Quebec language watchdog now says it's OK to use 'go' to support sports teams
QUEBEC, JUL 3 – Quebec's language office now permits the English word 'go' for sports cheers, recognizing its cultural significance despite anglicism concerns, after public outcry and official intervention.
- In June 2025, the Office québécois de la langue française granted the transit agency permission to reuse 'go' on bus displays, following political pressure.
- Following the 2024 bus ban and public backlash during April’s playoffs, Quebec's language watchdog partially legitimized using 'go' to support sports teams in June.
- The office's new guideline states 'allez' is preferred, but 'go' is now partially legitimized, confirmed by spokesperson Gilles Payer’s email.
- The transit agency remains undecided on reinstating 'go' on city buses, with no changes planned until fall maintenance, as the office evaluates its position.
- In June 2025, Quebec’s language minister affirms 'go' as cultural heritage, while the online dictionary notes its use since the 1980s, reflecting evolving attitudes towards language preservation.
35 Articles
35 Articles


A few months after the controversy, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) changed its shoulder rifle.
Quebec Language Watchdog Now Says It’s OK to Use ‘Go’ to Support Sports Teams
Quebec’s language watchdog has changed its tune on whether it’s acceptable to use the word “go” to cheer on sports teams. In a new guideline posted in its online dictionary, the Office québécois de la langue française says that while “allez” is the preferred term, it’s now “partially legitimized” to use the English word to show encouragement. The flip-flop comes after the office took a hard line with Montreal’s transit agency, pressing it for mo…
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