Québec French: what people actually say in Montréal
Real phrases from the corner store, the restaurant and the street.
Version française · Want the swear words? The sacres, with intensity
At the corner store
Bonjour! Ça va bien?
Hi! How's it going?
Sounds like : bon-ZHOOR, sa va BYIN?
The counter opener. The clerk often says « bonjour-hi »; answer in French and the whole exchange stays in French.
Je vais juste prendre ça.
I'll just take this.
Sounds like : j'vé juss prend' SA
« Juste » comes out « juss ». Say it as you put the item on the counter. Paris would say « je prends seulement ça ».
C'est combien, ça?
How much is this?
Sounds like : sé komb-YIN, sa?
The thing you're asking about comes last, after the comma. Very Québec sentence shape; you'll hear it all day.
Une liqueur, s'il vous plaît. Un Pepsi.
A soft drink, please. A Pepsi.
Sounds like : une li-KEUR, sil-vou-PLÉ. un PEP-si
« Liqueur » = pop, not liquor. Paris says « un soda ». Québec drinks Pepsi; it's a cultural thing.
Avez-vous de la bière froide?
Do you have cold beer?
Sounds like : a-vé-VOU d'la bi-YÈRE FROÈD?
Dépanneurs sell beer and wine until 11 p.m. The fridge is « le frigidaire » or « le frigo ». « Avez-vous » survives here where Paris says « est-ce que vous avez ».
Où ce que je peux trouver les œufs?
Where can I find the eggs?
Sounds like : ou-ss-que j'peu trou-VÉ lé-ZEU?
« Où ce que » (from « où est-ce que ») is the spoken form. In a grocery store (« l'épicerie »), not the dépanneur.
Je paie débit.
I'm paying by debit.
Sounds like : j'pèy dé-BIT
The clerk asks « débit ou crédit? » or « comptant? » (cash). Tapping the card is « taper ». Interac debit is everywhere; cash is rare.
Non merci, pas de sac.
No thanks, no bag.
Sounds like : non mer-SI, pâ d'SAK
Say it before they ask. Plastic bags are banned in Montréal; a paper one costs money.
J'ai pas de carte de points.
I don't have a loyalty card.
Sounds like : j'é pâ d'kart de PWIN
The « ne » of « ne pas » is dropped in speech, always. « J'ai pas », never « je n'ai pas » out loud. Every chain asks: Metro, IGA, Jean Coutu.
Avez-vous du lait deux pour cent?
Do you have 2% milk?
Sounds like : a-vé-VOU du LÉ deu-pour-SENT?
Milk comes in cartons, 2 L jugs and 4 L bags of three pouches. The bag goes in a plastic pitcher; nobody will explain this to you.
C'est correct, gardez le change.
It's fine, keep the change.
Sounds like : sé ko-REK, gar-DÉ l'CHANGE
« C'est correct » = fine / okay / no problem. You'll say it twenty times a day. « Le change » = the change, as in English; Paris says « la monnaie ».
Merci! — Bienvenue.
Thanks! — You're welcome.
Sounds like : mer-SI — byin-v'NU
« Bienvenue » means you're welcome, straight from English. Paris says « de rien » or « je vous en prie »; both are understood but sound stiff here.
Landlord and apartment
Est-ce que le logement est encore disponible?
Is the apartment still available?
Sounds like : ess-que l'loj-MENT é en-KOR dis-po-NIB'?
« Logement » or « appart », never « appartement » in full. A « 4½ » (quatre et demi) is two bedrooms; the half is the bathroom.
C'est un quatre et demi, chauffé, éclairé?
Is it a four-and-a-half, heat and electricity included?
Sounds like : sé un KAT-é-d'MI, cho-FÉ, é-klé-RÉ?
« Chauffé » = heating included, « éclairé » = electricity included. The power company is « l'Hydro » (Hydro-Québec), and the bill is « ma facture d'Hydro ».
C'est combien par mois?
How much a month?
Sounds like : sé komb-YIN par MWA?
Rent is quoted per month, always. The ad says « 1 200 $/mois »; the dollar sign comes after the number in French.
Le bail commence le premier juillet?
Does the lease start July 1st?
Sounds like : le BAY ko-MENSS le pre-MYÉ jui-YÈ?
Moving day in Québec is July 1st; most leases run July to June. « Le bail » is the official TAL form, the only legal one; a landlord's own contract doesn't count.
Les animaux sont-tu acceptés?
Are pets allowed?
Sounds like : lé-za-ni-MO son-TU ak-sep-TÉ?
The « -tu » question marker: « c'est-tu », « t'as-tu », « y est-tu ». It doesn't mean « you »; it just turns a statement into a question. Pure Québec.
Je peux visiter quand?
When can I come see it?
Sounds like : j'peu vi-zi-TÉ KAN?
« Visiter » = to view an apartment. Question word at the end, no inversion. Go in person; a « visite » decides it.
Y a-tu une laveuse-sécheuse?
Is there a washer-dryer?
Sounds like : ya-TU une la-VEUZ sé-CHEUZ?
Québec words: « laveuse » / « sécheuse »; Paris says « machine à laver » / « sèche-linge ». « Entrée laveuse-sécheuse » in an ad means hookups only, no machines.
Le chauffage marche pas, pouvez-vous envoyer quelqu'un?
The heating isn't working, can you send someone?
Sounds like : le cho-FAJ marsh PÂ, pou-vé-VOU en-voy-É kèk-UN?
« Vous » to the landlord until they say « tu ». « Quelqu'un » sounds « quèqu'un ». Heat must be on by law; the TAL is the board if it isn't.
Quick quiz: what does it mean?
The rest of the phrasebook
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I'll pay the first month by Interac e-transfer.
Are you the landlord?
There's water leaking in the bathroom.
I'm not renewing my lease.
SAAQ, bus and metro
I have an appointment for my driver's licence.
I want to exchange my foreign licence.
I need to renew my plates.
My car is parked on the street.
Where can I buy an OPUS card?
One fare, please.
Which bus goes downtown?
The metro's down, again.
Are you getting off at the next stop?
Excuse me, coming through.
There's traffic on the bridge.
My OPUS card isn't working.
Health card, pharmacy, doctor
I don't have my health card yet.
I don't have a family doctor.
I'd like to make a doctor's appointment.
I've had a sore throat for three days.
Is it serious?
Do you have something for a cold?
I'm picking up my prescription.
Where's the nearest CLSC?
I'm allergic to penicillin.
How long is the wait at the ER?
My child has a fever.
Can I get a note for my employer?
Job interview and first day
Hi, I have an interview with Ms. Tremblay at ten.
I came to Québec two years ago.
I have five years' experience in the field.
My French isn't perfect, but I'm improving it every day.
What's the schedule, and the pay?
Is it a permanent or a temporary position?
I can start Monday.
Hi, I'm Atash, it's my first day.
How do breaks work here?
I'm having lunch at noon, you coming?
Can you show me how this works?
Do we get paid every two weeks?
Small talk with coworkers
So, how was your weekend?
Not bad, and you?
It's freezing this morning!
This snow is ridiculous.
Did you see the game last night?
The Habs lost again, no surprise.
So, what are you doing tonight?
You know, it's not that bad.
My boyfriend and I are going to the cottage this weekend.
I'm sick of winter.
Want to grab a coffee?
I'm going shopping after work.
Tim Hortons and restaurant
A medium double-double, please.
A coffee with one milk, no sugar.
For here or to go?
A drink with that?
A table for two, please.
I'll have the poutine, with a draft beer.
What's today's special?
Is it spicy?
The bill, please.
Can we pay separately?
The tip isn't included, right?
That was really good, thanks!
A party or happy hour
Happy hour Thursday?
Can I bring someone?
I'll bring a bottle.
Hey! It's been a while!
This is fun!
Want a beer? There's some in the fridge.
No thanks, I'm driving tonight.
This is my girlfriend, Sarah.
Have you ever been to a sugar shack?
Okay, I'm heading out, I work tomorrow.
That was really fun, thanks for having me.
Text me!
Phone and customer service
Hello?
Hi, I'm calling about my bill.
Can I have your account number?
I'll put you on hold for a couple of minutes.
That's fine, I'll wait.
I'd like to cancel my subscription.
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Is this going to take a while?
Can you email that to me?
What's the reference number?
Is there anything else I can do for you?
Thanks a lot. Have a good day!
Emergencies and not understanding
Sorry, I didn't understand.
Can you repeat that more slowly?
What does « pantoute » mean?
I don't speak French very well yet, but I'm learning.
Do you speak English?
How do you say « receipt » in French?
Call 911, quick!
I need an ambulance, someone fell.
There's a fire in the building!
I'm lost, I'm looking for Berri-UQAM station.
No problem, it's fine, thanks anyway.
Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you.
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