Quebec Vs Metro

Quebec French vs Metropolitan French

Quebec French (français québécois) is different from Metropolitan French (français métropolitain.)

Metropolitan French refers to the French spoken in France.

Quebec French is the French used around the World until the 1760s (when the British gained control of the French Colony in Canada – Quebec.)

The Articles of Capitulation of Montreal of 1760 (when the British took Montreal from the French) stated, among the 55 Articles, that the French in Quebec could no longer have direct contact with the French in France since they were now British Subjects.

That meant that any new Words or Pronunciations made in Paris were no longer included into Quebec French.

To adapt, Quebec French started using First Nation, British or American Words and turned it into Quebec French.

Quebec French also uses the Informal “You” (Tu) more than the Metropolitan French Formal “You” (Vous.)

Here are some examples:

Quebec French          Metropolitan French             English

un char                         une voiture                              car

une blonde                    copine                                   Girlfriend

la fête                           l'anniversaire                           Birthday

magasiner                    faire du shopping                   to go shopping

abrier                           couvrir                                    to cover

banc de neige              congère                                  snow bank

 

Quebec French Speakers can generally understand Metropolitan French Speakers because of its usage in International Media (Films, TV Shows, etc. from France.)

Metropolitan French Speakers have a harder time to understand Quebec French Speakers especially if the Metropolitan French Speaker doesn’t also under English.

When my Mother took French in High School her French Teacher asked her Father (my Grandfather) who was from Quebec to not help her with her French Homework because it was not Standard or Metropolitan French and so she was getting the answers wrong.

My Mother became Semi-Fluent in Metropolitan French and had a hard time speaking to her Father or her Cousins.