Shanghainese
/ˌʃæŋ.haɪˈniːz/noun
Relating to Shanghai, its people, or the Wu Chinese variety traditionally spoken there.
Did you know?The verb “to shanghai,” meaning to abduct someone for forced labor at sea, became English slang in the nineteenth century, although such coercion was not limited to Shanghai.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
上
“Up, above, or upon”
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
海
“Sea”
Song Dynasty onward
Chinese
上海 (Shànghǎi)
“A place name traditionally interpreted as “upon the sea” or “on the sea””
19th Century
English
Shanghai
“The name of the Chinese port city; also the source of the verb meaning to force someone into maritime service”
Late 19th–20th Century
English
Shanghainese
“Formed from Shanghai plus the ethnolinguistic suffix -ese, meaning relating to Shanghai or its people”
Modern English
English
Shanghainese
“Relating to Shanghai, its inhabitants, or the local Wu Chinese language variety”
Explore more surprising origins