Daily life
CSQ
say-ess-kü
Certificat de sélection du Québec. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants, and for most routes you need this before Ottawa will consider you.
RAMQ
ramk
The Quebec health insurance board. Public cover, with a three-month waiting period — unless a social security agreement waives it for your country.
NAS / SIN
en-ah-ess
Numéro d'assurance sociale. You cannot be paid without one. Free, from Service Canada, usually same day in person.
Cession de bail
seh-syon duh bye
Assigning your lease to someone else. A Quebec tenant's right, and the reason nobody here pays a lease-breaking fee.
Le 1er juillet
luh pruh-MYAY jwee-YAY
Moving Day. Most Quebec leases run July to June, so the whole city moves on one date. Book a truck in March.
Dépanneur
day-pa-NEUR
The corner shop. Sells beer and wine, unlike in most of Canada, and is open when nothing else is.
Déneigement
day-nezh-MON
Snow removal. When the orange signs go up on your street, move the car or it is towed — this is not a warning, it is a schedule.
Social
Bienvenue
byen-vuh-NÜ
Literally 'welcome', but used here to mean 'you're welcome' after thanks — where France would say 'de rien'. A reliable Quebec marker.
Tabarnak
ta-bar-NAK
The best-known Quebec swear word, derived from church vocabulary rather than anatomy. Strong. Understand it; do not deploy it.
Food
Poutine
poo-TSIN
Chips, cheese curds and gravy. The curds must squeak. Ordering it at three in the morning is the intended use.
Emergency
911
nine-one-one / neuf-un-un
Police, fire and ambulance. Ambulance transport is billed in Quebec even with RAMQ.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.