Wu

The word “Wu” means a group of closely related Chinese language varieties spoken around the lower Yangtze River, including Shanghainese; the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin. In plain terms, most often encountered as a Chinese surname or the name of the Wu language family.

“Wu” is pronounced WOO (/ˈwuː/ in IPA).

Here is “Wu” used in a sentence: “Her grandparents speak Wu at home, though she answers them in Mandarin.”

Words with a similar meaning to “Wu” include Gusu, Helu City, Suzhou, Woo, Wu Chinese and Jiangnan.

Depending on how it is used, “Wu” can be a name and a noun.

The word “Wu” comes from Chinese. A romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of the Chinese character 吳/吴, tied historically to the Wu region and its ancient kingdoms.

“Wu” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Wu” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of closely related Chinese language varieties spoken around the lower Yangtze River, including Shanghainese; the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin.

No, Wu is a separate group of Chinese language varieties, distinct from Mandarin, spoken around the lower Yangtze River including Shanghai. It is the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin, and speakers of Wu and Mandarin generally cannot understand each other without study.

Shanghainese is one specific dialect within the broader Wu language family. Wu covers a wider range of related varieties spoken across the lower Yangtze region, of which Shanghainese is the best known.

No, Wu can also refer to a common Chinese surname or, in traditional Chinese religion, to a shaman. Context determines which meaning applies.