# How do you spell "toque"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087 "2003-11-08T17:13:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/1 "2003-11-08T17:13:27Z")
That is, how do you spell the Canadian name of a knit cap that is pronounced “tuke” (or “tooke”)? ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/2 "2003-11-08T17:29:17Z")
Am Heritage Dictionary defines and spells it: > [@](#): > > toque n. 1. A woman’s small, brimless, close-fitting hat. 2. A plumed velvet cap with a full crown and small rolled brim, worn in 16th-century France. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/3 "2003-11-08T18:03:19Z")
But how is the Canadian word that is pronounced “tuke” spelled? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/4 "2003-11-08T18:09:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*That is, how do you spell the Canadian name of a knit cap that is pronounced “tuke” (or “tooke”)? \*\* Shouldn’t the question be … “That is, how do you spell the Canadian name of a knit cap that is pronounced “tuke” (or “tooke”), eh?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/5 "2003-11-08T18:15:31Z")
Up here, we spell it _tuque_ ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/6 "2003-11-08T18:25:26Z")
I always thought it was toque, actually, but it’s always been a word I’ve spoken, not written. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/7 "2003-11-08T18:43:48Z")
And I always thought it was ‘touque’. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/8 "2003-11-08T19:51:03Z")
I believe I has the solution! [http://www.thetoque.net](http://www.thetoque.net) ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/9 "2003-11-08T20:07:36Z")
How do I spell it? I don’t, as a rule, substituting “hat” in written communications. None of the spellings look right to me. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/10 "2003-11-08T23:04:36Z")
Yeah, sorry. I can write it “tuque” or “toque” depending on which version I saw last, but as **2trew** says, it’s a word I’ll use often, but almost never write. From a quick Google search, it appears tuque is more popular with the Canadian Press and CBC, and it’s the one I kinda like more. ---
**Author:** ![toque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@toque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toque)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/11 "2003-11-09T02:12:24Z")
Toque. And I’d like to clarify, I’m not a pothead. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/12 "2003-11-09T02:32:32Z")
So interesting that this topic has come up because when I was in Montreal last weekend there was a restaurant that I really wanted to try called “Toque!” Then this week on the cover of New York magazine the issue is about top chefs and there’s the word “Toque” right there on the cover! I wonder if it means chef’s hat or something… ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/13 "2003-11-09T03:28:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*I wonder if it means chef’s hat or something… \*\* Yes, in French, both _tuque_ and _toque_ are words. The first one refers to the knit winter cap and the second to a chef’s hat. Incidently, the most excellent restaurant you alluded to is called _Toqué!_. It’s a pun. It might be taken to mean “who wears a _toque_”, but it also means “slightly crazy”, “excentrically bizarre”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/14 "2003-11-09T04:07:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes, in French, both _tuque_ and _toque_ are words. When I type _tuque_ into babelfish, it translates as _tuque_. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/15 "2003-11-09T04:14:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes, in French, both _tuque_ and _toque_ are words. When I type _tuque_ into babelfish, it translates as _tuque_. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/16 "2003-11-09T04:29:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*When I type _tuque_ into babelfish, it translates as _tuque_. \*\* Since tuque is also a perfectly fine English word, meaning the same thing as it does in French, why would it translate as anything else? ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/17 "2003-11-09T04:30:20Z")
Well, [M-W has an entry for _tuque_](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=tuque), so that’s not surprising. _Tuque_ is a Canadian regionalism, though. In France, the same hat would be called a _bonnet de laine_, or just simply a _bonnet_. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/18 "2003-11-09T04:32:17Z")
Ah, damn you **Tengu**. Damn your long nose and typing skills! ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/19 "2003-11-09T05:50:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jovan \* > **_Tuque_ is a Canadian regionalism, though.** Likewise in English. In most parts of the US, you may refer to a wool hat, winter hat, ski hat/cap, etc. but not generally “tuque.” In the south, certain hats (haven’t figured out exactly which ones yet) are referred to as “toboggans.” This from people who usually have no idea what a [toboggan](http://www.m-w.com/mw/art/toboggan.htm)(sled) is. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087/20 "2003-11-09T15:09:21Z")
> [@](#): > > In the south, certain hats (haven’t figured out exactly which ones yet) are referred to as “toboggans.” Native Southern Californian here. Never been on a toboggan, but I’ve seen them. (Generally we slid around on inner tubes when we went to the snow when I was a kid, then I graduated to skis.) Anyway, a common depiction of toboggan riders has them wearing long knit caps. I’d guess that a “toboggan” in Southern dialect might be a toque – especially a very long one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-spell-toque/212087.md?page=2)