The phrase Gwóngdng wá refers to the Chinese language as spoken in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as by Cantonese immigrants living in other countries. People in Guangdong, on the other hand, refer to their language as Yuht Yh.The word Gwóngdng wá is thought to have developed in the early twentieth century, when Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong and Macau began to use it to distinguish their language from other Chinese dialects.
Outside of Guangdong, the name soon gained popularity among Cantonese speakers and is today the most often used term for Cantonese.Despite its widespread use, Gwóngdng wá is not without dispute. Some argue that the name maintains the separation between Cantonese and other Chinese dialects and should be replaced with a more inclusive term such as Yuht Yh.