Day 1 — How to Call Your Elders in Cantonese In most Cantonese families you do not just say “grandma”. The word changes depending on whose side of the family it is, and getting it right is one of the first things that makes you sound like family. 爸爸 baa4 baa1 — dad ｜ 媽媽 maa4 maa1 — mum 爺爺 je4 je4 — grandpa (father’s side) ｜ 嫲嫲 maa4 maa4 — grandma (father’s side) 阿公 aa3 gung1 — grandpa (mother’s side) ｜ 阿婆 aa3 po4 — grandma (mother’s side) One more thing: 阿婆 is also what you call any elderly woman you meet on the street. It is warm, not rude. Question: in your family, which side speaks Cantonese — the 阿公阿婆 side or the 嫲嫲爺爺 side? Tell me below.