Give the first line of Canada's national anthem?
Quick answer: O Canada! Our home and native land!. In our practice tests 88% of 104 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “O Canada! From far and wide, O Canada,”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The first line of O Canada is "O Canada! Our home and native land!" The national anthem was first sung in Quebec City in 1880 and was officially adopted as Canada's anthem in 1980.
Study Tip
The first line of Canada's national anthem starts with a phrase that is a direct address to the country itself. It begins with the word "O".
What should you know about this topic?
"O Canada" became Canada's official national anthem in 1980. It was first sung in Quebec City in 1880, with music by Calixa Lavallée and original French lyrics by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The English words used today come from a version written by Robert Stanley Weir. For a full century the song was popular before it was made official by an Act of Parliament.
The English version begins: "O Canada! Our home and native land!" The line expresses the idea that Canada is home for everyone who lives here, whether born here or not. The lyrics were updated in 2018 to the gender-neutral line "in all of us command." The French version has different words and begins "Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux," which means "land of our ancestors." Both versions are official and both are sung at public events, sports games and citizenship ceremonies.
Canada also has a royal anthem, "God Save the King," which may be played when the Sovereign or the Royal Family is honoured. Discover Canada prints the words of "O Canada" so new citizens can learn them. This topic links to other national symbols on the test, such as the maple leaf, the national flag adopted in 1965, the coat of arms and the motto A mari usque ad mare. A good way to prepare is to sing the anthem aloud a few times, since the test may ask about its opening words.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- O Canada! We stand on guard for thee: "We stand on guard for thee" is a repeated line near the end of the anthem, not its opening.
- O Canada! From far and wide, O Canada,: "From far and wide" appears later in the anthem, not in the first line.
- O Canada! Our province and native land!: The anthem speaks of the whole country as home, not a province. This is a changed version of the real line.
What is the most common mistake?
Many people mix up the first line with a later line, such as "We stand on guard for thee." The anthem opens with "O Canada! Our home and native land!"
How can you remember the answer?
Start at home: the anthem first tells you Canada is your "home and native land," then later promises to stand on guard for it.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
88% of 104 practice answers from about 68 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "O Canada! From far and wide, O Canada,", chosen 7% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 49th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canadian Symbols chapter is 74% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canadian Symbols questions.
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Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canadian Symbols section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 24 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.