Cantonese

/kæn.təˈniːz/

//kæn.təˈniːz// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"cantonese" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Cantonese” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #26,357. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#26,357
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Relating to the city of Guangzhou (Canton) or the province of Guangdong.

Key facts for Cantonese
PropertyValue
HeadwordCantonese
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/kæn.təˈniːz/
Letters9
Frequency rank#26,357
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Cantonese” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). Cantonese lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around Cantonese (IPA /kæn.təˈniːz/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #26,357 among 43,570 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for Cantonese, with forms such as "acntonese", "canntonese", and "canotnese". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Canton + -ese. The correct English form is Cantonese, spelled C-A-N-T-O-N-E-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Relating to the city of Guangzhou (Canton) or the province of Guangdong.
  2. 2
    Relating to Cantonese people.
  3. 3
    Relating to Cantonese language.
  4. 4
    Relating to Cantonese food/cuisine.

Etymology

From Canton + -ese.

This word in other languages

cantonés(Español)cantonais(Français)kantonesisch(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • acntonese
  • canntonese
  • canotnese
  • cantnoese
  • cantoense
  • cantonees
  • cantonesse
  • cantonnese
  • cantonsee
  • canttonese
  • catnonese
  • ccantonese
  • cnatonese

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Cantonese - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

acntonese2canntonese1canotnese2cantnoese2cantoense2cantonees2cantonesse1cantonnese1
Edit distance from "Cantonese"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Cantonese"?
"Cantonese" is spelled C-A-N-T-O-N-E-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /kæn.təˈniːz/.
What does "Cantonese" mean?
As an adjective, "Cantonese" means: Relating to the city of Guangzhou (Canton) or the province of Guangdong.
What are common misspellings of "Cantonese"?
Common misspellings include "acntonese", "canntonese", "canotnese", "cantnoese", "cantoense". The correct spelling is "Cantonese".
How do you pronounce "Cantonese"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Cantonese" is /kæn.təˈniːz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "Cantonese"?
From Canton + -ese. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “Cantonese”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-N-T-O-N-E-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kæn.təˈniːz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list