Getting around
Métro
Prochaine station.
Next station.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Montreal
Canada
Montreal wraps around Mount Royal, a French-speaking city with a large English-speaking side.
How the language is used
French is official in Quebec. Signs lean French, and English is widely used in shops, campuses, and some neighbourhoods.
In this city
- Language
- French
- Also heard
- English
- A local word
- Dépanneur — A corner shop.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Café
Un allongé, s'il vous plaît.
A long coffee.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Dépanneur
C'est combien ?
How much is it?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Rue
Bonjour.
Good morning.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
French is official here. The metro speaks French. In shops you also hear English, and the French itself is Québécois.
Around Plateau, Mile End, Vieux-Montréal, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Montreal can run on four lines: “Prochaine station.”, “Un allongé, s'il vous plaît.”, “C'est combien ?”, and “Bonjour.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- Shops and offices often stay with vous. Tu is for people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Montreal, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Dépanneur. It means A corner shop..
Places you can see
- Mount Royal — The wooded hill at the centre, with lookouts over the river and the grid.
- Old Montreal — The old port quarter of stone streets, the basilica, and the cobbled square.
- Jean-Talon Market — A large produce market in Little Italy, north of the downtown core.
Food
Poutine, smoked meat, and Montreal bagels are local names you can order in French or English.
Getting around
The metro labels and announces stations in French. Buses cross a city that also works in English.
Daily life
You see French on most signs. In many shops the next sentence may switch to English.
A few everyday phrases
French
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Merci | Thank you |
| Bonjour | Good morning |
| Je m'appelle… | My name is… |
