Vocabulary for “Parlez-vous québecois?"
Vocabulary for “Parlez-vous québecois?"
Vocabulary
Because this newsletter is focused on Quebecois French, I’m only including those words and expressions unique to Quebec.
un québécois pure laine — expression un peu comique pour dire un francophone né au Québec de parents francophones
on va les avoir les Anglais! — old expression dating back a long time ago. We’ll beat the English, referring to the war between England and France — still used as a joke today
ce qui me fait tripper — what excites me
chequez — regarder
m’as vous donner — je vais vous donner
moé — moi
en tabarnac — the equivalent of f**cking angry, but a bit less vulgar
une histoire de malade — a crazy story
pis — et (de puis)
Tant qu’à y être — while we’re at it, or why not
Un criss de bon film — a f**cking good movie!
le français proprette — de propre, c’est à dire poli, bien parlé
tsé — tu sais
criss que j’me sus senti fake — je me suis
Un osti de poser — a f**cking poser
rien pantoute — rien du tout
assis-toé — version québécoise de assieds-toi
en joual! — mot québécois pour décrire la langue québécoise
C’t’un — c’est un
Ché pas — je sais pas
En te cas — déformation de en tout cas
tu-suite — tout de suite
J’y ai fermé — je lui ai fermé
dans’maison — dans la maison
j’me sus dit — je me suis dit
être sur son trente-six — être très bien habillé
ben élevé — polite, having good manners
son cataloye — catalogue
que-qu’menutes — quelques minutes
fin — gentil
ça (a) pas d’allure — it’s nonesense
Chus — je suis
J’ai manqué venir folle — I almost went crazy
su’a mienne — sur la mienne
astheur — maintenant (de: à cette heure)
pardre — perdre
c’est beau en esti — a lot
je sais pus c’qu’y’a dit — ce qu’il a dit
vous autres — often used instead of vous, eux, etc.
Écoute, toé — a way to tell a story
C’est de l’art, pas rien qu’à peu près — c’est vraiment de l’art
je sais pus c’qu’y’a dit — je ne sais plus ce qu’il a dit
Pantoute — du tout
je trouve ça beau en tabouère — softer version of ciboire
Sont toutes beaux — tous is often replaced by toutes
j’ai l’air d’un criss de cave — a f**cking retard
En te cas — en tout cas
crisser des mots anglais — mettre
icitte — ici
Pas un estifi de mot français — softer version of estie
Faque — alors, donc
le monde, y s’est tanné — they got tired of it
une gang — a group of people
Y connaissent e’rien — ils ne connaissent rien, “e” is added for pronunciation
Translation of the excerpt from Les belles soeurs, by Michel Tremblay
The first time I saw him, I thought he was really ugly... He really isn't handsome, is he! When he opened the door, he took off his hat and said to me: "Would you be interested in buying some brushes from me, m’am? I shut the door in his face! I never let men in the house! You never know what might happen... Only the little boy from "La Presse” (a newspaper) I let in. The boy, he's still too young, he doesn't think about anything's wrong. A month later, my brush guy came back. It was an real snowstorm, so I let him in the gantry. When he got inside, I was scared, but I told myself he didn't look bad, but if he wasn't handsome... He's always dressed up, not a hair out of place... A real gentleman! And so well behaved! He sold me a couple of brushes and showed me his catalogue. I was interested in one, but he didn't have it with him, so he told me I could place an order. And he's been coming every month since. Sometimes, I don't buy anything. He just comes over when I need him. He's so nice! When he talks, you forget he's ugly! And he knows so many interesting things! Wow, he travels all over the province, that man! I think... I think I love him... I know it’s nonsense, I only see him once a month, but we're so good together! I'm so happy when he's around! It's the first time it's ever happened to me! It's the first time! Men have never looked after me before. I've always been a lonely girl. He tells me about his travels, tells me stories... Sometimes they're pretty dirty, but they're so funny! And I must say, I've always liked stories that are a bit salty... I think it's good to tell dirty stories, sometimes... Ah! not all his stories are dirty, ah! no, there are some decent ones! He's been telling me dirty stories for a while now... Sometimes they're so dirty I blush. The last time he came over, he held my hand because I'd blushed. I almost went crazy! It turned me upside down to feel his big hand on mine! I need him, astheur! I don't want him to go away forever... Sometimes I dream... that we're married. I need him to come and see me! He's the first man to take care of me! I don't want to lose him!
