If you’ve ever tried to use your high school French on the streets of Montreal or Quebec City, you probably noticed something right away: it sounds completely different.

Most traditional French courses teach Metropolitan French (the French spoken in France).

But if you want to connect with locals in Quebec, travel through the province, or simply enjoy its rich culture, you need to learn Quebecois French.

The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to learn standard French first, hoping they’ll just “pick up” Quebecois later.

If your goal is to speak with Quebecers, you should focus on Quebecois from day one.

Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide on how to start learning Quebecois French.

Understand the difference between Quebecois and standard French

Before you start learning, you need to understand what Quebecois actually is.

Quebecois isn’t a completely different language from standard French. It’s a dialect.

Think of it like the difference between American English and Scottish English. They share the same core grammar and writing rules, but the pronunciation, slang, and daily vocabulary are vastly different.

When you read a newspaper in Quebec, it looks almost exactly like a newspaper in Paris. But when you sit down at a local café to listen to people speak, it sounds entirely different.

Because of this, your primary focus as a beginner should be on listening and speaking, rather than just reading textbooks.

Master the unique Quebecois pronunciation

The pronunciation is a major adjustment for new learners. Quebecois sounds much more rhythmic and nasal than standard French.

There are two major pronunciation rules you should learn right away:

1. The “Ts” and “Dz” sounds (Affrication)

In Quebec, when the letters T or D are followed by an I or a U, they make a “Ts” or “Dz” sound.

For example, the word tu (you) is pronounced “tsu”. The famous dish poutine is pronounced “poo-tsin”. The word dire (to say) is pronounced “dzeer”.

2. Dropped letters and syllables

Quebecers speak fast, and they often blend words together or drop letters entirely.

The pronoun je (I) is almost always combined with the verb suis (am) to make the sound “chu”.

Similarly, the word il (he) is often pronounced simply as “y”.

Learn common Quebecois vocabulary

Quebec has a massive dictionary of unique words that are never used in France.

Some of these words come from historical French that was preserved over the centuries, while others are adapted from English (Anglicisms).

Here’s a table of a few very common words you should learn right away:

You’ll hear these words every single day in Quebec. Learning them early will save you a lot of confusion!

Get used to informal pronouns and grammar

Quebecers are incredibly friendly and informal.

In France, there’s a strict rule about using vous (the formal “you”) with strangers. In Quebec, people use tu (the informal “you”) much more freely. You’ll often hear a cashier or a waiter address you with tu.

Another unique grammar quirk is the “tu” question particle.

In spoken Quebecois, people often add an extra tu to a sentence to turn it into a yes-or-no question. This has nothing to do with the pronoun “you”. It’s just a sound that signals a question.

Don’t worry about trying to use this perfectly right away. Just be aware of it so that you understand what people are asking you!

Immerse yourself in local media

The absolute best way to learn any language is through comprehensible input. This means surrounding yourself with the language at a level you can somewhat understand.

If you want to learn Quebecois, you need to listen to Quebecois voices. Stop listening to Parisian audio tracks!

Here’s how you can start immersing yourself today:

• Watch Quebec TV shows: Series like Série Noire, 19-2, and Les Beaux Malaises are fantastic for hearing the natural rhythm of the language. Look for shows with French subtitles so you can read along.
• Listen to local music: Quebec has an amazing music scene. Listen to bands like Les Cowboys Fringants or Harmonium to get used to the accent.
• Find a language partner: Use online platforms to find a tutor or conversation partner specifically from Quebec. Tell them you want to practice conversational French, not formal grammar drills.

Local people absolutely love it when foreigners make an effort to speak their specific dialect, rather than just standard textbook French. Start by listening to the sounds, learning the basic slang, and practicing out loud.