How to Say "Phone" in Cantonese

電話

din6 waa2

In Cantonese, to call (someone) on the telephone is expressed using 電話 (din6 waa2).

To use 'phone' as a verb meaning 'to call someone', you must add the verb 打 (da2, to hit/to make) before 電話.

Meaning: to call (someone) on the telephone (verb)

What does it mean word for word?

The word 電話 is a compound of 電 (electric) and 話 (speech/talk).

While 電話 can refer to any phone, 手機 (sau2 gei1, literally 'hand machine') is the more common way to specify a mobile phone.

When saying you are calling someone, the structure is 打電話畀 [person], using the preposition 畀 (bei2) to indicate the recipient.

din6 waa2

When a phone is 'hanging up' or 'cutting off', Cantonese speakers often use terms related to 'breaking' or 'disconnecting' a line, reflecting early physical telephone wires.
In some contexts, calling someone may be described as 打個電話, where the measure word 個 treats the phone call as a single, countable object.
The concept of 'electric' (電) is used not only for 'phone' but also for 'electricity' and 'lightning' in Cantonese.

沙美重講緊電話。
Sami was still on the phone.
This sentence is useful for describing someone who is currently on the phone using 電話.
Tatoeba #12065353 by thesilhouette, translation #6119177 by OsoHombre
我無手提電話㗎噃。
I don't have a mobile phone.
This sentence shows how to express not having a mobile phone using 電話.
Tatoeba #12112150 by thesilhouette, translation #10696155 by tokzyk
我唔記得咗你個電話號碼。
I forget your phone number.
This sentence demonstrates the use of 電話 in the context of a phone number.
Tatoeba #458814 by nickyeow, translation #16966 by Zifre
16 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are discussing how to contact a mutual friend.

子健 Tsz Kin

你記得電話畀我知呀。
nei5 gik1 dak1 din6 waa2 bei2 ngo5 zi1 aa3.
Remember to phone me and let me know.
曉彤 Hiu Tung

好，我今晚會電話你。
hou2, ngo5 gam1 maan5 wui5 din6 waa2 nei5.
Okay, I will phone you tonight.
子健 Tsz Kin

你而家方便電話佢嗎？
nei5 ji4 gaa3 fong1 bin6 din6 waa2 keoi5 maa1?
Is it convenient for you to phone him now?
曉彤 Hiu Tung

唔方便，遲啲先電話佢。
m4 fong1 bin6, ci4 di1 sin1 din6 waa2 keoi5.
It's not convenient, I'll phone him later.

Sources

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