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31 things Canadians say that Americans don't understand

Mark Abadi   

31 things Canadians say that Americans don't understand

Canadian Canada fans

REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Canadians have tons of slang words that would leave most Americans scratching their heads.

  • Canada and the United States are both English-speaking countries, but they don't speak exactly alike.
  • Canadians have a long list of slang terms and colorful expressions that set their dialect apart from American English.
  • We compiled a list of 31 Canadian words that would confuse Americans, including words like "keener," "gonger," and "Texas mickey."


The United States and Canada are linked in many ways, from their intertwined history to their 5,500-mile border - the longest in the world.

But the most obvious thing the two countries share is their language.

Yet despite both having English as their primary language, Americans and Canadians don't speak exactly alike. In fact, Canadian English is full of unique slang words and expressions that would leave most American speakers scratching their heads.

Business Insider's Portia Crowe compiled a list of words you'll only hear in Canada. We've added some more examples to illustrate that Canadian English comprises a lot more than "eh" and "aboot."

Read on for 31 Canadian words and expressions that most Americans simply won't understand.

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