Plural Pronouns with '哋'

01

Forming the Plural Pronouns

The structure is consistent for all three persons. You simply place 哋 (dei6deihdei6) immediately after the singular pronoun.

• First Person: 我 (ngo5ngóhngo5) "I" becomes 我哋 (ngo5·dei6ngóh·deihngo5·dei6) "we" or "us".
• Second Person: 你 (nei5néihnei5) "you" becomes 你哋 (nei5·dei6néih·deihnei5·dei6) "you (plural)" or "you guys".
• Third Person: 佢 (keoi5kéuihkoey5) "he/she/it" becomes 佢哋 (keoi5·dei6kéuih·deihkoey5·dei6) "they" or "them".

• 我哋係學生。

  ngo5·dei6 hai6 hok6·saang1.ngóh·deih haih hohk·sāang.ngo5·dei6 hai6 hok9·saang1.

  We are students.

• 你哋去邊度呀？

  nei5·dei6 heoi3 bin1·dou6 aa3?néih·deih heui bīn·douh a?nei5·dei6 hoey3 bin1·dou6 aa3?

  Where are you guys going?

• 佢哋唔識講廣東話。

  keoi5·dei6 m4 sik1 gong2 gwong2·dung1 waa2.kéuih·deih m̀h sīk góng gwóng·dūng wá.koey5·dei6 m4 sik7 gong2 gwong2·dung1 waa2.

  They do not know how to speak Cantonese.

02

Possessive Forms (Our, Your, Their)

Unlike English, which changes the word entirely to show possession (e.g., "we" becomes "our"), Cantonese maintains the plural pronoun and adds the possessive particle 嘅 (ge3gege3).

• 我哋嘅 (ngo5·dei6 ge3ngóh·deih gengo5·dei6 ge3) corresponds to "our".
• 你哋嘅 (nei5·dei6 ge3néih·deih genei5·dei6 ge3) corresponds to "your" (plural).
• 佢哋嘅 (keoi5·dei6 ge3kéuih·deih gekoey5·dei6 ge3) corresponds to "their".

• 呢個係我哋嘅秘密。

  ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5·dei6 ge3 bei3·mat6.nī go haih ngóh·deih ge bei·maht.ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5·dei6 ge3 bei3·mat9.

  This is our secret.

• 佢哋嘅老師好人。

  keoi5·dei6 ge3 lou5·si1 hou2·jan4.kéuih·deih ge lóuh·sī hóu·yàhn.koey5·dei6 ge3 lou5·si1 hou2·jan4.

  Their teacher is very kind.

03

Referring to "Others"

The suffix 哋 (dei6deihdei6) is also combined with the word for "person" or "people", 人 (jan4yàhnjan4), to form 人哋 (jan4·dei6yàhn·deihjan4·dei6). This is a very common term in Hong Kong used to mean "other people," "others," or simply someone else who is not part of the current conversation.

• 唔好嘈住人哋。

  m4 hou2·cou4 zyu6 jan4·dei6.m̀h hóu·chòuh jyuh yàhn·deih.m4 hou2·tsou4 dzy6 jan4·dei6.

  Don't disturb other people.

• 人哋會點諗？

  jan4·dei6 wui5 dim2 nam2?yàhn·deih wúih dím nám?jan4·dei6 wui5 dim2 nam2?

  What will others think?

04

Referring to Specific Groups

In colloquial speech, you may hear 哋 (dei6deihdei6) attached to a specific name or a title. This indicates that person and the group associated with them (such as their family, partner, or friends).

For example, saying "Mary 哋 (dei6deihdei6)" does not mean there are multiple Marys. It means "Mary and her group" or "Mary and the others."

• 爸爸哋幾時返嚟？

  baa4·baa1 dei6 gei2·si4 faan1·lai4?bàh·bā deih géi·sìh fāan·làih?baa4·baa1 dei6 gei2·si4 faan1·lai4?

  When are Dad and the others coming back?