Fruits in Cantonese
Hong Kong's street markets overflow with fruit, and the vocabulary has some gems: strawberry is the English loanword 士多啤梨 (si6 do1 be1 lei2), and pineapple is 菠蘿 (bo1 lo4) — the same 菠蘿 as the famous pineapple bun. Learn the everyday fruits below with audio and Jyutping.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say strawberry in Cantonese?
士多啤梨 (si6 do1 be1 lei2) — a loanword that sounds like "strawberry". Hong Kong Cantonese borrows English freely; compare 巴士 (baa1 si2, bus) and 的士 (dik1 si2, taxi).
How do you say fruit in general?
生果 (saang1 gwo2) in spoken Cantonese — Mandarin's 水果 sounds bookish in Hong Kong. A fruit shop is 生果檔 (saang1 gwo2 dong3).
Is there pineapple in a 菠蘿包 (pineapple bun)?
No — the bun is named for its crackly golden crust, which looks like a pineapple skin. The fruit itself is 菠蘿 (bo1 lo4).