câlisse
What does “câlisse” mean in English?
It's a Quebecois exclamation similar to saying 'fuck' or 'damn'. The word literally means 'chalice', but that's not how it's used in this context.
Literally “chalice”
You might hear it as a strong exclamation in frustration or anger, comparable to English swear words. It's more intense than just a casual curse and carries a regional flavor specific to Quebec.
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Related French words
décâlisser
4/5 · StrongIn Quebec French, it means to leave abruptly or to wreck something. The meaning can shift depending on how it's used in a sentence.
osti
4/5 · StrongThis is a Québec French exclamation that can express surprise, anger, or frustration. It literally refers to a communion host, but it’s used more as a strong intensifier in everyday speech.
tabarnak
4/5 · StrongThis is a strong exclamation in Quebec French, often used to express anger or frustration. It literally means 'tabernacle,' referencing a religious context, but it's used much more for its emotional impact.
calvaire
3/5 · VulgarThis is a French exclamation used in Quebec to express frustration, similar to saying 'for Christ's sake' in English. Literally, it refers to Calvary, the site of Christ's crucifixion.
About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via Viddexa SafeText (MIT). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.