Q&A for How to Talk Like a Canadian

Either accent will work. In fact, as a Canadian, I can tell you that there are people from hundreds of countries living here and we can understand almost any accent. When you get here, if you have trouble making yourself understood, ask one of your classmates or new friends to help you with your pronunciation. Many places also offer "English as a Second Language" courses, to help immigrants improve their skills. Also, be aware that some of the phrases and pronunciations mentioned in this article are very localized. We don't all sound the same, just like people from the U.S. don't all sound the same.

If you are still in the Philippines and moving here, don't worry! There are lots of Filipinos here in Canada and we don't have any trouble understanding your accent. If you are living in Canada, just keep listening and copying what you hear. Newscasts are excellent sources for learning local pronunciation. Then when you go back to visit, you will be teased about your Canadian accent!

Some people may use this pronunciation, but it is not as exaggerated as they say in the article. Many people in Canada speak in an American or British way, so it doesn't really matter.

The best way is to speak as frequently as possible with those who are native to the area.

Like Ontario's, but with a little East Coast spice. Kind of like Newfie, but watered down.

Some people say Canadian accents just sound like Californian accents, so that could be correct depending on the people you are comparing. Also, Canada is very diverse and it’s hard to find a definite accent - most people actually say “abowt”, not “aboot”.

That is just a stereotype. Most Canadians will pronounce it the same way you would in America.

The Ontario accent is probably what most people think of when they think of the Canadian accent. A popular identification of the Ontario accent is the dropping of the 'T' after an "N". (For example, when pronouncing 'Toronto,' Torontonians often say it as 'Tuh-ron-oh.)