Cantonese

noun

Can·​ton·​ese ˌkan-tə-ˈnēz 

-ˈnēs

plural Cantonese

1

: a native or inhabitant of Guangzhou, China

2

: the dialect of Chinese spoken in Guangzhou and Hong Kong

3

: a style of Chinese cooking that emphasizes fresh ingredients, subtle tastes, and relatively mild sauces

Cantonese adjective

Examples of Cantonese in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Embrace Singlish English is the main teaching language in Singapore schools, but in practice, most Singaporeans speak Singlish, a hybrid language reflecting the country’s multicultural history that blends English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay, Cantonese, and Tamil, and has its own grammar rules. —Audrey Phoon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024

Over the centuries that followed, this linguistic diversity increased, with growing immigration from China bringing other languages such as Hakka, Cantonese and Hokkien. —Will Buckingham, The Dial, 27 Nov. 2024

For six decades, Chung’s Cantonese Cuisine was a cultural crossroads. —Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Dec. 2024

Kirin’s owners, the Ip family, are Chinese-Venezuelan restaurateurs who previously ran Gold Marquess Cantonese restaurant in Pembroke Pines until retiring in 2022. —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Canton Guangzhou, ultimately from Portuguese Cantão, from Chinese (Guangzhou) Gwóngdūng Guangdong

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1