How to Say "Italy" in Cantonese

意大利

ji³ daai⁶ lei⁶

The Cantonese word for Italy is 意大利 (ji³ daai⁶ lei⁶).

意大利 is the name of the country located in southern Europe.

Meaning: country in southern Europe (name)

How do you pronounce it?

ji³ daai⁶ lei⁶

Cantonese speakers often use 意粉 to refer to pasta. This literally means 'Italy noodles' and is used for any pasta dish, not just spaghetti.
While 意大利 is the formal name, Cantonese speakers often refer to Italian people or the culture using the shorthand 意國, which literally translates to 'Italy Country'.
While 意 means 'intention' and 利 means 'profit' in a dictionary, they are used here purely as sound-markers for the word 'Italy'.

佢喺法國住咗一排，跟住就走咗去意大利。
He lived in France for some time, then went to Italy.
This sentence shows someone moving from France to 意大利.
Tatoeba #403349 by nickyeow, translation #293690 by sacredceltic
呢位長島人嚟到意大利食佢半意大利人嘅老公唔識整嘅意大利菜，佢同其他人食咗串燒沙律、釀西葫蘆，同鼓勵埋佢喺星期五試吓碟鹹鰻魚。
The Long Islander came to Italy to eat the Italian food that her half-Italian husband doesn’t know how to make. She and the others dine on spelt salad, stuffed zucchini and are encouraged to try salted cod on Friday.
This sentence describes someone visiting 意大利 to eat certain foods.
Tatoeba #12908233 by Matthewyau1367, translation #12264258 by Cangarejo
好明顯，至少喺公元前208年，哈斯德魯巴爾擊敗咗普布利烏斯 · 西皮奧，佢喺西班牙指揮羅馬軍隊，而佢嘅目標係阻止到佢經過比利牛斯山脈，向意大利進軍。
It is clear that in the year 208 B.C., at least, Hasdrubal outmanoeuvred Publius Scipio, who held the command of the Roman forces in Spain, and whose object was to prevent him from passing the Pyrenees and marching upon Italy.
This sentence describes a historical military march toward 意大利.
Tatoeba #12908381 by Matthewyau1367, translation #12165530 by Cangarejo
4 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are talking about their dream vacation destinations.

家明 Ka Ming

你假期想去邊度旅行？
nei5 gaa3 kei4 soeng2 heoi3 bin2 dou3 lei5 hang4?
Where do you want to travel during the holiday?
嘉欣 Ka Yan

我想去意大利睇建築物。
ngo5 soeng2 heoi3 ji4 daai6 lei4 tai3 tai2 gin3 zuk1 mat6.
I want to go to Italy to see the architecture.
家明 Ka Ming

意大利嘅風景真係好靚。
ji4 daai6 lei4 tai3 ge3 fung1 ging2 zan1 hai6 hou2 leng3.
The scenery in Italy is really beautiful.
嘉欣 Ka Yan

係啊，我好想去一次。
hai6 aa3, ngo5 hou2 soeng2 heoi3 jat1 ci3.
Yes, I really want to go once.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏