What are the two official languages of Canada?
Quick answer: English and French. In our practice tests 98% of 85 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Inuktitut and French”.
Why is this the correct answer?
English and French are Canada's two official languages, as guaranteed by the Official Languages Act. About 56% speak English and 21% speak French as a first language.
Study Tip
One of the official languages is widely spoken in Quebec, while the other is the primary language of communication in Canada's federal government and institutions.
What should you know about this topic?
English and French are the two official languages of Canada. Discover Canada explains that they are important symbols of national identity, and that the Official Languages Act of 1969 made them equal in the federal government. This means federal services and Parliament operate in both languages, and Canadians have the right to get federal government services in English or French.
Canada's two official languages come from its history. French explorers and settlers founded New France, and the British later took control after the conquest of 1759. The two communities learned to live together, and over time this partnership became a foundation of Canada. Today, about 18 million people speak English as their first language and about 7 million speak French as their first language, according to Discover Canada. Most Francophones live in Quebec, but there are also large French-speaking communities in Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba. New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province.
Canada is also home to many Aboriginal languages, such as Inuktitut, Cree and Michif, but these are not federal official languages. To become a citizen, applicants must show adequate knowledge of English or French. This topic connects to the Charter's official language rights and minority language education rights, and to the history of the Acadians and Quebecers. Learning one of these languages well also helps newcomers find work and take part fully in Canadian life.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- English and Métis: Métis are a distinct Aboriginal people, not a language; their traditional language is Michif.
- Inuktitut and French: Inuktitut is an important Inuit language with official status in Nunavut, but it is not a federal official language.
- English and Inuktitut: English is official, but Inuktitut is not one of Canada's two official languages; French is.
What is the most common mistake?
Some learners choose Inuktitut because it is an official language in Nunavut. Canada's two federal official languages are English and French only.
How can you remember the answer?
Think of the Canadian money and packaging you see every day: everything is printed in English and French, the two official languages.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
98% of 85 practice answers from about 63 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Inuktitut and French", chosen 1% 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 7th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Who We Are chapter is 79% 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 Who We Are questions.
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Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Who We Are 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 43 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.