When you start to learn Cantonese, you will notice that there are many English loanwords like bus (巴士: baa1 si), taxi (的士: dik1 si6), cheese (芝士: ji1 si6).
Since Hong Kong was British colony for 155 years, Hong Kong Cantonese borrowed many words from English.
I would like to introduce three types of English loanwords in Cantonese.
1. Simple loanwords from English sound
| English | Cantonese | |
| salad | 沙律 | saa1 leot6 |
| sandwich | 三文治 | saam1 man4 ji6 |
| cheese | 芝士 | ji1 si6 |
| strawberry | 士多啤梨 | si6 do1 be1 lei4 |
| mango | 芒果 | mong4 gwo2 |
| lemon | 檸檬 | ling4 mung1 |
| chocolate | 朱古力 | jyu1 gu2 lik6 |
| pudding | 布甸 | bou3 din6 |
| jelly | 啫喱 | je1 lei1 |
| cookie | 曲奇 | kuk1 kei4 |
| cutlet | 吉列 | gat1 lit6 |
| omelette | 奄列 | am1 lit6 |
| cream | 忌廉 | gei6 lim1 |
| toast | 多士 | do1 si6 |
| store | 士多 | si6 do1 |
| jar | 渣 | zaa1 |
| bus | 巴士 | baa1 si6 |
| taxi | 的士 | dik1 si6 |
| lift | 𨋢 | lip1 |
| motor | 摩打 | mo1 da2 |
| t-shirt | T恤 | T seot1 |
| cashmere | 茄士咩 | ke1 si6 me1 |
| ball | 波 | bo1 |
| sofa | 梳化 | so1 fa3 |
| cushion | 咕𠱸 | gu1 seun2 |
| film | 菲林 | fei1 lam2 |
| card | 咭 / 卡 | kaat1 |
| cartoon | 卡通 | kaa1 tung1 |
| bowling | 保齡 | bou2 ling4 |
| snooker | 士碌架 | si6 luk1 gaa2 |
| daddy | 爹地 | de1 di4 |
| mummy | 媽咪 | ma1 mi4 |
| Goodbye. | 拜拜 | baai1 baai3 |
| boycott | 杯葛 | bui1 got3 |
| change (exchange money) | 暢 | cheung3 |
| tips | 貼士 | tip1 si2 |
| ounce | 安士 | on1 si2 |
| mic (microphone) | 咪 | mai1 |
| metre | 米 | mai1 |
2. English + Chinese words
For example, the word “hamburger(漢堡包)” consists of 漢堡 (hon3 bou2) from English sound + 包(baau1) which means bread in Chinese.
Similarly, 子 = child, 果 = fruit, 魚 = fish, and 酒 = alcohol drink.
| English | Cantonese | |
| hamburger | 漢堡包 | hon3 bou2 baau1 |
| cherry | 車厘子 | ce1 lei4 ji2 |
| jam | 果占 | gwo2 jim3 |
| salmon | 三文魚 | saam1 man4 yu4/yu2 |
| beer | 啤酒 | be1 jau2 |
3. Casual words
Here are some loanwords used in unofficial situation.
| English | Cantonese | |
| notes | 碌士 | luk1 si2 |
| boss | 波士 | bo1 si6 |
| chance | 餐士 / 餐屎 | caan1 si2 |
| fail | 肥佬 | fei4 lou2 |
4.Cantonese Loanwords in English
There are also loanwords from Cantonese to English.
| English | Cantonese | |
| ketchup | 茄汁 | ke4 jap1 |
| wok | 鑊 | wok6 |
| dim sum | 點心 | dim2 sam1 |
| wonton | 饂飩 / 雲呑 | wan4 tan1 |
| kiwi | 奇異果 | kei4 yi6 gwo2 |
| bok-choy | 白菜 | baak6 choi3 |
| chow mein | 炒麵 | chaau2 min6 |
| conpoy | 乾貝 | gon1 bui |
| kumquat / cumquat | 金橘 | gam1gwat |
| longan | 龍眼 | lung4 ngaan2 |
| loquat | 蘆橘 | lou4 gwat1 |
| wampee | 黄皮 | wong4 pei2 |
| kung fu | 功夫 | gung1 fu1 |
Did you notice that most of words are about food?
It shows that tasty Cantonese foods and cuisine are widely recognised in the world!
Read: Different Vocabulary List of Chinese Mandarin vs Cantonese
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