French
French is the official language of Québec: the language of government, work, education, and business. Just over 80% of Quebecers speak French as their native language.
That makes learning French a very important part of settling in!
Learning French
Do you want to learn French or improve your knowledge of the language? There are plenty of opportunities available. Here are just some of the places you can take French lessons.
There are several places you can learn or improve your French on campus.
Visit the Support for French language learning page to learn more.
If you have a work or study permit, you are eligible for the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration (MIFI) francization program. This program is only accessible through the Government of Québec. You may also be eligible to receive financial assistance for attending classes, as well as financial assistance for childcare expenses. Classes are available in person, online, and in some workplaces.
You must register for this program online. See the terms and conditions here.
Note that francization classes are not credited, nor do they count towards your full-time course load.
School offering francization courses in Québec City
You can also take French classes, either free or for a fee, off campus. Visit the “Learning French” section of this page on the City of Québec website for a list of organizations that offer French classes and workshops in the city.
The institutions below offer French proficiency tests that are recognized by the MIFI and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Unique features of Québec French
to say that Québec French is a distinct form of French with its own vocabulary. Quebecers are generally very proud of their language.
Read on to learn about some of the distinctive traits of Québec French. Most are only found in spoken French, but not in writing. Also, keep in mind that accents and expressions will vary by region.
Québec has been described as an “island of French speakers in an ocean of English speakers.” Unsurprisingly, this means that Quebecers tend to avoid words borrowed from English. For example, while French -speakers in most places will talk about their “week-end”, Quebecers will talk about their “fin de semaine”. They also prefer to “magasiner” rather than “faire du shopping”. Even so, Quebecers will use some English expressions and structures, like:
- “Tomber en amour avec le Québec” (English: “falling in love with Québec”) instead of “tomber amoureux du Québec”
- “Ça fait du sens” (English: “that makes sense”) instead of “c’est logique”
- “Présentement” (English: “presently”) instead of “actuellement”
- “Sauver de l’argent” (English: “save money”) instead of “épargner”
- “Sauver du temps” (English: “save time”) instead of “gagner du temps”
In French, “tu” is an informal second-person pronoun (roughly equivalent to the singular “you” in English). However, in Québec French, it is also used casually as an interrogative word. For example:
- “C’est-tu loin?” = “Est-ce que c’est loin?” (Is it far?)
- “Ça vous tente-tu?” = “Est-ce que ça vous tente?” (Are you interested?)
- “Ça va-tu?” = “Est-ce que ça va?” (How are you?)
- “Tu veux-tu?” = “Est-ce que tu veux?” (Do you want?)
French has two second-person pronouns that are equivalent to the English “you”, and verbs are conjugated differently depending on which one is used. “Tu” is friendlier and less formal, generally implying some form of existing relationship. “Vous”, on the other hand, is more respectful and formal, generally implying a certain amount of distance between the speakers. When a person addresses someone else with “tu”, it is known as “tutoiement”, and when they use “vous”, it is known as “vouvoiement”.
In Québec, relationships tend to be somewhat casual and informal. It is common for young people, and people of a similar age, to use “tu” rather than “vous”. In fact, people in Québec generally use “tu” much more than people in most other French-speaking countries. For example, people in Québec will use it with some of their teachers or professors. In other words, do not be surprised if Quebecers address you with “tu”. “Vous” is mostly used out of respect for the other person’s age. That said, if you feel uncomfortable using “tu” with someone, you can keep using “vous”.
Québec French tends to use profanity—words taken from Catholicism—rather than swears. These words speak to Québec’s deep religious and cultural heritage, as well as the Catholic Church’s strong influence until the 1960s. Like swears, these words are used to express emotion (both positive and negative), anger, or shock.
Common profanity: “criss” (Christ), “câlice” (chalice), “osti” (sacramental bread), “tabarnak” (tabernacle).
While most French-speaking countries refer to breakfast, lunch, and dinner/supper as “petit-déjeuner”, “déjeuner”, and “dîner”, in Québec they are called “déjeuner”, “dîner”, and “souper”. Meals also tend to be eaten earlier in Québec: lunch is eaten around noon and supper is eaten between 5 and 7 PM.
The Office québécois de la langue française provides a French-language list of common Québec expressions that you are likely to hear in your conversations. Why not have some fun learning more about the ways French is used in Québec?