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What are some terms, preferrably disparaging, to refer to Canadians? I've heard "cheeseheads", in reference to Canadians who come down into the U.S. specifically to purchase cheese, and "canucks", meaning I don't know what. I've also heard Canadians refer to themselves as "cakers", which I took to mean a regular-old stupid white Canadian. And what are some terms that Canadians use for Americans? Thanks for your responses.
I've heard of "canucks" too but have no idea what it means. However, "cheeseheads" is actually used to talk about people from Wisconsin. Lots of cows, lots of cheese... have you ever seen those big hats at football games?
I have heard the term "canucks" too, and the Spanish-speaking community of Toronto turned it into "canacas"... it all sounds so despective to me and Canadians are so nice people!
since I am not from Canada, I don't know if "canucks" is a derrogatory term for them, but many of their sports teams are the canucks...Vancouver Canucks hockey team, Canucks rugby team, seems to me that used among other Canadians it has to do with their history/culture, but probably is offensive from non-Canadians referring to them.
Canuck is similar to Yankee in the States (mostly historical) or "sudaca" here in Argentina, as well as numerous other terms that have a neutral or positive connotation within a social or ethnic group, but have the opposite effect when someone from another group uses it.
Americans don't have one word to speak negatively of their northern neighbors. The sad thing is that many view "Canadian" as a pejorative term in itself...
I`ve never heard of the word "Canuck" before...very interesting...Though it really surprised to learn that the word "Canadian"...a neutral word for me, can also have a negative connotation for Americans...strange...:confused:
Canadians have always been punching bags for Americans, but in a good-natured way. All in good fun.
Many years ago I spent some time in British Columbia and Alberta. I had wonderul experiences with Canadians. Many English speakers looked down their noses at French speakers, but I found the latter to be very much like Latin Americans and chose their company when I could.
mira vos....;)
I wonder why there's always competition between the different regions...our instinctive thirst to show we are always the best?:rolleyes:
Sabrina, I would lean more towards insecurity...
I agree ScottJ... And you're right Gabriel, Canadians are nice people, I don't know why we give them so much trouble.
I'm hispanic, I've lived in Toronto all of my life. My parents came from Guatemala which are called chapines. Canadians don't mind being called Canuks. But caker is a bad, just like saying white trash. The US and Canada are great friend but always like to bug one another. Canadians always talk about how rude and self centered American are. An american believe that most Canadians are skimos, live in igloos. Thats not the case at all, canada is a 1st world nation extremly rich and modern...I've never seen an igloo and don't say about aboot or eh all the time!. And one last thing...if your from Toronto you have to say it Torono as all Torontonias say it this way.
"Why leave America for America Junior?"
--- ?? where did I hear this?
im kind of envious of canada. they keep a low profile and do their thing without trying to take on the whole world.
True, Justin...The Canadians I met in London are so easy going and happy all the time...even though they come from a freezing country...
Better late than never!
Here you have a Canadian answering, by the way thanks for the complements. I am very happy to see that non-Canadians consider us to be.Quote:
easygoing and happy
Sabrina, you are right Canada is a freezing country, that is why I am now living in Spain. As the ref. Says, the term Canuck is not offensive, at least for the Canadians I know (including myself).
The term was coined in the 19th century, although its etymology is unclear. Possibilities include:
· kanata[1] "village"
· Canada + -uc (Algonquian noun suffix)
· Connaught, an obscure term for Irish-French-Canadians.
Canadians use "Canuck" as an affectionate description of nationality and the word carries no particular patriotic overtones. A few Americans misinterpret "Canuck" as an offensive noun but would be hard pressed to find a Canadian, French or English, insulted by the word - the opposite being most likely. It is similar in use to "Yankee" for an American.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canuck#cite_note-0
Hello all.
Ordinarily I wouldn't post here but I am choosing to do so because you all appear to be quite sincere in your questioning of the term 'canuck'. I came across this site accidentally and reading the posts I felt that a little history may be beneficial at this time. Contrary to some opinions many Canadians are offended when called Canucks, I being one of them. Please allow me to tell you why.
The first recorded usage of the word was in 1835. The original meaning of the word is obscure but was used as a derogatory word for the French Canadians in particular. It is also the term used for a small to medium sized horse.
The reason that the Canadian Hockey team took on the name Canuck is because of a personification of Johnny Canuck who appeared as a political cartoon in the 1860s resisting Uncle Sam's bullying. Johnny Canuck was revived in 1942 by Bachle to defend Canada against the Nazis. The Vancouver Canucks adopted the personification and that is why the goaltender for the Canucks Roberto Luong had a picture of Johnny Canuck on his goalie mask.
The word should be used cautiously, if at all. Know who you are talking to first before using the word Canuck. To many Canadians the use of the term is the equivalent of calling someone from Peurto Rico a 'spick' or someone from Africa a 'nigger', or someone from France a 'frog'. I have often heard individuals from the USA refer to some of their own citizens as 'rednecks'. Not having heard this word here in Canada I had asked what it meant. Being given different definitions the summary was 'someone who is too stupid to know that he/she is stupid'. As one explaination went "someone who thinks it's ok to go to church Sunday morning and pray with a beer in his hand and his rifle slung over his shoulder". This explanation conjured up a strange scene in my mind. So a 'redneck' may not realize he/she is being insulted if you call him one. Some Peurto Ricans may not mind being introduced as a 'spick', and some Africans may not mind being introduced or called 'niggers', and some French may not mind being introduced as a 'frog', but in general I think that they may feel highly insulted.
Slang names for people is never a good thing. It is always wiser to be politically correct than take the chance of offending someone that you don't mean to offend.