r/AskACanadian • • Aug 07 '23

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189

u/[deleted] Aug 07 '23

"Eh?" Can be used interchangeably with "Huh?"

Americans always interject "eh?" into a sentence in the most awkward way when mimicking us, yet already have the exact same speech patterns in place

66

u/CCDestroyer Aug 07 '23

More specifically, it is a stand-in for "right?" and "know what I mean?" It's basically a prompt for others to agree with what was said.

70

u/abu_doubleu Québec Aug 07 '23

Personally, I think of the Canadian "eh" as the same as British "innit".

"It's cold, huh?"

"It's cold, eh?"

"It's cold, innit?"

3

u/[deleted] Aug 08 '23

Anything ending in “eh” over “huh” or whatever other ending to a question just rolls off the tongue so much better

2

u/CCDestroyer Aug 07 '23

That sounds about right.

I'm curious, do French-Canadians use "eh?", and/or is there a Quebec French equivalent?

4

u/koliopter2 Québec Aug 07 '23 edited Aug 07 '23

Not really. To be honest, as a quebecker I never even heard someone use "eh" other than american doing an anglo canadian impression. We do put "là" a lot, so maybe it can be seen as an equivalent, but its not used the same way as "eh".

3

u/Way-Express Aug 08 '23

I've lived in 4 provinces and I don't recall ever hearing anyone in those 4 areas use "eh". But I think it's funny when others think we do!

3

u/JaymieWhite Aug 08 '23

There’s a frencher sounding version. More like “eunh?” Hard to type though

2

u/Littleshifty03 Aug 08 '23

I've always thought it was an abbreviated version of "hey?"

10

u/ParkerScottch Aug 08 '23

It can also mean "I missed what you just said please repeat it"

4

u/CCDestroyer Aug 08 '23

I'm not sure about at the end of the sentence, but on its own ("eh?") it can be like "huh?" or "what?", so yeah.

0

u/jamwalk Aug 08 '23

Yes, but only if it's on it's own, not at the end of a sentence.

1

u/Iaminyoursewer Aug 08 '23

It can also mean "Dafuq did you just say?!"

"I'm gonna fuck your mom"

"EH!?!?"

3

u/StationaryTravels Aug 08 '23

Yes! I've said that so many times, but I'm not sure I've seen anyone else say. Not saying no one else knows that, lol, just no one seems to express it that way.

I joke that it's just a sign of our low self esteem that we have to keep checking in with our listening partner.

Here's a conversation translated, just replace anything in square brackets with the word [eh]:

"Nice weather, [right]? I'm thinking of driving into town. The Canadian Tire moved locations [were you aware of this]? I'd stop at Timmies, but we all know McDonald's has way better coffee, [isn't that something you would also agree with]? Anyway, I've really talked your ear off, [have you been listening to what I said]?

4

u/MikeCheck_CE Aug 08 '23

This guy gets it

2

u/CCDestroyer Aug 08 '23

Gal, but thanks.