Canadian Spellings/Words

I remember when I used to live in Canada, there were a couple different things, like...
Instead of "z" you say "zed"
and then the word color is spelled "colour"
and gray is spelled "grey"
and then there's other things, like
CANADA'S DAY!!!
Which to me is a lot funner than the fourth of July, at least in Ottawa, because there's those HUGE parades, and face painting!

Also, M&M's are called "smarties"...
And Zellers!
And Canadian Tire!!!
gah, memory lane.

LizaTRENCHCOAT wrote:I remember when I used to live in Canada, there were a couple different things, like...
Instead of "z" you say "zed"
and then the word color is spelled "colour"
and gray is spelled "grey"
and then there's other things, like
CANADA'S DAY!!!
Which to me is a lot funner than the fourth of July, at least in Ottawa, because there's those HUGE parades, and face painting!

Also, M&M's are called "smarties"...
And Zellers!
And Canadian Tire!!!
gah, memory lane.

I KNOW! Canada was awesome in Ottawa! Although, I barely remember it now since the last time I was in Ottawa for Canada day was when I was 5 years old!

Here's some more things to add to your list ^_^ In America Practice is spelled with two C's for both a Doctor's Practice and when you Practice the piano.

But officially in Canada, if you are going to work on a skill etc, it is spelled "practise" and a doctor's Practice is with two C's. Most people are completely unaware of this even some school teachers!!


Anothering you didn't mention that you missed was TIM HORTINS! Do they have Timmy's down there? Or do you just not miss it

It looks like Canadian spelling is the same as here in the UK.

kel2corkey wrote:It looks like Canadian spelling is the same as here in the UK.

Yea I think Canada is more in sync with the UK, since we didn't rage a war against the UK to gain freedom

First I learn english, when I finally have learned the most basic words I have to learn
diffent words because the english speaking countries write words different...

That's so confusing, I'm not sure, but I think we learn UK english at school here in Norway,
I'm just happy I can write and speak ( a twist of norwegian accent ) two languages...
I still struggle with some sentences, how to order the words and ofcourse the famous to/too and is/are....

I usually now how the words are written, but sometimes I can make some pretty strange sentences with them ^^

Victor don't worry about it.
UK English is just fine everywhere in the world and be sure your spelling is a lot better than most of the Americans' anyway.
I don't know how UK kids are doing in school, but here in the US most people doesn't care.
Some of my relative (including my husband) using me as a walking spell-checker although I'm far from being a native English speaker. I found it some what amusing.

maggiekedves wrote:Victor don't worry about it.
UK English is just fine everywhere in the world and be sure your spelling is a lot better than most of the Americans' anyway.
I don't know how UK kids are doing in school, but here in the US most people doesn't care.
Some of my relative (including my husband) using me as a walking spell-checker although I'm far from being a native English speaker. I found it some what amusing.

It's true! most people are very relaxed about how words are spelled and used. I'm not really uptight about it as long as your words are presented in a clear and organized manor. Just do your best ^_^ The only thing that bugs me is when people give me e-mails that I can tell were lazily written to the point where i have to read the message 2-3 times through just to understand what the heck they were talking about! Thankfully that doesn't happen TOO often!

Everyone on this forum seems to be pretty easy to understand! So please don't feel bad ^_^

Here's some more things to add to your list ^_^ In America Practice is spelled with two C's for both a Doctor's Practice and when you Practice the piano.

But officially in Canada, if you are going to work on a skill etc, it is spelled "practise" and a doctor's Practice is with two C's. Most people are completely unaware of this even some school teachers!!


Anothering you didn't mention that you missed was TIM HORTINS! Do they have Timmy's down there? Or do you just not miss it rabbit

Eee, Tim Horton's!! I love how every Tim Horton's (at least that I've been to) is so well... made, and... like, sort of elegant. Unlike most Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kremes.

But yeah, I miss it a lot.

And that's pretty cool about the spelling of "practise" I never knew that! '-'

LOL! Yeah dude, that is SO true, Canada has a few words that are spelled differently than how America spells them. Apparently many Americans believe that we say "aboot" instead of "about", which is pretty hilarious.

In NY we have
Time hortans

They sell green tea at ours
and asome hot somtoothies
and good dounts
there is one a few blocks from my house

I remember When I went to ottaw last year
for spring break
I asked some one at a store somthing I said " Do you have this book (on a peice of paper said the name and she was like What)beucuse It was spelled differntly
Canda was nice
I stayed at the
Lord Elgin Hotel
and in 1 year I am going to vancouver for a week with my french class+
since not many people take freanch

Pianokid220 wrote:In NY we have
Time hortans

They sell green tea at ours
and asome hot somtoothies
and good dounts
there is one a few blocks from my house

I remember When I went to ottaw last year
for spring break
I asked some one at a store somthing I said " Do you have this book (on a peice of paper said the name and she was like What)beucuse It was spelled differntly
Canda was nice
I stayed at the
Lord Elgin Hotel
and in 1 year I am going to vancouver for a week with my french class+
since not many people take freanch

You're going to vancouver for french? hmmm...that would be a better place if you were learning chinese. If you want to learn french Montreal would be better

Our schools Is planning it for the advanced freach class
They have been douing that for 5 years^_^
they have there reason

Hmm, I use a lot of "Canadian" spellings lol, but I also use favour and favourite, mostly British spellings, over here in America, we call M&Ms Dumbies (no just joking.) But there's actually a type of Candy here called Smarties.

And in case anybody's wondering, yes we do think Canadians say "eh" and "aboot." (Well, my friend does anyway ^_^) And Americans do say "lol" every other word.

P.S. Not to be an ignorant stereotypist, but is it true, or is it not, that Canadians say "eh?"