All words ›Guangzhou
CityHow to pronounce “Guangzhou”
广州guǎng zhōu
Literally: broad prefecture.
❌ What English speakers usually say
“gwang-ZOO”
✅ What to say instead
GWAHNG-joh — low first syllable, flat high second
The shape of the word
Tap any syllable to hear it. The curve above each one is the tone you are aiming for.
Syllable by syllable
| Syllable | Tone | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| 广 guǎng | Third tone — low dip | guang — open drill → |
| 州 zhōu | First tone — high and flat | zhou — open drill → |
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce Guangzhou?
Guangzhou is 广州, guǎng zhōu — GWAHNG-joh — low first syllable, flat high second. Literally it means broad prefecture.
What is the most common mistake with Guangzhou?
“gwang-ZOO”
More words people mispronounce
Can you actually say it?
Reading a respelling is not the same as producing the tones. The free 2-minute check listens to you and shows which syllables land wrong.