How to Say “Taro” in Cantonese

By Leonard Clinton • Updated October 5, 2026

芋頭 / 芋头

The Cantonese word for taro is 芋頭 / 芋头.

The word refers to the edible plant Colocasia esculenta.

Meaning: Colocasia esculenta (noun)

Which one should you use?

While 芋頭 / 芋头 refers to the taro itself, the term 芋苗 is used specifically to refer to the shoots or young plants of the taro plant.

Did you know?

During certain festivals, the word 芋頭 may appear in Cantonese wordplay or fortune-telling contexts because of its phonetic similarity to auspicious terms.
The character 頭 in 芋頭 literally means 'head', which is a common way in Cantonese to refer to the bulbous part of a root vegetable.
In Hong Kong, taro is the star of 芋泥, a smooth purple mash that is often served as a dessert or a filling for traditional cakes.

Examples in context

嗯，好鐘意食芋頭。
Hmm, I really like eating taro.

Sources

Wiktionary, “taro” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.

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About The Author

Leonard Clinton

Hello, I am Leonard! As an author, I'm fascinated by language, especially Cantonese. In my spare time, you can find me creating new recipes with ingredients like cabbage, eggplant, and chicken feet (yes, you read that right), as I'm also an enthusiastic cook. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, and my dream is to visit every American national park - or as I like to say in Cantonese, 'mei gwok'! From Cantonese greetings to medical terminology, I live to bridge the gap between cultures and create understanding. ‘M goi,’ thank you for reading my posts!

Leonard ClintonHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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