top of page
Basic Cantonese Lesson

Vowel

Cantonese finals (vowels), when expressed in the Jyutping system, total 56.
They can be categorized into:

  • Monophthongs (single vowels): aa, a, e, i, o, u, oe, eo, yu

  • Diphthongs (complex vowels): single vowels followed by i or u

  • Nasal-coda finals: single vowels followed by nasal consonants m, n, or ng

  • Checked-tone finals (checked finals): single vowels followed by checked-tone stops p, t, or k

When learning Cantonese vowel, it is essential to carefully observe the mouth shape during pronunciation. Pay special attention to:

  • The length contrast between vowels (e.g., aa vs a, oe vs eo, etc.)

  • The checked-tone endings (p, t, k)

These features differ significantly from English and are key factors in determining whether a learner can speak Cantonese like a native speaker.
By thoroughly mastering the Jyutping vowel chart, you will be able to read, spell, and memorize Cantonese pronunciation much more accurately.

aa

[aː], close to "a" in "father", but wider mouth

e

[iː], same as "e" in "she"

i

[iː], same as "e" in "she"

o

[ɔː], same as "o" in "oral"

u

[uː], same as "oo" in "cool"

oe

[œː], close to "ur" in "murder", but wider mouth

yu

[yː], close to "ew" in "few", but round lip

aai

[aːi], close to "i" in "wide", but wider mouth and tongue moving a little forward

ai

[ɐi], short "a" in "what", followed by [i] in IPA

ei

[ei], close to "a" in "day", but tongue moving a little forward

oi

[ɔːi], close to "oi" in "oil", but tongue moving a little forward

ui

[uːi], close to "ooey" in "gooey", but shorten the time of [iː]

eoi

[ɵy], "oo" in "foot", followed by [y]

aau

[aːu], close to "ou" in "loud" , wider mouth and round lip

au

[ɐu], short "a" in "what", followed by [u] in IPA

eu

[ɛːu], short "e" in "fed", followed by [u] in IPA

iu

[iːu], close to "e" in "she", followed by [u] in IPA

ou

[ou], close to "ow" in "low", but mouth smaller than [ɔː], followed by [u] in IPA

aam

[aːm], aa with final consonant m

am

[ɐm], a with final consonant m

em

[ɛːm], e with final consonant m

im

[iːm], i with final consonant m

m

[m̩], Syllabic Nasals

aan

[aːn], aa with final consonant n

an

[ɐn], short "a" in "what", followed by final consonant n

in

[iːn], i with final consonant n

on

[ɔːn], o with final consonant n

un

[uːn], u with final consonant n

eon

[ɵn], "oo" in "foot", followed by final consonant n

yun

[yːn], yu with final consonant n

aang

[aːŋ], aa with final consonant ng

ang

[ɐŋ], short "a" in "what", followed by final consonant ng

eng

[ɛːŋ], e with final consonant ng

ing

[ɪŋ], [ɪ] with final consonant ng

ong

[ɔːŋ], o with final consonant ng

ung

[ʊŋ], [ʊ] with final consonant ng

oeng

[œːŋ], oe with final consonant ng

ng

[ŋ̩], Syllabic Nasals

aap

[aːp], aa with final consonant p

ap

[ɐp], short "a" in "what", followed by final consonant p

ep

[ɛːp], e with final consonant p

ip

[iːp], i with final consonant p

aat

[aːt], aa with final consonant t

at

[ɐt], short "a" in "what", followed by final consonant t

it

[iːt], i with final consonant t

ot

[ɔːt], o with final consonant t

ut

[uːt], u with final consonant t

eot

[ɵt], "oo" in "foot", followed by final consonant t

yut

[yːt], yu with final consonant t

aak

[aːk], aa with final consonant k

ak

[ɐk], short "a" in "what", followed by final consonant k

ek

[ɛːk], e with final consonant k

ik

[ɪk], [ɪ]  with final consonant k

ok

[ɔːk], o with final consonant k

uk

[ʊk], [ʊ] with final consonant k

oek

[œːk],oe with final consonant k

Click the button to listen to the native pronunciation of each vowel and imitate the mouth shape

bottom of page