Why is Montreal nicknamed '5-1-4' and sometimes 'MTL'?

Question

What does '5-1-4' and 'MTL' mean please?

Answer 1

The area code for the island of Montreal is 514, which is probably why you have heard that reference, although I never heard someone give us that as a "nickname".

The code MTL has been widely used as a symbolic acronym for MonTreaL. I believe that my grandmother once told me that they used these codes for the CN train routes, such as the TOR-MTL corridor (Toronto to Montreal) and OTT-MTL trains (Ottawa to Montreal). However, I can find no record of that.

It is not from the current airports, since Dorval-Trudeau is "YUL" and Mirabel Airport is "YMX". And the old Cartierville Airport (which is now a golf course) was "YCV".

By the way, in case you (or anyone else) are curious, there are a couple other special names in the area:

The POM bakery in Montreal got its name from a contest winner who chose "POM - Pride Of Montreal" as their entry.

And the Pontiac Taxi service in the Ville Emard area of Montreal is named after the phone number you had to dial back when you had to connect through an operator. You would say "Please give me Pontiac-7900" and the operator would dial 768-7900 for you...

(7=P, 6=O, 8=N on a phone).

Answer 2

MTL is pretty obvious, isn't it?

Answer 3

514 is the area code for Montreal

MTL is just shortform for Montreal

Similair to

416 is area code for Toronto

T-Dot is just shortform for Toronto

Answer 4

514 is the area code for Montreal.  It has become common recently to refer to geographic locations by area code.

MTL is a common abbreviation for Montreal.  Sometimes three-letter airport codes are used as a designation for cities.  The airport code for Montreal, however, is YUL

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

514 is the area code for montreal.

so usually if someone says they're from the 514, they mean they're from montreal.

you also sometimes hear people saying they're from the 450, which is the surrounding/suburb area.

and MTL is pretty obvious. just shortening it up.