French · 8 phrases · a local category
Québec Sacres (Cursing by the Altar)
A distinct regional thread. Québec curses through the Catholic Church, turning the tabernacle ("tabarnak"), chalice ("câlisse"), and communion wafer ("ostie") into its strongest words — often chained together for effect. These are rated for Québec, their home turf; in France the same words barely register. If you're headed to Montréal, this is the real story of how people curse.
Maudit ! moh-DEE Damn / damned (mild Québécois intensifier) Câlisse ! kah-LISS F***! / Christ! (Québécois sacre) Crisse ! KRISS Christ! / F***! (Québécois sacre) Ostie ! os-TEE Damn! / F***! — and an all-purpose intensifier Sacrament ! sa-kra-MAHN Goddammit! (heavy Québécois sacre) Tabarnak ! ta-bar-NAK F***! / Goddammit! — the king of Québécois sacres Ostie de câlisse de tabarnak ! os-TEE duh kah-LISS duh ta-bar-NAK The full chained Québec curse — maximum blasphemy Va chier, mon tabarnak ! va SHYAY mohn ta-bar-NAK F*** off, you f***er! (Québécois)