'Cantonese' originates from 'Canton', the former English name for Guangzhou, combined with the suffix '-ese', which denotes language or nationality.

'Canton' was used in English to refer to the city of Guangzhou, and the term 'Cantonese' was formed to describe the language and people associated with the region.

Initially, it referred to the people of Canton, but it evolved to also denote the language spoken in the region.