Language watchdog targets brunch spot over Yiddish word ‘nosh
The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) is targeting Montreal’s Arthurs Nosh Bar over the use of the Yiddish word “nosh” on its window signage. OQLF spokesperson François Laberge confirmed the agency intervened because French does not clearly predominate in the trademark’s visual field, according to regulations effective June 1, 2025.
Why is the word “nosh” causing a legal dispute?
The OQLF contacted the St-Henri brunch spot after receiving a complaint about the word “nosh” displayed on the restaurant’s window. Co-owner Raegan Steinberg told The Gazette that “nosh” is a Yiddish word meaning “grab a bite” or “have a nibble.”
Steinberg stated that the agency does not count “Arthurs” as French, though it lacks an apostrophe, and views “bar” as bilingual. This leaves the Yiddish term as the primary point of contention. The restaurant’s name, “Arthurs Nosh Bar,” is a registered trademark.
How do these rules impact Quebec businesses?
Under rules that began June 1, 2025, businesses must ensure French is clearly predominant when exterior signage includes trademarks or company names with words from other languages. This is part of a broader push by the Coalition Avenir Québec government to bolster French in public life.
Since 2018, the government has strengthened the Charter of the French Language and doubled the OQLF’s annual budget to $49 million. Between April 2024 and March 2025, the watchdog received 10,371 complaints, with roughly 40 percent concerning service in French.
What precedent exists for these language complaints?
The dispute mirrors a previous encounter involving the Burgundy Lion Pub on Notre-Dame St. Owner Toby Lyle reported that the OQLF questioned the word “Burgundy,” which refers to the Little Burgundy neighborhood. While the agency accepted “Pub” and “Lion,” it initially flagged “Burgundy.”
In that instance, the OQLF eventually apologized and allowed the sign to remain. Steinberg described the current situation as “frustrating,” noting that she is a proud French-speaking Quebecer but feels the agency has not offered much of a solution to bring her business into compliance.
What happens next for Arthurs Nosh Bar?
The OQLF is currently assisting the company with corrective measures to meet the June 2025 regulations. The restaurant may be required to modify its window signage to ensure French is more prominent than the trademarked Yiddish term.
Steinberg has already shared the dispute on social media, where she reported receiving thousands of views and a mix of support and criticism regarding the impact on Quebec culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the specific issue with the Arthurs Nosh Bar sign? The OQLF claims the trademark contains a non-French word (“nosh”) and that French does not clearly predominate within the same visual field.
- What are the current OQLF statistics? From April 2024 to March 2025, the agency received 10,371 complaints and performed 9,813 inspections.
- What is the OQLF’s budget? The CAQ government has doubled the agency’s annual budget to $49 million.
Do you believe language laws should apply to trademarked cultural terms like “nosh”?