Written by Gabriela Estrada

Canadian English is very similar to American English, but it has colloquial phrases and terms that set it apart. These expressions are known as slang and are an interesting point of connection for Latinos who want to sound more natural when conversing with native speakers or integrating into the community.

When winter arrives, Canadians use words like snowbirding, (with two "i"s); which, at first glance, may seem like a mistake, but in fact the term is correct and has a particular meaning that defines their lifestyle.

Read with me to the end and discover what snowirding and other slang that will help you speak English like a native, especially when you want to "escape" the snow. 

Canadian English expressions to escape the extreme cold

• Snowbirding: refers to migrating to a warmer place.

Snowbird: a person (usually retired) who migrates south (to warmer places such as Florida or Arizona in the US) during the winter months to escape the Canadian cold.

Use it to say: "My grandparents are snowbirding in Florida."

• Staycation: spending your vacation at home or exploring nearby areas instead of traveling far away.

Use it to say: "This year we're having a staycation and get to know the city." 

• The 9-to-5 escape/Break from the grind: these are colloquial ways of referring to taking a vacation or a break from the work routine.

Use it to say: "I need a 9-to-5 escape in the Maritimes."

• Long weekend: refers to an official holiday that creates a three-day weekend.

Use it to say: "I can't wait for the long weekend in February!" Canadians plan a lot around these days.

Important: the word slang is an uncountable noun, which means that, as a general rule, it does not take an "s" at the end to form the plural. A slang refers to entities, substances, materials, or abstract concepts that cannot be divided, separated, or counted individually into units.

To make plans, go on vacation, travel

• Cottage trip/Cottage weekend: means going to a small vacation home, often near a lake, for a break. It is a very Canadian tradition.

Use it to say: "We're going on a cottage trip this long weekend."

• Road trip/Rockies trip/Maritimes trip: Canadians often specify road trips by the region they are visiting (e.g., trip to the Rockies or the Maritimes).

Use it to say: "Next week, we'll go on a Rockies trip."

• Camping/Cabining/Backcountrying: These are casual terms referring to outdoor vacation activities (camping, renting a cabin, going to remote areas).

Use it to say: "Next month, we'll be doing cabining in Algonquin Park."

• Family Day/Civic Holiday: These are casual references to holidays that grant a day off from work, which are very convenient for planning long weekends.

Use it to say: "The Family Day is coming up, maybe we'll go skiing."

Fill in the slang

Place the phrase with the slang referring to vacations:

"We have a long weekend! We're going to the lake from __________."

"We decided to do ___________ this year to save money."

My parents are _______________; they escape to Florida as soon as the snow falls.

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If you liked this topic, share it with others who are interested in joining the wonderful Canadian community.

Thank you for reading. Don't miss our next blog: Basic English phrases that make a difference at work. 

With love,

Planet Immiland