火雞 / 火鸡
fo² gai¹
The Cantonese word for turkey is 火雞 / 火鸡 (fo² gai¹).
The term refers to the bird in the genus Meleagris.
Meaning: bird in the genus Meleagris (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 火雞 / 火鸡 literally translates to 'fire chicken'.
Which one should you use?
When referring to the country Turkey, use 土耳其, which is a phonetic transliteration. This is distinct from 火雞 / 火鸡, which refers specifically to the bird.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Guangzhou dialect, the term used is 火雞 / 火鸡.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
fo² gai¹
Did you know?
- In Cantonese culture, the word 雞 is often used as a slang term for a prostitute, so context is vital when discussing 火雞 in adult settings.
- The character 火 is used in several Cantonese names for red-colored animals or objects, treating the color red and the element of fire as visually interchangeable.
- The 火雞 is considered a 'heaty' food in traditional Cantonese medicine, meaning it is believed to increase the body's internal temperature.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turkey” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
