, fun, and with its own twists on words, expressions, and pronunciations.

Ready to learn what makes Quebec French so different? Let’s go!!

How did French get into Canada?

To understand how French got to Canada and why French Canadian, or Québécois, is so different today, we need to go back to the beginning.

It all started with King Francis I, who commissioned an expedition to find a new route to China. But in 1534, Jacques Cartier didn’t land in China. Instead, he arrived at the Gaspé Peninsula, in what is now Quebec. This was the birth of New France, and settlers began arriving in North America.

New France,1750 Image source: Wikipedia

New France reached its peak in 1712, covering over half the landmass of present-day Canada and the United States. But there were several key events that led to the differences we see in the French spoken in Canada today.

In 1754, a surprise attack led to La guerre de la Conquête . Combined with the brutal Canadian winters, much harsher than those in France, New France’s population was far smaller than that of the 13 colonies to the south, making it more vulnerable to attacks.

Then, in 1763, after France and Britain had fought through the Seven Years’ War, the Treaty of Paris was signed. As a result, the Province of Quebec came under British control, severing the ties between the French settlers and their homeland.

What makes Canadian French different?

The Written Form

When it comes to written French, the difference between Quebec French and French from France is minimal.There are some variations in vocabulary and meaning, the grammar used in Quebec follows standard Parisian French. This means that in formal writing, it’s often hard to tell whether a text was written by someone from France or a Québécois.

The Spoken Form

The real differences emerge in the spoken form. Quebec French has distinct pronunciation features, particularly in vowels and consonants. One major difference is the richer vowel system in Quebec French, thanks to broader nasalization.

Also, high vowels like i, u, and ou tend to be pronounced more relaxed in a closed syllable. This causes words that are homophones in Metropolitan French, like pâte (paste) and patte (paw), to sound different in Quebec.

Final consonants are often pronounced in Québec, unlike in France. For example, "quatre" sounds like "kat" in Québec and "katr" in France.

In Québec, "tu" is commonly used in casual conversations, even in professional settings, whereas in France, "vous" is preferred for formal situations. 

Québécois French features a more varied intonation, sometimes described as musical, compared to the more monotone Parisian French. 

Other Influences

Beyond pronunciation, Quebec French has been influenced by a mix of historical factors. During the British rule and periods of industrialization, English had a significant impact on the language.

Québécois French incorporates more English loanwords due to historical contact with English-speaking communities. Examples include "le weekend" (weekend) and "le parking" (parking lot).

Additionally, some words in Quebec French evolved differently from those in France due to the long separation between Quebec and the French motherland.

There’s also a subtle influence from Native American languages, adding more unique characteristics to Quebec French. Example: atoca for cranberry

List of typical differences between French and French Canadian

Québecois	Metropolitan French	English	Comment
achigan	perche noire	black bass
brunante	crépuscule	dusk
atoca	airelle	Cranberry	This derives from the aboriginal word for the berry
carcajou	glouton	wolverine	This derives from the aboriginal word for wolverine
barrer	verrouiller	to lock
traversier	ferry/bac	ferry (boat)

In both varieties of French, some words look the same but have different meanings.

Take dépanneur, for example. In Quebec, it refers to a small corner shop or grocery store. But in Metropolitan French, it’s someone who comes to your house to fix things, like a mechanic or an electrician.

In some ways, Quebec French has stayed closer to the French spoken in the northwestern part of France over 300 years ago.

For instance, the verb magasiner, meaning "to go shopping," is still used in Quebec, while in France, people say faire du shopping instead.

Québécois French is rich in unique idioms, such as "tire-toi une bûche" (literally "grab a log," meaning "take a seat")

Some slang terms differ significantly. For example, "gosse" means "testicles" in Québec but "kid" in France.

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