French glossary

abuse

In immigration law, mistreatment by an employer — physical, sexual, psychological, financial, or reprisals.

Accompagnement Québec (newcomer support service)

A free government service that pairs newcomers with an officer who guides them through francisation, employment, and integration steps.

Social security agreement

A bilateral agreement that lets immigrants from certain countries skip the RAMQ waiting period.

family-economy co-op association

Association coopérative d'économie familiale — a community group offering budget help, debt support and consumer-rights defence.

Installment payments

Quarterly tax pre-payments to avoid a large bill at year end.

Thanksgiving

Canadian Thanksgiving — celebrated the second Monday of October.

action items

Action items — concrete next steps with an owner and deadline. Quebec meetings almost always end with these. 'Qui prend ça en charge?' = who's taking ownership of that?

Eligibility

Meeting the conditions to qualify for a service.

Eligible

Meeting the conditions to qualify for a service.

EI (Employment Insurance)

Assurance-emploi — federal program covering job loss, parental leave (outside Quebec), and sickness.

Financial aid

Money provided by the government to support you during your studies.

Legal aid

Government-funded legal representation for low-income individuals.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

The federal monthly tax-free benefit paid to families with children under 18.

Quebec Family Allowance

The Quebec provincial family allowance paid by Retraite Québec to families with children.

Daily allowance

A daily payment to support living costs while studying.

Alloprof (homework-help charity)

A Quebec charity offering free homework help to students and parents, online and by phone.

Aluminum smelter

An industrial plant that produces aluminum — Saguenay's iconic industry.

language-exchange apps

Smartphone apps connecting native speakers of different languages who want to teach each other. Free tier usually sufficient. The principle: you teach yours, they teach theirs.

Cash

Physical bills and coins, as opposed to card payment.

Scams

Frauds — someone tricking you into paying for something fake or that doesn't exist.

Arrima (Quebec immigration portal)

Quebec's online portal for economic-immigration expressions of interest and applications.

Borough

An administrative subdivision of a Quebec city — like a borough in Montréal or Saguenay.

Greater Montreal Transit Authority

The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain — sets fares and coordinates transit across Greater Montreal.

Group insurance (employer-provided)

Insurance offered by employers, often covering dental, vision, and prescriptions.

Drug insurance (mandatory in Quebec)

Mandatory in Quebec — either through employer's group plan or RAMQ's public plan.

Temporary private insurance

A short-term health insurance plan covering the gap between arrival and RAMQ eligibility.

Private health insurance

A non-public health insurance plan you buy to cover medical care.

Employment Insurance (EI)

A federal program providing temporary benefits during job loss, illness, or parental leave (outside Quebec).

now (Quebec)

Spoken contraction of 'à cette heure' meaning 'now'. Heard constantly in conversation. International FR uses 'maintenant'.

Conversation workshops

Group sessions where learners practice speaking French in a low-pressure setting.

French-language workshops

Free language classes to help newcomers practice and learn French.

official certificate

An official letter or certificate confirming a status, fact, or right. Slightly more formal than a simple 'lettre' — it carries legal weight.

Social security coverage certificate

An official certificate from your home country's social security agency.

('Looking forward', friendly closing)

A warmer Quebec closing meaning 'until next time' or 'looking forward'. Slightly less formal than 'Cordialement', warmer in tone. Common in colleague-to-colleague emails.

Local buses

City buses serving short trips inside one municipality or agglomeration.

Self-directed study

Self-paced study with no scheduled class — you progress on your own.

Greater Montreal Transit Authority

The agency that sets fares and coordinates transit across Greater Montreal.

notice of rent increase

The legal notice the landlord must send 3 to 6 months before the lease ends. You have one month to refuse, in writing, after receiving it.