Differences between Quebecois and French language
French and Canadian French are basically the same language that took two very different life paths.
In France, the language kept evolving under the influence of the 1789 revolution and Parisian high society. On the other hand, in Quebec and other portions of French-Canada, the language froze in time and developed in other ways.
The initial French settlers who crossed the Atlantic ocean in the 1600s were not from the upper classes. With them, they brought the a version of French that was regional to Normandy, Brittany, and the south of France.
When Britain took over in 1763, that link to France was cut. Canadian French grew on its own, holding onto old expressions and pronunciations that sound outdated in Europe today. Add to that a good dose of American and British English, and you have a version of French that people in France often struggle to understand.
| French in Quebec | French in France | In English |
|---|---|---|
| balado | podcast | podcast |
| blonde | amie/copine | friend |
| chum | ami/copain | friend |
| breuvage | boisson | a drink |
| fête | anniversaire | birthday |
| casser la croûte | manger un snack | have a snack |
| char | voiture | car |
| cellulaire | téléphone portable | a cellphone |
| clavardage | tchat, bavarder | chat |
| chandail | pull | sweater |
| charger | facturer | to invoice |
| courriel | un mail | |
| pourriel | les pubs (publicités) | spam email |
| dépanneur | tabac | small shop selling groceries, etc. |
| fin de semaine | le week-end | weekend |
| lumières | au feu rouge | stop light |
| magasiner | faire du shopping | go shopping |
| mot-clic | hashtag | hashtag |
| sacoche | sac à main | purse |
| souliers | chaussures | shoes |
| souper | dîner | dinner, supper |
| scéduler | planifier | to schedule |
| stationnement | parking | parking |
| téléverser | uploader, mettre en ligne | upload |
The differences show up most clearly in sound and vocabulary. Metropolitan French tends to smooth vowels and drop syllables in that polished, “Parisian chic” way. Canadian French, on the other hand, has punchier vowels and nasal tones that echo older French.
The split is really about history. France had a powerful monarchy and later a central government that enforced a standard version of the language, while French Canadians protecting their identity gave their French a distinct flavor, full of pride and resilience.
The two languages are still mutually understandable, but the accents, idioms, and rhythms make it obvious to French listeners who exactly is from which side of the Atlantic.
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