joual

[ zhoo-al, -ahl ]

noun

1. any of the nonstandard dialects of Canadian French, characterized by deviations from the standard phonology, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary, and often containing many borrowings from English.

joual

/ ʒwɑːl /

noun

1. nonstandard Canadian French dialect, esp as associated with ill-educated speakers

Word History and Origins

Origin of joual¹

1960–65; representing a non-standard pronunciation of French cheval horse

Word History and Origins

Origin of joual¹

from the pronunciation in this dialect of French cheval horse

Example Sentences

The Guid Sisters Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh Until 13 OctoberBox office: 0131-248 4848 Details The play, premiered in 1968, was revolutionary in its use of joual, the Quebec working-class dialect that's been turned into pungent Glaswegian by Martin Bowman and Bill Findlay.

From The Guardian