牛油果
ngau⁴ jau⁴ gwo²
The Cantonese word for avocado is 牛油果 (ngau⁴ jau⁴ gwo²).
牛油果 refers to the fruit known as avocado. It is a standard term used in Hong Kong and is also the term used in Mandarin Chinese.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The name literally translates to 'butter fruit'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Shenzhen, people often use the term 牛油果 for avocado.
How do you pronounce it?
ngau⁴ jau⁴ gwo²
Did you know?
- While 牛油果 is standard in Hong Kong, you might hear the term 鳄梨 in other regions, which translates to 'alligator pear'.
- The character 牛 in 牛油果 means 'cow', so the name for avocado literally breaks down into 'cow', 'oil' and 'fruit'.
- The term 牛油 is used in Cantonese cuisine to describe 'creamy' textures even when the dish contains no dairy.
Examples in context
- 我喺超市買咗個鱷梨。I bought an avocado at the supermarket.
- 我想買牛油果。ngo5 soeng2 maai5 ngau4 jau4 gwo2.I want to buy avocado.
- 呢個牛油果好貴。ni1 go3 ngau4 jau4 gwo2 hou2 gwai3.This avocado is very expensive.
Example conversation
At a grocery store, Ka Yan asks Chi Keung about the fruit.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan志強，呢個牛油果熟未呀？zi3 koeng4, ni1 go3 ngau4 jau4 gwo2 suk6 mei6 aa3?Chi Keung, is this avocado ripe?
- 志強 Chi Keung仲未熟，仲係硬嘅。zung6 mei6 suk6, zung6 hai6 ngaang6 ge3.Not yet, it is still hard.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan咁我哋買多個牛油果啦。gam2 ngo5 dei6 maai5 do1 go3 ngau4 jau4 gwo2 laa1.Then let's buy another avocado.
- 志強 Chi Keung好呀，等我攞多一個。hou2 aa3, dang2 ngo5 lo2 do1 jat1 go3.Okay, let me grab one more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “avocado” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
