# To the Canadians out there **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 24, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136 "2024-08-24T05:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/1 "2024-08-24T05:28:13Z")
I watch some Canadian youtubers and it seems that what you call a sweater, I call a sweatshirt. Sweaters are the things knit with yarn. Is there a reason? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/2 "2024-08-24T06:09:37Z")
I’ve got bad news for you; they also use “sweater” to describe what you’d call a “hockey jersey.” > **[The History of the Hockey Sweater](https://www.simplyseattle.com/blogs/blog/the-history-of-the-hockey-sweater)** > > SEATTLE – Does anyone remember the Gordie Howe Red Wings sweater from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?” Well, while owning sports jerseys is common now, they weren’t as readily available in retail stores until the late 1980s/early 1990s. The Red Wings... ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/3 "2024-08-24T06:18:22Z")
There are slight differences between the names used for all the different sorts of the garments worn on the outside above the waist in all the English-language dialects (American, Canadian, British, Australian, New Zealand, whatever). ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/4 "2024-08-24T07:53:52Z")
I ran into the variable name for the knit woolen garment, as a transplant from the US to Europe. What Americans call a “sweater,” the British call a “jumper.” These, in the UK, are “jumpers.” [![](https://www.moshulu.co.uk/images/british-wool-roll-neck-jumper-m11l-p2991-180255_image.jpg) ](https://www.moshulu.co.uk/images/british-wool-roll-neck-jumper-m11l-p2991-180255_image.jpg) [![](https://content.woolovers.com/img/o/d2a3a-47605_t257l_bluemono_w_5.jpg) ](https://content.woolovers.com/img/o/d2a3a-47605_t257l_bluemono_w_5.jpg) As an American, when I hear “jumper,” I think of this. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/df/86/dcdf868af31b9af5733e05f5275883c4.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/df/86/dcdf868af31b9af5733e05f5275883c4.jpg) [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4e/97/86/4e978673cc3c80577621bd9e8ad91947.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4e/97/86/4e978673cc3c80577621bd9e8ad91947.jpg) Regional differences in vocabulary are fun! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/5 "2024-08-24T08:06:41Z")
Canadian here. Never heard a sweater referred to as a sweatshirt. A sweater is knitted from wool, and typically worn to keep warm. See the examples posted by @Cervaise . A sweatshirt is something you wear at the gym. You’re likely to sweat in it as you work out. It is definitely not knitted. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/6 "2024-08-24T10:32:59Z")
I watch a car detailing Youtube channel occasionally, and the guy is in Canada. Once as the scene shifted, you could see he’s put on what I, as an American, call a hoodie or a hooded sweatshirt. He said he’d had to open the garage door to do something to the car, and it got so cold that he had to go put on a bunnyhug. Is that really a Canajun (Canadian) thing?? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/7 "2024-08-24T11:45:45Z")
What about a fleece? Not a sweater, not a sweatshirt. But a heavy pull over. Often associated with hiking/camping. They are my everyday wear. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/8 "2024-08-24T16:14:35Z")
> [@saje](#): > > He said he’d had to open the garage door to do something to the car, and it got so cold that he had to go put on a bunnyhug. A bunnyhug is regional, never heard or used here in Toronto. To me, a sweater is knit and could be cotton, wool, cashmere or anything else. A sweatshirt is woven cotton or blend and always casual. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/9 "2024-08-24T16:57:31Z")
A knit item is a sweater. A cotton blend whatever sportswear item, I might call either a sweater or a sweatshirt. If it has a hood, I’ll call it a hoodie (regardless of front zipper or not). A hockey jersey is a jersey, I never call it a sweater despite the translation from the [Roch Carrier story](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hockey_Sweater). I do call it a _chandail_ in French, or, specific to the Habs in deliberate contexts the terms _un tricolore_ or \*la sainte-flannelle" . I’ve heard the terms bunnyhug and kangourou, the latter is occasionally used where I live, in both languages, but never the former. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/10 "2024-08-24T17:41:15Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > A bunnyhug is regional, never heard or used here in Toronto. By some coincidence they were talking about this on CBC this morning in Ottawa. Apparently it’s a Canadian prairie term for a hoodie. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/11 "2024-08-24T17:45:12Z")
Yes, it’s the term I grew up with. It’s gradually being supplanted by “hoodie”. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/12 "2024-08-24T17:45:33Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Canadian here. Never heard a sweater referred to as a sweatshirt. > > A sweater is knitted from wool, and typically worn to keep warm. See the examples posted by @Cervaise . > > A sweatshirt is something you wear at the gym. You’re likely to sweat in it as you work out. It is definitely not knitted. FWIW, these are the exact same connotations of the terms down here near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Maybe we’d have more varied terms for these items if we’d have more occasion to wear them 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/13 "2024-08-24T17:46:32Z")
American/Canadian man with a British spouse here. I had never heard “jumper” to refer to anything other than a sweater (or a deer). I have no word for the overalls/dress thing. Words I know for sweater-like things: sweater, sweatshirt, poncho (words I use, all from my American upbringing); cardigan, jumper, hoodie, fleece (words I recognize: “hoodie” wasn’t an established term when I was growing up). I think the only Canadian-specific clothing item I use is “toque,” mostly because I didn’t have one in California. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/14 "2024-08-24T17:46:39Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Canadian here. Never heard a sweater referred to as a sweatshirt. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/15 "2024-08-24T17:53:14Z")
Other way around. I know a bunch of Canadians who call a cotton sweatshirt a sweater. Haven’t heard bunnyhug in forever. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/16 "2024-08-24T17:53:29Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > Apparently it’s a Canadian prairie term for a hoodie. And they think drinking milk out of bags is weird! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/17 "2024-08-24T17:56:06Z")
A teeny tiny nit-pick(heh, or knit-pick?). All fabric is knitted or woven(a kind of knitting). Well, I’m, forevermore, calling my hoodies _Bunnyhugs_. Love that 🐇. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/18 "2024-08-24T17:56:29Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > And they think drinking milk out of bags is weird! Though a Canuck myself, I am not a fan of the bagged milk thing. I’ve seen a number of references to bagged milk on various reaction videos about Canada. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/19 "2024-08-24T17:56:45Z")
We don’t drink milk out of bags. We store and pour milk out of bags! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/20 "2024-08-24T18:00:44Z")
I love the bag thing. If I can get refills of soaps and things in bags it makes me happy. I recently bought dairy cream in a bag. It had a little screw top that made it handy. I hope this trend continues. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136.md?page=2)