Save Type Political Subdivision & Settlement Usage English (Archaic), French, Italian Pronounced Pron. /ˌkæn.ˈtɒn/(English) /ˈkæn.ˌtɒn/(English) /kɑ̃.tɔ̃/(French) /kan.ˈtɔn/(Italian) [key·simplify] Meaning & History Derived from Portuguese Cantão, which was ultimately from Chinese 广东 (Guǎngdōng) (see Guangdong). Used for both the Chinese province of Guangdong and the city of Guangzhou, it is considered dated in English but still current in French and Italian.