European vs Canadian French: What are the differences

How to tell the difference between European and Canadian French

If you are learning French, you may be curious about the differences between European and Canadian French. These two variants of French have some common features, but also many distinctions in vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture. In this blog post, we will examine some of the key aspects that separate European and Canadian French, and how to avoid common errors when using either of these dialects.

The historical origins of European and Canadian French

The history of European and Canadian French is closely linked to the colonization of North America by the Europeans. The first French settlers arrived in Canada in the 16th century, bringing with them the Classical French and the dialects from the regions around Paris and langue d’oil. These dialects formed the basis of Canadian French, also known as Québécois.

However, Canadian French was also influenced by other languages and cultures, such as English, Aboriginal languages and American culture. In the 18th century, after the British conquest of New France, many French speakers left Canada or were assimilated by the English-speaking majority. The remaining French speakers were isolated from France and developed their own linguistic and cultural identity.

In contrast, European French continued to evolve in France, following the linguistic reforms and standardization of the Académie française. European French also incorporated words and expressions from other languages, such as Latin, Greek, Arabic and English.

Today, European and Canadian French are both official languages in their respective countries, but they have diverged significantly over time. Let’s see some examples of how they differ in various aspects.

Vocabulary differences: How to say the same thing in different ways

One of the most noticeable differences between European and Canadian French is the vocabulary. Canadian French has many words and expressions that are not used or understood in European French, and vice versa. Some of these differences are due to historical reasons, such as the influence of English or Aboriginal languages on Canadian French, or the influence of Latin or Arabic on European French. Other differences are due to cultural reasons, such as the different names for foods, products or institutions.

Here are some examples of words that are different in European and Canadian French:

As you can see, some words are completely different, while others are just shortened or modified versions of the same word. To avoid confusion, it is important to learn the vocabulary that is specific to each variant of French.

Some of these words have interesting stories behind them. For example, the word for car in Canadian French, le char, comes from the English word car, which itself comes from the Latin word carrus, meaning a wheeled vehicle. The word for car in European French, la voiture, comes from the Latin word vectura, meaning a conveyance or transport.

Another example is the word for email in Canadian French, le mail, which comes from the English word email, which itself comes from the Latin word epistula, meaning a letter. The word for email in European French, le courriel, is a blend of the words courrier (mail) and électronique (electronic).

Pronunciation differences: How to sound like a native speaker

Another major difference between European and Canadian French is the pronunciation. Canadian French has a distinct accent that is easily recognizable by European French speakers. Some of the features of Canadian French pronunciation are:

• The use of a nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ instead of /ɔ̃/ in words like bon (good), mon (my) or pont (bridge). For example, bon is pronounced /bɑ̃/ in Canadian French and /bɔ̃/ in European French.
• The use of a diphthong /aɪ/ instead of /wa/ in words like moi (me), toi (you) or loi (law). For example, moi is pronounced /maɪ/ in Canadian French and /mwa/ in European French.
• The use of a glottal stop /ʔ/ before a vowel in words like patte (paw), botte (boot) or hotte (hood). For example, patte is pronounced /paʔ/ in Canadian French and /pat/ in European French.
• The use of a uvular /ʁ/ instead of an alveolar /r/ in words like rat (rat), rire (laugh) or rue (street). For example, rat is pronounced /ʁa/ in Canadian French and /ra/ in European French.

These pronunciation differences can affect the meaning of some words. For example, the word non (no) is pronounced /nɔ̃/ in European French and /nɑ̃/ in Canadian French. However, the word nan (nah) is pronounced /nan/ in both variants. Therefore, if a Canadian French speaker says /nɑ̃/, it could be interpreted as non or nan by a European French speaker, depending on the context.

To improve your pronunciation, it is helpful to listen to native speakers of both variants of French and practice mimicking their sounds. You can also use online tools such as Forvo or Rhinospike to hear how words are pronounced by different speakers.

Grammar differences: How to avoid common mistakes

Another difference between European and Canadian French is the grammar. Canadian French has some grammatical features that are not used or accepted in European French, and vice versa. Some of these differences are due to historical reasons, such as the preservation of older forms or the simplification of complex structures in Canadian French, or the adoption of new forms or the regularization of irregular structures in European French. Other differences are due to cultural reasons, such as the preference for certain constructions or the avoidance of certain expressions in either variant.

Here are some examples of grammatical differences between European and Canadian French:

• The use of the pronoun tu (you singular) instead of vous (you formal or plural) in Canadian French, even in formal or polite situations. For example, a Canadian French speaker would say Tu veux du café? (Do you want some coffee?) to a stranger or a boss, while a European French speaker would say Vous voulez du café?
• The use of the pronoun on (one, we, they) instead of nous (we) in Canadian French, even in formal or written contexts. For example, a Canadian French speaker would say On est allés au cinéma. (We went to the movies.) while a European French speaker would say Nous sommes allés au cinéma.
• The use of the past tense passé composé instead of the past tense imparfait in Canadian French, even when describing habitual or continuous actions in the past. For example, a Canadian French speaker would say Quand j’étais petit, je jouais au hockey. (When I was little, I played hockey.) while a European French speaker would say Quand j’étais petit, je jouais au hockey.
• The use of the verb avoir (to have) instead of the verb être (to be) in Canadian French, even when describing states or conditions. For example, a Canadian French speaker would say J’ai faim. (I have hunger.) while a European French speaker would say Je suis faim. (I am hungry.)

These grammatical differences can affect the clarity and correctness of your communication. To avoid making mistakes, it is important to learn the grammar rules that are specific to each variant of French.

You can also use online tools such as BonPatron or LanguageTool to check your grammar and spelling. However, be aware that these tools may not be able to detect all the nuances and subtleties of each variant of French.

Cultural differences: How to be respectful and appropriate

Another difference between European and Canadian French is the culture. Canadian French and European French have different customs, values, traditions and etiquette. Some of these differences are due to historical reasons, such as the influence of the British or the American culture on Canadian French, or the influence of the Latin or the Arabic culture on European French. Other differences are due to geographical reasons, such as the climate, the landscape or the wildlife of each region.

Here are some examples of cultural differences between European and Canadian French:

• The use of different greetings and farewells in Canadian French and European French. For example, a Canadian French speaker would say Bonjour or Salut (Hello or Hi) to greet someone, and Au revoir or Bye to say goodbye, while a European French speaker would say Bonjour or Salut to greet someone, and Au revoir or À bientôt (Goodbye or See you soon) to say goodbye.
• The use of different gestures and body language in Canadian French and European French. For example, a Canadian French speaker would nod or shake their head to indicate yes or no, and use their thumb and index finger to indicate a small amount, while a European French speaker would raise their eyebrows or shrug their shoulders to indicate yes or no, and use their thumb and little finger to indicate a small amount.
• The use of different humor and sarcasm in Canadian French and European French. For example, a Canadian French speaker would use self-deprecating or ironic humor, and avoid making jokes about sensitive