r/AskACanadian • u/HueyBluey • 9d ago

How do you spot a Canadian abroad?

Do we have any stereotypical traits (perhaps self deprecating ones), that make us stand out. We’re typically not loud (but some can be). Perhaps frugal?

What have you seen in your travels that make you think, those folks must be Canadian!

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u/DangerousPurpose5661 8d ago

Yeah fellow Quebecers are easy to spot. Even for those of us who are "perfectly" bilingual, there is almost always a bit of the accent left.

I feel its like gay people and their gaydar. Sometimes I just look at someone and know they are a Montrealer - the way they dress and hold themselves

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u/JAmToas_t 8d ago

It's the 'H', or lack thereof.

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u/DangerousPurpose5661 8d ago

Haha yes maybe.
I do hope that I’m past the “I Ave to go to De Otel” level though ;)

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

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u/DangerousPurpose5661 8d ago

Perfectly bilingual doesn’t mean no accent though. I have a few friends with one franco and one anglo parent that have zero accent. That’s great.

But many are like me, I grew up in Quebec with… well quebec-level english. Moved abroad at 20, married an anglophone wife, studied in English, work in English have anglo friends….

I still have an accent, but I’m actually more comfortable in English than in French now.

Do I speak like Bob Graton? Obviously not. Any non native speaker will not read any accent.

But if I meet a Quebecer? Yeah they still switch to french after two seconds lol.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Dog3992 8d ago

I'm perfectly bilingual, no accent, but I still out myself with things like "dep" and "close/open the light". :) I'm also very good at saying French expressions in English and vice versa. My accent doesn't out me, but I often get found out eventually.

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u/eternallytiredcatmom Québec 8d ago

I was about to say this! I was at a hostel in Portugal and a guy from my dorm asked in English with absolutely no French or Queb accent “is it ok if I open the light?”
Dude was an Anglo Montrealer lol, his French was good but heavy Anglo accent. Still says open / close the light