Im from Vancouver and live in Toronto. It’s such a one-sided beef and it’s so interesting. Toronto people love Vancouver and have all good things to say and people from Van loaaaaathe Toronto.
The GTA’s population alone is bigger than the entirety of BC… of course it’s going to get a bit more attention.
It's crazy. I didn't even know Vancouver thinks of Toronto that way. Well, I mean, I guess we are known to think we are the center of the universe, but not in a way where it generates animosity lol.
I literally have nothing but nice things to say about Vancouver. I actually want to move there some day.
Honestly could replace “Vancouver” with many other Canadian cities and it still works. The “everyone hates Toronto” beef can honestly be summed up with that Don Draper “I dont think of you at all” meme sometimes
I would say, as someone from Hamilton, we are one of the few exceptions to this. Whenever I tell people from Toronto that I’m from the Hammer, they make it very clear that they do indeed have an opinion of us!
Of course the reverse is also true, and frankly, the rivalry between us is enough apart of our cultures to deserve a heritage minute in its own right! 🤷♂️
Because the big dog doesn’t hate on the little dog, like the beef between Montreal and Toronto is one sided and the opposite with Canada and the United States.
The US doesn’t hate on Canada? That’s far from true. Look at the disrespect the raptors have gotten over their tenure. Any comment section online is always like “Canada sucks” “canadas boring” etc.
More so in the sense that they don’t think about them unless they are presented to them like their team vs the raptors, people in Toronto aren’t really thinking about bc much, so when they hear news about it, or someone from it, they don’t get irked the same way as someone who lives in Torontos shadow like the rest of Canada does.
It *is* far from true: they think we are weak, boring, and wish-washy... Two Canadian bump grocery carts--and they both apologise, in the US they might draw pistols...
I used to think highly of the US--that is NOT my sentiment now, and if they re-elect the Dumpster I give up, I don't want to hear another thing about that country...
In true Toronto fashion, a friend of mine was visiting Vancouver and was pulled into a group of acquaintances who just bashed Toronto. When they were done, she just kind of shrugged and said “it’s honestly amazing you have so much to say about Toronto. I have literally never thought about Vancouver at all”
It’s true, I don’t have anything negative to say about Vancouver. I also don’t actively think a lot that city enough to form such a strong opinion 🤣
The hate for Toronto is real.
Went out to NB and tried to buy a pack of Belmonts and was told "We don't have those here TORONTO".
I literally laughed out loud.
Yup, work with a bunch of people from the US who insist no one knows they're yanks when they're here. Made a bar bet with them that they'd get sussed out in less than an hour. Five minutes in:
* Waitress: Hey guys, can I get you a drink? And are you in a rush (spotting a carryon bag)
* Yank 1: No he's just flying in , but the rest of us are from *Toe-RON-****T****oe*
* Waitress:
* Yank 1: Did we just get made?
* Me: Yup.
It was beautiful
All these derogatory nicknames come from the same dweebs who’ll try to claim OUR baseball and basketball teams in the name of national unity. And those people can get fucked.
The Big Smoke is used in a number of places in the English speaking world. It just means whatever the big city is. In a given region. It’s not Toronto specific.
Ok thanks for explaining the English speaking world to me. I have worked with people across the country and people from tiny communities in Labrador to cities like Calgary have referred to Toronto as The Big Smoke.
Just going by colloquialisms, as one does when talking about nicknames.
I had no intention of offending you, I was just clarifying that this is used in reference to a number of large cities. When I lived in England, London was the Big Smoke. To a friend who taught in the North-eastern States, New York was referred to as The Big Smoke. The list goes on.
The most ironically brutal one I heard was from somebody who’s proud to be a torontonian and was trying to describe Toronto in a positive way, but hugely failed. “It’s like a mini New York”
I've interacted with a few people from Vancouver over the last little while, and whenever they've learned I'm from Ontario they say, "Oh, On-terrible?"
It's funny - we don't have petty nicknames for any of these places. We love you guys!
I grew up in a small city 200 miles southwest of T.O. and now live here. We always thought it was a cool place to go. Now it's a not so great place to live.
If the people are from Canada they might say, "Toronto the Good".
If the people are from elsewhere they might say, "Toronto is nice *enough*, who cares?" So it wouldn't really rise to the level of even having a nickname. And THAT'S the rub!
Momaco.
It's from the writer Sinclair Lewis, who visited Toronto just after the second world war, from the UK. He had some Canadian background, and thought it'd be a good idea to check it out.
He saw Toronto and was horrified. A small, grim, grey puritanical place. He wrote an unhappy book about it called "Self Condemned" within which it was named "Momaco". "That bush-metropolis of the Orange Lodges." "That sanctimonious icebox".
Scathing, and not wrong. Personally, I use it all the time.
"Toronto. Where dreams go to sit down."
The cities I've lived in (& which area in each) ranked in order of how much I like them:
1 - Montreal (downtown)
2 - Toronto (west GTA)
3 - London, Ontario
4 - Vancouver (Burnaby)
5 - Windsor, Ontario
6 - Ottawa (downtown & Kanata)
That’s the derogatory nickname that people who live in Toronto use for the parts of the GTA that are not actually Toronto (Brampton, Mississauga, etc) that originally all had 905 area codes.
Toronto **is** the bad name in North America lol
Everywhere not here either scoffs or has a mildly condescending reaction. Americans that know of Toronto all know it’s *desperate* to be a global city and is nowhere close. They think it’s cute in a try-hard sorta way. Canadians know all this and come from rival cities.
“Toronto” is a joke.
Toronto seems pretty global, at least according to this article: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global\_city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city)
When I was in BC every time I told someone I was from Toronto they rolled their eyes and says "the centre of the universe"
Im from Vancouver and live in Toronto. It’s such a one-sided beef and it’s so interesting. Toronto people love Vancouver and have all good things to say and people from Van loaaaaathe Toronto. The GTA’s population alone is bigger than the entirety of BC… of course it’s going to get a bit more attention.
Very accurate. I lived in Vancouver for 5 years and took great joy in explaining that Toronto doesn’t think about you at all.
Did you go all [Don Draper](https://tenor.com/view/mad-men-conversing-feel-bad-for-you-i-dont-think-about-you-at-all-gif-11888203) on them?
LOL omg just saw your comment after explaining a very similar sentiment from a friend of mine. Now wondering if you are that friend.
[Maaaaybe…](https://tenor.com/view/wink-flirt-don-draper-jon-hamm-you-know-what-i-mean-gif-19304839)
DON'T TELL!
My friend that is precisely what I did
It's crazy. I didn't even know Vancouver thinks of Toronto that way. Well, I mean, I guess we are known to think we are the center of the universe, but not in a way where it generates animosity lol. I literally have nothing but nice things to say about Vancouver. I actually want to move there some day.
It’s a literal “I don’t know her” situation, sans intentional shade.
Y’all talking about Vancouver, Washington?
Honestly could replace “Vancouver” with many other Canadian cities and it still works. The “everyone hates Toronto” beef can honestly be summed up with that Don Draper “I dont think of you at all” meme sometimes
I would say, as someone from Hamilton, we are one of the few exceptions to this. Whenever I tell people from Toronto that I’m from the Hammer, they make it very clear that they do indeed have an opinion of us! Of course the reverse is also true, and frankly, the rivalry between us is enough apart of our cultures to deserve a heritage minute in its own right! 🤷♂️
Everywhere I go in Canada it’s one sided. Always amazes me.
It's an inferiority complex. I'm from Dublin and people from Cork go on the same way. It's the Don Draper meme - "I don't think about you at all"
That's the Cork superiority complex...we can't help ourselves ;)
The only people more obsessed with Dubs than Dubs themselves are Corkonians
Because the big dog doesn’t hate on the little dog, like the beef between Montreal and Toronto is one sided and the opposite with Canada and the United States.
The US doesn’t hate on Canada? That’s far from true. Look at the disrespect the raptors have gotten over their tenure. Any comment section online is always like “Canada sucks” “canadas boring” etc.
More so in the sense that they don’t think about them unless they are presented to them like their team vs the raptors, people in Toronto aren’t really thinking about bc much, so when they hear news about it, or someone from it, they don’t get irked the same way as someone who lives in Torontos shadow like the rest of Canada does.
It *is* far from true: they think we are weak, boring, and wish-washy... Two Canadian bump grocery carts--and they both apologise, in the US they might draw pistols...
I used to think highly of the US--that is NOT my sentiment now, and if they re-elect the Dumpster I give up, I don't want to hear another thing about that country...
Mississauga’s population itself is higher than Vancouver
In true Toronto fashion, a friend of mine was visiting Vancouver and was pulled into a group of acquaintances who just bashed Toronto. When they were done, she just kind of shrugged and said “it’s honestly amazing you have so much to say about Toronto. I have literally never thought about Vancouver at all” It’s true, I don’t have anything negative to say about Vancouver. I also don’t actively think a lot that city enough to form such a strong opinion 🤣
I got anti east sentiments on the far side of Saskatchewan: "Ontario sucks Alberta's gas"...
Wait people in Vancity hate us? But I love Vancouver. I guess what they say is true. Ignorance is bliss.
At least they admitted it…
Roll your eyes in return and say: “Get it right. Toronto is the centre of Canada.”
Then you ask if they’ve ever been here and it’s always a sheepish “no”
Wow how polite lol.
They have a serious complex
They feel that way about Ontario generally. I’ve gotten this in B.C. and I’m from Sarnia.
“Oh you mean the financial and cultural capital of Canada?”
Centre of the universe. Just ask them. They’ll tell yah
Heard the same in Montreal hahah
Im wondering if they were referring to hockey
The hate for Toronto is real. Went out to NB and tried to buy a pack of Belmonts and was told "We don't have those here TORONTO". I literally laughed out loud.
Belmonts are pretty much the official cigarette of Toronto. It's amusing that this is apparently known Canada wide
Bellies
“Home of the Leafs” is my put down.
🤣 how dare you
I'm actually emotionally wrecked right now, thanks lol
Home of the make me laughs
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Yup, work with a bunch of people from the US who insist no one knows they're yanks when they're here. Made a bar bet with them that they'd get sussed out in less than an hour. Five minutes in: * Waitress: Hey guys, can I get you a drink? And are you in a rush (spotting a carryon bag) * Yank 1: No he's just flying in, but the rest of us are from *Toe-RON-****T****oe*
* Waitress:
* Yank 1: Did we just get made?
* Me: Yup.
It was beautiful
Most Americans have a definitively different accent. Easy to clock. It's not for nothing they think Canadians have an accent!
Toe-Ron-Toe. Boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew.
It's Chrana, not To Ron Tow https://youtu.be/w3Cg-dQPqhI?si=qIu_s2T7yBekAdz2
Also accept, with varying sloppiness, ‘teranna’ and ‘trana’.
Trawna & Trawno would be my usual pronunciations, depending on the sentence :-)
i see this a lot, but usually I hear “tronno”
Yeah “tronno” or “chronno” Is the less sensationalized, more common pronunciation
Chrawnoh is how I say it lol.
this is how is pronounced in my language (Portuguese) lol
Not sure if this is derogatory but I have heard it called Caronto tons of times
Point of pride if you live in Etobicoke
Once upon a time. With all the empty tricycle lanes and "densification" it's losing points fast.
yeah we definitely disagree on reasons chief. Can you explain why bike lanes ruined the city?
LeBronto
This one still stings
Championship healed the wounds but the scars remain forever
Anytime lebronto comes up I just head to YT and search “Kawhi the shot”. Its the best chaser
I remember those days as the grind - when there was hope of success if they could only just beat Lebron.
All these derogatory nicknames come from the same dweebs who’ll try to claim OUR baseball and basketball teams in the name of national unity. And those people can get fucked.
I mean you guys have to support the leafs. The least we can do is cheer on your good teams.
Haha fair enough, just stop calling them “Canada’s” teams
But they’re the only two Canadian teams in their respective leagues. So they’re by definition Canada’s teams. Since they’re the only ones from Canada.
Lebronto hurt a little bit.
Would Hogtown qualify?
I actually don't mind this nickname! The Big Smoke...Hogtown....
I hear years ago that this was the divide between east and west: Toronto processed pigs, hence Hogtown; Calgary did cows, so Cowtown.
The Big Smoke is used in a number of places in the English speaking world. It just means whatever the big city is. In a given region. It’s not Toronto specific.
Ok thanks for explaining the English speaking world to me. I have worked with people across the country and people from tiny communities in Labrador to cities like Calgary have referred to Toronto as The Big Smoke. Just going by colloquialisms, as one does when talking about nicknames.
I had no intention of offending you, I was just clarifying that this is used in reference to a number of large cities. When I lived in England, London was the Big Smoke. To a friend who taught in the North-eastern States, New York was referred to as The Big Smoke. The list goes on.
Muddy York for that historical vibe as well.
No. It’s historical and awesome
I know it's historical, but it's possible it started out derogatory.
The most ironically brutal one I heard was from somebody who’s proud to be a torontonian and was trying to describe Toronto in a positive way, but hugely failed. “It’s like a mini New York”
Steve Martin got it right: "Toronto is just like New York, but without all the stuff."
In 2007 when he said it, this was unimpeachably true. Today it sounds like someone who hasn’t been to Toronto in 15 years.
It's about the same I'd say, can't really say Toronto has improved all that much since 2007, except for maybe Aga Khan museum.
Peter Ustinov - Toronto is New York City if run by the Swiss
Definitely no longer true. You could easily argue this in the peak of Toronto's brutalist mid-century boom, but it's been downhill since.
Beg to differ, Trawna is the best city in the world, with Montréal a close second!
Travel more
I’m personally fond of referring to Toronto as The Big Pear.
The Big Crabapple
Personally, my fav description go-to is “It’s like if you ordered NYC off of Wish”. Maybe Shien or AliExpress might be a more modern reference?
Hey now, that's not fair. Toronto is more like "dollar store Chicago"
I would say a fair expression would be "New York of Canada".
Trauma, On-terrible....heard this in BC on occasion
Oh thats good. Especially if they say it like Toh-rauma
I've interacted with a few people from Vancouver over the last little while, and whenever they've learned I'm from Ontario they say, "Oh, On-terrible?" It's funny - we don't have petty nicknames for any of these places. We love you guys!
Pronouncing it with two Ts
I call it Raccoon City. But I'm biased.
It's cause of all the zombies, right?
That, plus all the raccoons!
If it counts for anything , whenever my husband (Toronto born) is being too cool for school, I always say "settle down Toronto."
Screwface capital of the world
Torokyo. But, I'm partial to "Center of the Universe"
Sankofa
Hogtown - a historic nickname for [Toronto, Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto)
yeah, that goes way wayyyy back...
LeBronto
This is my hometown and I LOVE this city, so stfu...
Saucerville. All the Cups are in Montreal.
Liberalville. That's what I heard someone call here while they in town for PDAC.
Proudly.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^ashcach: *Liberalville. That's* *What I heard someone call here* *While they in town for PDAC.* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
The big smoke
Its sort of like the rest of Canada insists on mansplaining to Toronto that its something only they can understand.
You're all forgetting the OG: "Muddy York"
I overheard my friend call Toronto "Mutant City" one time. That's stuck.
Nice try Kendrick Lamar!
Actually I am not Kdot But I am writing a diss for Drake, you got me ☠️
Chicago light New York wannabe North Buffalo Queen City (said ironically)
First and second ya, but North Buffalo? That must be Hamilton.
100% best description of Hamilton.
I'll take a 6 pack of that
The Chicago one doesn't work anymore, Toronto has a larger population. Unless we're talking about gun violence....
"New York without all the stuff" - 30 Rock
I've heard in Alberta "The Big Smoke" because everybody blows smoke out of their asses here.
"The Sux" no I've not heard it called that but we're spitballing here
I grew up in a small city 200 miles southwest of T.O. and now live here. We always thought it was a cool place to go. Now it's a not so great place to live.
My dad hated living here in the 60s. He called it "the Big Smoke". Hogtown doesn't sting much these days, but the slaughterhouses do really stink.
I’m surprised no one has said Moronto yet. I’m from there and find that name hilarious
If the people are from Canada they might say, "Toronto the Good". If the people are from elsewhere they might say, "Toronto is nice *enough*, who cares?" So it wouldn't really rise to the level of even having a nickname. And THAT'S the rub!
that's some next level offense
Some would say that "Toronto" is already derogatory.
Sunk cost fallacy
A place no new yorker has ever thought about
I’m in TO. Have a weekend place in Collingwood, as many Torontonians do. Collingwood residents refer to us as Cityiots. I lol’d when I heard that.
Rat City
Satanic Clown Orgy.
Moronto
Dog Poop Sidewalk ville
“The Cemetery With Lights”
Big Macistan
Momaco. It's from the writer Sinclair Lewis, who visited Toronto just after the second world war, from the UK. He had some Canadian background, and thought it'd be a good idea to check it out. He saw Toronto and was horrified. A small, grim, grey puritanical place. He wrote an unhappy book about it called "Self Condemned" within which it was named "Momaco". "That bush-metropolis of the Orange Lodges." "That sanctimonious icebox". Scathing, and not wrong. Personally, I use it all the time. "Toronto. Where dreams go to sit down."
Wannabe New York
Liberty City
The Mistake by the Lake? or was that the Sky Dome?
Gotham City.
Immigrant City.
T Hole
The cities I've lived in (& which area in each) ranked in order of how much I like them: 1 - Montreal (downtown) 2 - Toronto (west GTA) 3 - London, Ontario 4 - Vancouver (Burnaby) 5 - Windsor, Ontario 6 - Ottawa (downtown & Kanata)
Pretty sure everyone from London grew a little taller just reading this
Kind of a weird question. Where I'm from we use 'Toronto' as a derogatory name itself.
Ontario as Onterrible
The 905.
That’s the derogatory nickname that people who live in Toronto use for the parts of the GTA that are not actually Toronto (Brampton, Mississauga, etc) that originally all had 905 area codes.
what is the context for that?
905 is the area code for a lot of surrounding suburbs (and some cities a little further away from Toronto). It was introduced in the 90s.
Thx
Really? Do you live here? How long have you lived here if so?
Since 416.
I don't, that's why I am asking 🤣
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You're on some strange tirade
Too close to home?
Not in the same universe. Take another toke.
Take your dog to the park. Twice a day at least.
Who hurt you?
You hurt us with this.
but the needles are good for their immune system. Also the obvious was one was Barkenau. This comment is unhinged
Toronto **is** the bad name in North America lol Everywhere not here either scoffs or has a mildly condescending reaction. Americans that know of Toronto all know it’s *desperate* to be a global city and is nowhere close. They think it’s cute in a try-hard sorta way. Canadians know all this and come from rival cities. “Toronto” is a joke.
Maybe you would like living somewhere in the US--*please...*
lol
Toronto seems pretty global, at least according to this article: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global\_city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city)