je4爺je2爺
paternal grandfather
je4爺je2爺gam1今nin4年baat3八sap6十seoi3歲
Grandpa is eighty this year
Learn
Extended family
Grandparents, aunts, and uncles
Beyond your parents and siblings sits a wider circle, and this lesson covers grandparents and an uncle. The key idea is that Cantonese keeps the father's side and the mother's side separate, so you will learn distinct words for each grandparent. After this you can name the older generations correctly instead of guessing.
What you'll learn
- Name your paternal grandfather as 爺爺 (je4 je4)
- Name your paternal grandmother as 嫲嫲 (maa4 maa4)
- Name your maternal grandfather as 公公 (gung1 gung1)
- Name your maternal grandmother as 婆婆 (po4 po4)
- Address a father's younger brother as 叔叔 (suk1 suk1)
Cantonese has different terms for paternal and maternal grandparents. This shows how family relationships were traditionally tracked!
maa4嫲maa4嫲
paternal grandmother
maa4嫲maa4嫲hou2好zung1鍾ji3意sik6食haa1蝦gaau2餃
Grandma loves eating shrimp dumplings
gung4公gung1公
maternal grandfather
gung4公gung1公zyu6住hai2喺fu6附gan6近
Maternal grandfather lives nearby
po4婆po2婆
maternal grandmother
po4婆po2婆seng4成jat6日siu3笑
Maternal grandmother is always smiling
suk1叔suk1叔
uncle (father's younger brother)
suk1叔suk1叔gam1今jat6日lai4嚟ngo5我dei6哋uk1屋kei2企
Uncle is coming to our home today
Frequently asked questions
How do you say grandmother in Cantonese?
It depends on the side of the family. Your father's mother is 嫲嫲 (maa4 maa4), while your mother's mother is 婆婆 (po4 po4).
What is the Cantonese word for grandfather?
Your father's father is 爺爺 (je4 je4) and your mother's father is 公公 (gung1 gung1). Cantonese uses separate terms so the relationship is always clear.
How do you address an uncle in Cantonese?
There are several uncle terms depending on the relationship. This lesson teaches 叔叔 (suk1 suk1), used for your father's younger brother.