How to say common words in Cantonese
Looking up how to say an English word in Cantonese? Pick a word below to get the Cantonese translation with Jyutping pronunciation, audio, and example sentences — all from our Hong Kong Cantonese dictionary.
259 everyday words across 15 topics.
Greetings & Polite Phrases in Cantonese
The everyday Cantonese greetings and courtesies you need first — how to say hello, thank you, and sorry the way Hong Kongers actually do.
Family Members in Cantonese
Cantonese has a precise word for almost every relative. Here are the core family terms learners look up most.
- Mother in Cantonese
- Father in Cantonese
- Brother in Cantonese
- Sister in Cantonese
- Grandmother in Cantonese
- Grandfather in Cantonese
- Son in Cantonese
- Daughter in Cantonese
- Husband in Cantonese
- Wife in Cantonese
- Boyfriend in Cantonese
- Girlfriend in Cantonese
- Friend in Cantonese
- Baby in Cantonese
- Uncle in Cantonese
- Aunt in Cantonese
- Family in Cantonese
- Parents in Cantonese
Numbers in Cantonese
Counting in Cantonese, one to a thousand — the foundation for prices, dates, and phone numbers.
- One in Cantonese
- Two in Cantonese
- Three in Cantonese
- Four in Cantonese
- Five in Cantonese
- Six in Cantonese
- Seven in Cantonese
- Eight in Cantonese
- Nine in Cantonese
- Ten in Cantonese
- Eleven in Cantonese
- Twenty in Cantonese
- Thirty in Cantonese
- Forty in Cantonese
- Fifty in Cantonese
- Sixty in Cantonese
- Seventy in Cantonese
- Eighty in Cantonese
- Ninety in Cantonese
- Hundred in Cantonese
- Thousand in Cantonese
- Zero in Cantonese
Colours in Cantonese
How to say every common colour in Cantonese, with Jyutping and audio.
Animals in Cantonese
Pets, farm animals, and zodiac creatures — the Cantonese animal names learners search for.
- Dog in Cantonese
- Cat in Cantonese
- Bird in Cantonese
- Fish in Cantonese
- Horse in Cantonese
- Cow in Cantonese
- Pig in Cantonese
- Chicken in Cantonese
- Duck in Cantonese
- Rabbit in Cantonese
- Tiger in Cantonese
- Dragon in Cantonese
- Snake in Cantonese
- Monkey in Cantonese
- Elephant in Cantonese
- Crab in Cantonese
- Butterfly in Cantonese
- Sheep in Cantonese
Food & Drink in Cantonese
From rice and noodles to milk tea — essential Cantonese food and drink vocabulary for ordering and the market.
- Rice in Cantonese
- Noodles in Cantonese
- Water in Cantonese
- Tea in Cantonese
- Coffee in Cantonese
- Beer in Cantonese
- Wine in Cantonese
- Milk in Cantonese
- Egg in Cantonese
- Pork in Cantonese
- Beef in Cantonese
- Vegetable in Cantonese
- Fruit in Cantonese
- Apple in Cantonese
- Banana in Cantonese
- Bread in Cantonese
- Soup in Cantonese
- Ice Cream in Cantonese
- Sugar in Cantonese
- Salt in Cantonese
- Garlic in Cantonese
- Strawberry in Cantonese
- Dumpling in Cantonese
- Tofu in Cantonese
- Ketchup in Cantonese
Body Parts in Cantonese
Head to foot — the Cantonese words for parts of the body.
Time & Days in Cantonese
Telling the time and talking about days in Cantonese — today, tomorrow, and everything in between.
Feelings & Emotions in Cantonese
How to say how you feel in Cantonese — happy, tired, hungry, in love.
Common Verbs in Cantonese
The everyday action words — eat, drink, go, come — that power basic Cantonese sentences.
- Eat in Cantonese
- Drink in Cantonese
- Go in Cantonese
- Come in Cantonese
- See in Cantonese
- Hear in Cantonese
- Speak in Cantonese
- Sleep in Cantonese
- Walk in Cantonese
- Run in Cantonese
- Buy in Cantonese
- Sell in Cantonese
- Want in Cantonese
- Like in Cantonese
- Know in Cantonese
- Work in Cantonese
- Study in Cantonese
- Read in Cantonese
- Write in Cantonese
- Cook in Cantonese
- Sit in Cantonese
- Stand in Cantonese
- Give in Cantonese
- Take in Cantonese
Descriptions in Cantonese
Common Cantonese adjectives for size, price, and quality — big, small, expensive, cheap.
- Big in Cantonese
- Small in Cantonese
- Hot in Cantonese
- Cold in Cantonese
- Fast in Cantonese
- Slow in Cantonese
- New in Cantonese
- Old in Cantonese
- Good in Cantonese
- Bad in Cantonese
- Expensive in Cantonese
- Cheap in Cantonese
- Delicious in Cantonese
- Difficult in Cantonese
- Easy in Cantonese
- Tall in Cantonese
- Short in Cantonese
- Pretty in Cantonese
- Handsome in Cantonese
- Free in Cantonese
- Liquid in Cantonese
Places & Travel in Cantonese
Getting around Hong Kong — the Cantonese for places, transport, and travel essentials.
- Hong Kong in Cantonese
- China in Cantonese
- Airport in Cantonese
- Hotel in Cantonese
- Restaurant in Cantonese
- Toilet in Cantonese
- Station in Cantonese
- Hospital in Cantonese
- School in Cantonese
- Home in Cantonese
- Market in Cantonese
- Shop in Cantonese
- Money in Cantonese
- Ticket in Cantonese
- Taxi in Cantonese
- Bus in Cantonese
- Street in Cantonese
- Bank in Cantonese
Nature & Weather in Cantonese
Sun, rain, mountains, and sea — Cantonese words for the natural world and the weather.
Love & Romance in Cantonese
How to say "I love you" in Cantonese — and the affectionate phrases locals really use.
More Useful Words in Cantonese
A grab-bag of high-demand searches — everyday objects and specific terms learners look up.
- Umbrella in Cantonese
- Key in Cantonese
- Phone in Cantonese
- Computer in Cantonese
- Book in Cantonese
- Music in Cantonese
- Movie in Cantonese
- Photo in Cantonese
- Cooking in Cantonese
- Singapore in Cantonese
- Korea in Cantonese
- Fence in Cantonese
- Cauliflower in Cantonese
- Luncheon Meat in Cantonese
- Sake in Cantonese
- Moonlight in Cantonese
- Jellyfish in Cantonese
- Silicone in Cantonese
- Pancreas in Cantonese
- Orientation in Cantonese
- Where in Cantonese
Go further
Ready to move past single words? Explore curated word lists or start the free structured course.