Gwai Lo
/ˈɡwaɪ loʊ/noun
A Cantonese term, sometimes derogatory or jocular, traditionally referring to a white or Western foreigner.
Did you know?The term is commonly written 鬼佬 in Cantonese: 鬼 means “ghost” or “spirit,” while 佬 means “man” or “fellow.”
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Modern Chinese
Chinese
鬼
“Ghost, spirit, or demon”
Pre-Modern Cantonese
Cantonese
佬
“Man, fellow, or male person; also associated with an older man in related usage”
19th Century
Cantonese
鬼佬 (gwái lóuh)
“Literally “ghost man,” a term used for white foreigners in southern China”
19th–20th Century
Cantonese English
gwai lo / gweilo
“A Cantonese loanword referring to a white or Western foreigner”
Modern English
English
gweilo / gwai lo
“A Cantonese-derived term whose offensiveness depends on context, speaker, and community”