Congratulations to Geneviève Gnahoue who won the draw!
Click on each of the language-related questions. If you find the questions too challenging, lâchez pas la patate! Click on the hints that lead to the Language Portal of Canada website.
The contest is now closed! Have fun answering the questions and discovering the correct answers!
Attachez vot’ tuque! This March is the time to test your linguistic knowledge and explore some expressions from Canada’s Francophonie!
The Prize
You could win a trip for two to a Canadian destination of your choice. The prize includes transportation provided by Air Canada and $2000 spending money.
How to Enter
The French expressions parler en grandeur and parler à la grandeur are Acadianisms, that is, expressions used in Acadian French.
What do these expressions mean?
- a)to use fancy words
- b)to talk non-stop
- c)to use your hands while talking
The French word broue is an informal but well established Canadianism that refers to the foam that forms on certain liquids.
What does the expression avoir de la broue dans le toupet mean?
- a)to have a lot to do in a short amount of time
- b)to have the wind in your hair
- c)to be bold or audacious
The French word fraise doesn’t just mean “strawberry.” In a figurative sense, if can refer to someone’s head or face.
What does the expression se bourrer la fraise mean?
- a)to show up somewhere
- b)to eat a large amount
- c)to make fun of someone
The French verb garrocher, which is used all over Canada’s Francophonie, means “to throw.”
Conjugate the verb garrocher in the following sentence. En ce beau jour d’été, les enfants ______ des cailloux dans le lac.
- a)garrochèrent
- b)garrochèrrent
- c)garrocherèrent
The French verb débourrer has a distinct meaning in Acadia.
In Acadian French, what does débourrer un paquet mean?
- a)to ship a package
- b)to give a package to someone
- c)to open a package
The contest questions were prepared by the Language Portal of Canada, an initiative of Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Translation Bureau.
