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Cantonese dialect

Hong Kong Cantonese

Also known as: Yuè, HK Cantonese

The Yue Chinese variety of Hong Kong, the most internationally recognised Cantonese. Prestige variety of Cantonese-language film, music, and broadcasting.

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Frequently asked questions

What language is Hong Kong Cantonese?

Hong Kong Cantonese is a dialect of the Cantonese language.

Where is Hong Kong Cantonese spoken?

Hong Kong Cantonese is primarily spoken in Hong Kong.

Which region is Hong Kong Cantonese associated with?

Hong Kong Cantonese is part of the East Asia region on DialectAtlas.

Is Hong Kong Cantonese known by other names?

Yes — Hong Kong Cantonese is also referred to as Yuè, HK Cantonese.

What are the other dialects of Cantonese?

Cantonese also includes Guangzhou Cantonese, Taishanese. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.

Other Cantonese dialects

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Taishanese

Toisanese · Hoisan-wa

A divergent Yue Chinese variety from the Sze Yup region of Guangdong. Once the dominant variety in early Chinese-American communities, especially in San Francisco and New York.

Nearby dialects

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Hakka

297 km away

A Sinitic language spoken across pockets of southern China and Taiwan by the Hakka diaspora communities. Around 35 million speakers, with major communities in Guangdong, Fujian, and Taiwan.

Min Nan (Hokkien)

467 km away

The largest Min Chinese variety, spoken in Fujian and Taiwan and across the Hokkien-speaking diaspora of Southeast Asia. The basis of Taiwanese Hokkien and a major contributor to Singaporean Hokkien.

Mien

557 km away

A cluster of Hmong-Mien languages spoken by the Yao peoples across southern China and adjacent Southeast Asia. Sister branch to Hmong, with around 800,000 speakers across the diaspora.

Taiwanese Mandarin

811 km away

The Mandarin standard of Taiwan. Diverges from Mainland Pǔtōnghuà in pronunciation, lexicon, and tone, with substantial influence from Taiwanese Hokkien.

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