La, Ga, Gae, Ah, Lor Sound in Cantonese
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How to use La, Ga, Gae, Ah, Lor sound in Cantonese
Cantonese speakers from Hong Kong often put some funny sound at the end of a sentence; for instance, la, ga, ah, gae, and lor. These are used to imply and emphasize certain emotions, doubts or urgency in a phrase. In the article, we are going to analyse the use of la, ga, ah, gae, and lor in Cantonese conversation.
I. Laa connotes insistence.
| English |
Cantonese |
Situation |
Pronunciation |
| Hurry up! |
Fai D laa1 |
In a hurry |
long sound la1, la like lava |
| Please let me help you |
Dung ngoh bong lei laa1! |
Insist on helping the other person |
long sound la1, la like lava |
| Ok, I got it |
duc laa1 |
You have understood fully, you don’t need any further explanation.- OR -You have promised someone to do something and you want that person to stop reminding you to do it. |
Long sound la1, la like lava |
| Please wait, it will be your turn soon |
Dung ha laa1 |
Urge someone to be patient |
long sound la, la like lava |
| Come over |
Guo lai laa1 |
Persuade someone to come near you |
long sound la, la like lava |
II. Ga connotes questions or doubts
| English |
Cantonese |
Situation |
Pronunciation |
| What is this? |
Meh-lei gaa1? |
Curious about an object or food that you don’t know. |
long sound ga, ga like garage |
| Is it for real? |
Hai-maei tzun gaa1? |
Ask if something is real or not. It could be for goods, bargain and promises. |
long sound ga, ga like garage |
| Do you really know it? |
Lei sic mh sic gaa1? |
Ask if the person really know what he/she is doing, talking or teaching. |
long sound ga, ga like garage |
| Why is it/he/she still not here? |
Dim-gai chung mei dou gaa1? |
Wondering why something/someone still hasn’t arrived yet |
long sound ga, ga like garage |
| Really? Seriously? |
Lei gong tzun gaa1? |
You are not sure if you can believe what has just been said |
long sound ga, ga like garage |
III. ah connotes uncetainty or exaggeration
| English |
Cantonese |
Situation |
Pronunciation |
| What’s the matter with you? |
Yau-mo gau chor ah3! |
Someone has done something that irritates you. |
ah is flat tone, like when you say “Argentina” = ah |
| I am full (very) |
Ho bao ah4! |
Emphasize the feeling of being full; can be used with other adjectives |
ah is flat tone, like when you say “Argentina” = ah |
| Can I? May I? |
Hor-mh-hor-yee ah3? |
Asking for permission to do something; ah connotes “please let me” |
ah is flat tone, like when you say “Argentina” = ah |
| What’s up? |
Dim ah3? |
Informal greetings among friends |
ah is flat tone, like when you say “Argentina” = ah |
IV. gae – used in a doubtful situation, or used as how come in a sentence
| English |
Cantonese |
Situation |
Pronunciation |
| How come it’s not working? |
Dim-gai mh duc gae2?Duc – it’s working/ functioning |
You are trying to work out sth but to no avail; gae – doubtful, how come |
Gae, rising tone |
| How come it doesn’t switch on? |
Mh cheut gae2?Cheut – switch on |
You are trying to switch on a piece of electric appliance but it doesn’t work |
Gae, rising tone |
| How come it’s disappeared? |
Mh geen tsor gae2? |
You say it when sth has disappeared. |
Gae, rising tone |
V. Lor – used to draw attention, demonstrate or reiterate
| English |
Cantonese |
Situation |
Pronunciation |
| This is how you do it. |
Gum-yeung chou lor1 |
Lor – demonstrate; you say it when you are showing sb how to do sth |
Lor – high tone, flat; like “Lora” - Lor |
| It’s really his/her fault. |
Hai kuei mh aam lor1 |
Lor – to reiterate; you say it when you want to emphasize it is his/her fault |
Lor – high tone, flat; like “Lora” - Lor |
| I have already paid! |
Maei bei chor lor3Bei – to pay or to give, be ichor – had just paid |
Lor – emphasize an action is completed. |
Lor – high tone, flat; like “Lora” - Lor |
| Being sick again! |
Yao baang chor lor3Yao – again;Baang - sick |
Lor – emphasize “again” |
Lor – high tone, flat; like “Lora” - Lor |
To conclude, I have laid out the general rules for the use of la, ga, gae, ah and lor that Cantonese speakers usually add at the end of a sentence. However, you will definitely be hearing a lot more of them as you interactive with Cantonese speakers or simply as you eavesdrop in the streets. Don't be shy to ask and find out what they imply.