Oakvillian

My better half suggests that it's the Quebecophone equivalent of using "fudge" or "sugar" as a euphemism for proper expletives. In this case, likely originally a replacement for "calvaire."

Shirtback

Indeed, quite possibly .

“En beau joualvert” translates - roughly - to “really effing angry”. Very colloquial. Not to be used in polite society.

(Sorry for massive thread swerve: I’m fascinated by the nuances and differences between French French, Canadian French, Quebecois - & chaouin, magoua, joual etc - as well as Island and Africa French + Cajun, Acadien etc etc etc.)

caretaker

French CBC tv had a show about Clifton Chenier in Louisiana and they had French subtitles so the Quebecois could read what he was saying in Cajun French.

Novocastrian

It's dead on topic. It's an unintended consequence of bilingualism.

DandNHill

Same here.

When we lived in NS I tried understanding Acadian French. Hmm. It's not that simple. In southwest NS there are many small peninsulas where settlers lived. Of course they didn't really travel far in those days so their French evolved.
In Clare County they spoke a French which if spoken slowly I could understand and they could understand me. In Argyle County there was little hope. Then there were other variations in between!!

Shirtback

I suppose it is!

I thought of this thread and had a laugh to myself last night: after all these years here & fascination with all the variants of French, I had a terrible time trying to understand a (Quebecois) taxi-driver .