The contest is now closed!

Congratulations to the winner:

Jay Goodman, Ontario 

Have fun answering the questions and seeing the correct answers!

Attachez vot’ tuque! This March, 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

Click on each of the language-related questions, answer it and submit an entry form. Each correct answer gives you a chance to win. You can enter the contest twice a day—once in English and once in French.

If you find the questions too challenging, lâchez pas la patate! Click on the hints that lead to the Language Portal of Canada website to double your chances to win!

c’est pas les gros chars

In Canada, the French word char is used in a number of informal expressions, including un char pis une barge and c’est pas les gros chars.

What does the expression c’est pas les gros chars mean?

  • a)It’s not the best.
  • b)It’s not the end of the world.
  • c)That’s not how things are done.
Hint
Confirm your choice
comprenure

The French noun comprenure is used in Canada and Belgium, whereas comprenette is more common in the rest of the Francophonie.

What does the expression être dur de comprenure mean in the following sentence? Tant que je n’ai pas bu mon café du matin, je suis assez dur de comprenure!

  • a)to have trouble waking up
  • b)to be slow to understand something
  • c)to ignore the people around you
Hint
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donner la claque

In Canada, the French word claque is used in a number of idioms, including faire quelque chose d’une claque, manger une claque and donner la claque.

What does the idiom donner la claque mean?

  • a)to incite a round of applause
  • b)to make a big effort to accomplish something
  • c)to reward someone
Hint
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calouetter

The French verb calouetter, which is used in Acadia, is related to the eyes.

What does calouetter mean?

  • a)to have blurry vision
  • b)to roll your eyes
  • c)to blink
Hint
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paqueter ses petits

In Canada, the French verb paqueter is used in a number of idioms, including se paqueter la fraise and paqueter ses petits.

What does the idiom paqueter ses petits mean?

  • a)to pack your bags
  • b)to swoon over poetry
  • c)to make your money grow
Hint
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ENTRY FORM

To submit an entry form, you must answer all of the contest questions. And as the saying goes, rev’nez donc faire un p’tit tour demain!

The contest questions were prepared by the Language Portal of Canada, an initiative of Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Translation Bureau.