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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

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Special Pronunciation Note

Pale colored vowels (ing, ik, oi, ou, ui, ung, uk) have unique pronunciations that cannot be formed by simply combining two phonemes. These require special attention and practice to master their distinct sounds.

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