Common Quebec French Slang: 20 Everyday Words to Know
Quebec French slang for daily life: chum, blonde, char, dépanneur, tuque - the everyday words that differ from France French, by category.
Everyday Quebec French slang includes chum (boyfriend or buddy), blonde (girlfriend, whatever her hair color), char (car), tuque (winter hat), dépanneur (corner store), and magasiner (to shop) - vocabulary that often differs noticeably from France French.
Quick answer
Everyday Quebec French slang includes chum (boyfriend or buddy), blonde (girlfriend, whatever her hair color), char (car), tuque (winter hat), dépanneur (corner store), and magasiner (to shop) - vocabulary that often differs noticeably from France French.
Learn Quebec French vocabulary with native audio. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
This covers everyday, non-vulgar slang. For Quebec swear words specifically, see Quebec French swear words (sacres). For the wider regional contrast, see Quebec vs France French.
People and relationships
| Quebec word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| chum | boyfriend, or a male buddy (context dependent) |
| blonde | girlfriend, regardless of hair color |
| gars | guy |
| fille | girl |
Everyday objects
| Quebec word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| char | car |
| tuque | winter hat |
| cellulaire | cell phone |
| dépanneur | corner store, convenience shop |
Verbs and actions
Magasiner (to shop, vs France’s faire du shopping), jaser (to chat), niaiser (to fool around or waste time).
Time and weather
Fin de semaine (weekend, vs France’s week-end - Quebec institutionally resists English loanwords more than France does), il mouille (it’s raining, vs il pleut).
For the rest (swearing)
Quebec’s famous religious-origin swear words - sacres like tabarnak or câlisse - are a whole separate system. See Quebec French swear words (sacres) explained for the dedicated guide.
Quebec French, made accessible
LexiFr teaches regional French vocabulary with native audio and real context.
Free to start - no ads, no streak guilt. Your first 200 words are waiting.
Questions about this note
What does blonde mean in Quebec French?
Girlfriend - regardless of the person's actual hair color.
What is a dépanneur?
A Quebec corner store/convenience shop.
What does magasiner mean?
To shop - Quebec's word, vs France's faire du shopping.
Why does Quebec say fin de semaine instead of week-end?
Quebec institutionally resists English loanwords more than France does.
What is a tuque?
A knit winter hat, essential Quebec vocabulary.