# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/21 "2024-08-24T18:10:22Z")
> [@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. Another Canadian here. I mostly agree, and certainly “sweater” and “sweatshirt” are two completely different things. But “sweater” isn’t necessarily something that’s knitted, nor is it necessarily made of wool. The distinction I make is that a sweater is anything worn over a shirt that isn’t obviously a suit jacket, vest, or outdoor jacket. Its basic purpose is to keep you warmer than a shirt alone would, and is often patterned in different colours. What it’s made of is irrelevant. FWIW, I haven’t worn a sweater in years. Especially now that I’m older, I’m grateful for air conditioning in the summer, and for open windows in the winter! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/22 "2024-08-24T18:17:08Z")
Just to confuse things even further: in proper South African English, a sweater is a t-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/23 "2024-08-24T18:35:57Z")
But you guys have heard hockey jerseys referred to as sweaters, right? Gringo here, and I have often heard such a usage from our friends up north. (Flyers fan, don’t judge me.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/24 "2024-08-24T18:44:17Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > But you guys have heard hockey jerseys referred to as sweaters, right? I have, though I much prefer to call them jerseys. But by my definition of a sweater (anything you pull on over a shirt) a hockey jersey is a sweater, just a special kind. I forgot to mention that the other essential characteristic of a sweater is that it has no zipper or buttons – it’s a pullover worn over a shirt. ---
**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, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/25 "2024-08-24T18:47:26Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > But you guys have heard hockey jerseys referred to as sweaters, right? I noted that upthread, as well, though my impression is that “hockey sweater” seems to be falling out of favor as a term, even among Canadians, in favor of “jersey.” It also sounds like the term originally came into being for a heavier, warmer sort of sweater/jersey, which was worn while playing hockey on outdoor rinks in the middle of Canadian winters. ---
**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, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/26 "2024-08-24T19:09:45Z")
I gotta say, I LOVE the participation and conversation in this thread and how it has expanded. Thank you all! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/27 "2024-08-25T04:40:45Z")
Most of my life has been spent on the Prairies, and bunny hug is specific to Saskatchewan. I’ve never heard anyone refer to a sweatshirt as a sweater, which the me is a knit pullover style usually woolen garment. If it has fasteners it’s a cardigan. Hockey sweater is rare, and I’ve never heard them referred to as just sweater alone. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/28 "2024-08-25T05:04:30Z")
Growing up in Ontario I would say I never heard “jersey”. I left in 1986. ---
**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 25, 2024, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/29 "2024-08-25T05:11:46Z")
To confuse the thing more, I have a pullover hoodie made of knitted wool(well fake wool). So do I have _Bunnyhug sweater sweater??_ I think I do. 🙂 ---
**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:** [August 25, 2024, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136/30 "2024-08-25T05:17:52Z")
No, I’m sorry. As a resident of Saskatchewan I can speak authoritatively on this matter, and bunnyhugs are always and only hooded sweatshirts, preferably pullovers though zip-ups do qualify as well. Anything knitted is not a bunnyhug. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-canadians-out-there/1006136.md?page=1)