Canada has two official languages: English and French. English is the mother tongue of roughly 75% of Canadians and French of about 22%, with French heavily concentrated in the province of Quebec. Beyond these two official tongues, Canada is one of the most linguistically diverse nations on Earth, home to more than 70 Indigenous languages and dozens of immigrant languages spoken in its major cities.
The Two Official Languages
English and French gained equal official status under the federal Official Languages Act of 1969, a cornerstone of Canada's bilingual identity. The law guarantees that all federal institutions provide services in both languages, that federal laws are published in English and French, and that Canadians can communicate with their national government in whichever official language they prefer.
This commitment is visible everywhere federal authority reaches. Highway signs in national parks, product labels in grocery stores, airport announcements, and the packaging on a box of cereal all appear in both languages. Federal employees in many roles are expected to be bilingual, and the prime minister is generally fluent in both. While English dominates daily life across most of the country, French enjoys constitutional protection that keeps it firmly woven into national life.
Where Each Language Is Spoken
Geography shapes which language you will hear. English is the everyday language across nine of the ten provinces and the three territories, from British Columbia on the Pacific to Newfoundland on the Atlantic. French, by contrast, is the language of the home for the overwhelming majority in Quebec, where roughly four out of five residents speak it as their first language.
French communities also thrive well beyond Quebec. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province, with a large Acadian population. Ontario hosts the largest French-speaking community outside Quebec, particularly in the east and north around cities such as Ottawa and Sudbury. Smaller Francophone pockets persist in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and other regions, descendants of the Acadians and early French settlers. Remarkably, Canada has more French speakers than Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg combined. For a broader picture of the country's regions and provinces, see our canada country guide.
Quebec French and Bill 101
Quebec French, often called Québécois, differs from the French of France in much the way American English differs from British English. It has its own accent, vocabulary, and colorful expressions, many preserved from the 17th-century settlers who first crossed the Atlantic. A working-class dialect called Joual blends archaic French forms with adapted English loanwords, and it has long been celebrated in Quebec music, theatre, and film.
Quebec protects its language with some of the strongest legislation in the world. The Charter of the French Language, widely known as Bill 101, makes French the sole official language of the province. It requires commercial signage to be predominantly in French, mandates French as the normal language of work and business, and directs most immigrant children into French-language schools. These measures reflect a deep determination to keep French vibrant in a continent overwhelmingly dominated by English.
Indigenous and Immigrant Languages
Long before English or French arrived, Indigenous peoples spoke a rich array of languages, and many endure today. Canada counts over 70 Indigenous languages drawn from about a dozen distinct language families. Among the most widely spoken are Cree, with several dialects across the Prairies and Ontario; Inuktitut, used by Inuit across the Arctic and written in a distinctive syllabic script; and Ojibwe in the central and eastern regions. The Indigenous Languages Act of 2019 was created to support efforts to preserve, promote, and revitalize these languages, many of which are endangered.
Immigration has added yet more variety. In multicultural hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, you can hear Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Arabic, Italian, and many others spoken in homes, shops, and places of worship. Punjabi and the Chinese languages rank among the most common non-official mother tongues nationwide, a sign of how immigration continues to reshape the country's linguistic landscape.
Tips for Travelers
In nearly all of Canada, English is all you need. In Quebec, English is widely understood in tourist areas, but a few French words go a long way and are genuinely appreciated. Useful phrases include Bonjour (hello), Merci (thank you), Oui and Non (yes and no), Combien? (how much?), and Parlez-vous anglais? (do you speak English?). Opening with French and then asking about English is the courteous approach, and most Quebecers will happily switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada an English or French country?
Both. Canada is officially bilingual at the federal level, with English and French holding equal status. In practice English is the majority language in most of the country, while French dominates in Quebec and is strong in New Brunswick and parts of Ontario.
What percentage of Canadians speak French?
About 22% of Canadians have French as their mother tongue, the large majority of them in Quebec. A larger share can speak French to some degree, since many Canadians study it in school or live in bilingual regions.
Do all Canadians speak both English and French?
No. Only a minority of Canadians are fluently bilingual, and the rate is much higher in Quebec, New Brunswick, and eastern Ontario than elsewhere. Most Canadians outside these areas speak primarily English in daily life.
What language is spoken in Quebec?
French is the official and dominant language of Quebec, spoken as a first language by roughly 80% of residents. Bill 101 reinforces French as the language of government, work, education, and public signage throughout the province.