Cantonese Informal Greetings: Hey

Meeting friends in Hong Kong? Hanging out at a Cantonese restaurant? You don’t always have to say 你好 nei5 hou2, especially to people you are familiar with. In most informal situations, we will simply say 喂 wai3, which means “Hey.”

Hey in Cantonese 喂 wai3

“Hey”

Listen to the audio track below to learn the pronunciation in Cantonese

Only use this with people you know, afterall, it’s quite rude to “Hey” people in any language. Hey in Cantonese is not something you will say in a job interview.

喂 wai also means “Hello” on the phone, but with a rising tone

喂 wai in the second tone means “Hello” on the phone

Yes, you read it right. When we use a different intonation for 喂 wai3, which is 喂 wai2, it means “Hello” when you pick up the phone. We don’t say 你好 nei5 hou2 when we pick up the phone, instead, we say 喂 wai2.

How to answer the phone in Cantonese

When answering the phone, 喂 wai3 changes from the third tone to the second tone 喂 wai2  with a rising intonation.

喂 wai2

“Hello” (When answering the phone)

Listen to the audio track below to learn the pronunciation in Cantonese

Listen to the two one more time 喂 wai 3 VS wai2

In this example, we will compare the two wais, 喂 wai3 and 喂 wai2. Remember, the first one is “Hey and the second one is “Hello” (When you pick up the phone).

Quick review: The second tone is the rising tone, third tone is the flat tone, so when you answer the phone you should using the rising tone.

Listen to the audio track below carefully

Remember the difference!

• Greeting Friends Informally: Instead of saying 你好 (nei5 hou2) in informal situations, you can use 喂 (wai3), which means “Hey.”
• Answering the Phone: When answering the phone, 喂 (wai3) changes to the second tone 喂 (wai2) with a rising intonation.

In conclusion, while “你好 nei5 hou2” is a common greeting in Cantonese, it’s not always necessary in informal settings. Instead, using “喂 wai3” can be a more casual and friendly way to say “Hey” to friends and acquaintances. Additionally, when answering the phone, the tone changes to “喂 wai2” with a rising intonation, reflecting the dynamic nature of the Cantonese language. Embracing these nuances can enhance your interactions and make your conversations more natural and engaging. Don’t forget to join our community on Instagram and YouTube.