Quebec French and France French

The big picture

• Standard written French is essentially the same in Quebec and France. Grammar, spelling and formal vocabulary match.
• The differences are mostly in everyday vocabulary, pronunciation and informal speech, much like the differences between British and American English.
• Speakers understand each other. Strong informal speech or regional slang can be harder to follow, on both sides.

Everyday vocabulary

Meals: a common source of confusion

So if a colleague in Montreal invites you for dîner, it is lunch. The Quebec system is also traditional in Belgium and Switzerland, and usage varies by region and generation.

English words: not always where you expect

It is often said that Quebec French has more English words. In informal speech, there are some (chum, c’est le fun). But in official and written French, Quebec often avoids English words that France uses freely:

Pronunciation

A few features you will notice quickly:

• T and d before i and u sound like “ts” and “dz”: tu sounds roughly like “tsu”, dire roughly like “dzire”. This is one of the most recognisable features of Quebec French.
• Some vowels are relaxed in certain syllables, so a word like petite can sound shorter and different from the textbook pronunciation.
• Long vowels can be diphthongised in informal speech: père or fête may sound slightly like two vowel sounds.
• The rhythm and melody differ, as between British and American English.

The more you listen, the faster your ear adapts. A few weeks of regular Quebec radio or TV makes a big difference.

Informal grammar

These features are common in informal Quebec speech. They are not used in formal writing:

• The question particle -tu: Tu viens-tu ? (Are you coming?) / C’est-tu loin ?
• Ça fait que… (so…), often shortened in speech.
• Pis for puis or et: pis là… (and then…)

Tu and vous

Tu is generally used more widely in Quebec than in France, including between colleagues and sometimes in service situations. Vous remains the polite default with strangers and in formal contexts. Our guide to tu and vous explains how to choose.

Which French should you learn?

• Learn standard French. It is understood everywhere, it is what textbooks teach, and it is what the TEF Canada and TCF Canada expect in writing.
• If you live or plan to live in Quebec, add regular exposure to Quebec speech: radio, podcasts, TV and conversations. Your listening will adapt quickly.
• In exams, use standard vocabulary. Recordings can include speakers with different francophone accents, so practising with a range of accents is useful.

Frequently asked questions