Getting around
Subway
Stand behind the yellow line.
Stand behind the yellow line.
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.
Toronto
Canada
Toronto lines the north-west shore of Lake Ontario, with a downtown of towers beside the water.
How the language is used
English is the main everyday language, French appears on federal signs, and many other languages are heard on transit.
In this city
- Language
- English
- Also heard
- French, Chinese and Punjabi
- A local word
- Double-double — Coffee with two creams and two sugars.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Café
A double-double.
Coffee with two creams and two sugars.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Shop
How can I help you?
How can I help you?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Street
Sorry.
Sorry.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
English is the language of the ride, the shop, and the street.
In Kensington Market, Scarborough, North York, you also hear French, Chinese and Punjabi.
A first day in Toronto can run on four lines: “Stand behind the yellow line.”, “A double-double.”, “How can I help you?”, and “Sorry.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- One everyday you-form covers most shops. Please and thanks do the polite work.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Toronto, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Double-double. It means Coffee with two creams and two sugars..
Places you can see
- CN Tower — A concrete communications tower on the lakefront, taller than the office blocks around it.
- Distillery District — A pedestrian quarter of brick warehouses from the old Gooderham and Worts distillery.
- Toronto Islands — A chain of small islands in the harbour, reached by ferry from the downtown quay.
Food
Neighbourhood markets sell Caribbean patties, dim sum, and Middle Eastern grills beside Canadian diners.
Getting around
Subway, streetcars, and buses make up the TTC, and GO trains reach the outer suburbs.
Daily life
You ride a streetcar past blocks where the shop signs change language from one street to the next.
A few everyday phrases
English
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Good morning | Good morning |
| My name is… | My name is… |
