(historical) branch of administration in the feudal court (of which there are two types: the civil administrators and the martial office holders)
group (of people doing the same work); band; board; squad; committee
shift; work period
(only in compounds) time period; section of the day
(dated) (college-level) subject; (academic) department
orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata)
(medicine) rash
(Central Vietnam) ball
(colloquial) Alternative form of pan

verb

(archaic) to confer on; to bestow
(archaic) to announce; to herald; to proclaim

ban công

ban công
noun

balcony

bang

bang
noun

(Vietnam) state (a political division of a federation)
(historical) community of overseas Chinese in French Indochina who emigrated from the same province of China
Short for bang tá (“assistant district chief”).
Short for bang biện (“assistant district chief”).

verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to crash into; to collide with; to hit

banh

banh
noun

(Southern Vietnam) ball

adj

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) broken into smithereens; ruined; tattered

verb

to open
to expose
to reveal, to disclose, to lay bare

bao

bao
noun

bag; sack; pack
box; packet

verb

to enclose; to envelope; to cover
to guarantee; to assure
to take on everything; to undertake (the whole of) something as someone's proxy
to treat; to pay (for someone else); to foot the bill; to cover (someone else); to stand

det

(literary) so many

bao báp

bao báp
noun

baobab

bao cao su

bao cao su
noun

a condom

bao kiếm

bao kiếm
noun

scabbard

bao tay

bao tay
noun

(Southern Vietnam) glove

bao tử

bao tử
noun

(anatomy, Central Vietnam and Southern Vietnam) stomach

bay

bay
verb

to fly (travel through the air)
to flutter (flap or wave quickly but irregularly)
to fly (travel very fast)
to fade away

adv

with ease; in a fast-paced manner

noun

trowel

pron

(informal) you (second-person plural)

bi-đông

bi-đông
noun

(cycling) bidon
(military) canteen of water

bia

bia
noun

beer
tombstone; gravestone; stele; monument
(by extension) target (for shooting); bullseye

biệt thự

biệt thự
noun

villa

bo bo

bo bo
noun

Job's tears

bom

bom
noun

bomb
(dialectal) apple

bong bóng

bong bóng
noun

a bubble
a balloon
(of an animal) urinary bladder
(of a fish) a swim bladder

boong

boong
noun

deck (of a ship or boat)
bong (water pipe used to smoke cannabis)

adj

onomatopoeia for a bell-like resounding sound

bu
noun

a cage (often dome-shaped and used for chickens)
(rare) mom; mother

verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to assemble, to gather into one place

buồi

buồi
noun

(slang, vulgar) a dick; a cock

buồm

buồm
noun

sail

bàn

bàn
noun

table; desk; board

classifier

Used for games.

verb

to discuss; to talk over

bàn chà

bàn chà
noun

a nailbrush

bàn chải

bàn chải
noun

a handheld brush for cleaning, especially a toothbrush

bàn là

bàn là
noun

clothes iron

bàn toạ

bàn toạ
noun

seat
(by extension, euphemistic) the buttocks

bàn ủi

bàn ủi
noun

clothes iron

bàng

bàng
noun

the Malabar almond (Terminalia catappa)
grey sedge (Lepironia articulata)

bào

bào
verb

to plane

noun

a plane
Only used in áo bào.
(only in compounds) cover; sack; wrapping
(only in compounds) womb

bàu

bàu
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) pond, pool

bá bệnh

bá bệnh
noun

long jack (a shrub of the species Eurycoma longifolia in the family Simaroubaceae)

bách

bách
num

(only in compounds) hundred

noun

cypress, cypress tree
(obsolete) small boat

verb

(only in compounds) to compel, to force, to constrain

báng

báng
noun

(botany) a sugar palm tree of the species Arenga pinnata
(medicine) ascites
a gunstock; shoulder stock; butt (of a gun)

bánh bao

bánh bao
noun

steamed bun, often filled with meat and eggs
baozi; steamed dumpling

bánh cam

bánh cam
noun

A deep-fried glutinous rice ball in southern Vietnamese cuisine, filled with mung bean paste and coated with sesame seeds.

bánh dày

bánh dày
noun

Millettia pinnata (a species of tree in the pea family, native in tropical and temperate Asia)

bánh giầy

bánh giầy
noun

A white, flat, round cake in traditional Vietnamese cuisine, made of glutinous rice and wrapped in banana leaves.
Lonchocarpus sericeus (a species of tree in the pea family)

bánh kếp

bánh kếp
noun

(dessert) pancake
crêpe

bánh mì

bánh mì
noun

bread, especially Saigon-style short baguettes with filling

bánh rán

bánh rán
noun

A deep-fried glutinous rice ball in northern Vietnamese cuisine, filled with mung bean paste, scented with jasmine flower essence, and doused in syrup.
dorayaki

bánh tây

bánh tây
noun

(dated, Northern Vietnam) bread, particularly French bread such as baguettes
(dated, Northern Vietnam, by extension) sandwich

bánh xèo

bánh xèo
noun

bánh xèo

bát

bát
num

(only in compounds) eight

noun

(Northern Vietnam) a small bowl that can be held in one hand, chiefly used for eating rice

bát ô-tô

bát ô-tô
noun

(Northern Vietnam) a large bowl, "large" only in comparison to the small bát/chén/đọi in East Asia, but actually regular-sized elsewhere, usually used to contain more food than a small portion of rice for a person

bè

bè
noun

(nautical) a raft (flat, floating structure)
(only in compounds or fixed expressions, usually disapproving) a group of cohorts

bèo

bèo
noun

duckweed

adj

(slang) cheap, low quality

bèo tây

bèo tây
noun

(Northern Vietnam, Central Vietnam) water hyacinth

bìm bìm

bìm bìm
noun

(botany) a plant of the family Convolvulaceae (especially bindweed or morning glory)

bìm nắp

bìm nắp
noun

(botany) turpeth; St. Thomas lidpod (plant of the species Operculina turpethum)

bình

bình
noun

vase
pot
vessel, container

verb

(literary) to declaim, to recite

adj

(only in compounds) level, plain, smooth

bình bát

bình bát
noun

custard apple (Annona reticulata)

bí

bí
noun

pumpkin
other plants in the Cucurbitaceae family

adj

(only in compounds) mysterious, secret, unknown

verb

(informal or slang) to not know

bí ngòi

bí ngòi
noun

zucchini

bí đao

bí đao
noun

winter melon (Benincasa hispida)

bí đỏ

bí đỏ
noun

pumpkin

bít tất

bít tất
noun

(Northern Vietnam) sock (covering for the foot)
(by extension) stocking

bòn bon

bòn bon
noun

(Southern Vietnam) langsat (Lansium parasiticum)

bòng bong

bòng bong
noun

(botany) a climbing fern of the species Lygodium flexuosum
(botany, by extension) any climbing fern (of the genus Lygodium)
split bamboo fibers; bamboo shavings
(figuratively) a mess; jumble

bòng bòng

bòng bòng
noun

Calotropis
(Thanh Hoá) wax apple (Syzygium samarangense)

bó

bó
verb

to pack, press

noun

pack, bundle

bóng

bóng
noun

a ball
shadow
reflection
shade

adj

shiny
(slang, offensive) homosexual

bóng bay

bóng bay
noun

a balloon

bóng bàn

bóng bàn
noun

table tennis; ping pong
ping pong ball

bóng chuyền

bóng chuyền
noun

volleyball (the sport)
a volleyball

bóng nước

bóng nước
noun

(sports) water polo
garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina)

bóp

bóp
verb

to press (with hands)
to crush (with fingers)

noun

(Southern Vietnam) wallet (containing money, documents, etc.)

bô

bô
noun

a potty (children's chamberpot)

bôm

bôm
noun

(regional) apple
a plant-derived tar

bông cải xanh

bông cải xanh
noun

broccoli

bông giấy

bông giấy
noun

(botany) bougainvillea

bông gòn

bông gòn
noun

ceiba
cotton pad

bùa

bùa
noun

charm; amulet
(wicca) spell

bùi

bùi
adj

(of a flavor) delicious and fattish, as with peanuts or chestnuts; nutty

noun

(dialectal) Canarium.

bùng binh

bùng binh
noun

roundabout; traffic circle

búa

búa
noun

a hammer

búa khoan

búa khoan
noun

jackhammer

búi

búi
noun

tuft

verb

to make a tuft

bút

bút
noun

any piece of equipment used for writing with one's hand, except chalk
(figuratively) someone who writes for a living, such as a professional writer, editorialist or journalist

bút bi

bút bi
noun

a ballpoint pen

bút chì

bút chì
noun

a pencil (graphite writing-instrument)

bút chì bấm

bút chì bấm
noun

mechanical pencil

bút chì kim

bút chì kim
noun

a mechanical pencil

bút lông

bút lông
noun

(calligraphy) an inkbrush
(by extension) a brush pen
(by extension) a marker pen

bút máy

bút máy
noun

fountain pen

bút mực

bút mực
noun

pen (for writing)

bút nguyên tử

bút nguyên tử
noun

a ballpoint pen

bơ

bơ
noun

butter
avocado

verb

(colloquial) to ignore

bơm

bơm
noun

pump (device for moving liquid or gas)

verb

to pump
used in bơm cho "to transfer money" (slang)

bướu

bướu
noun

(anatomy) gizzard
(pathology) goiter; goitre
(of a camel) hump

bưởi

bưởi
noun

a pomelo
(anatomy, euphemistic, humorous, of a woman) a boob; a jug

bưởi chùm

bưởi chùm
noun

grapefruit

bạc hà

bạc hà
noun

mint
(Southern Vietnam) Colocasia gigantea

bạch chỉ

bạch chỉ
noun

(botany) Dahurian angelica (a flowering medicinal herb of the species Angelica dahurica)
(Buddhism) a state of mental clarity

bạch dương

bạch dương
noun

(botany) birch
white poplar

bạch đàn

bạch đàn
noun

(botany) Eucalyptus

bản lề

bản lề
noun

a hinge (device for the pivoting of a door)

bản tin

bản tin
noun

news (report on current events)
newsletter

bảo kiếm

bảo kiếm
noun

precious sword

bấc

bấc
noun

(botany) soft rush, Juncus effusus
wick

bấm

bấm
noun

a nail clipper
a stapler (device which binds paper)

verb

to press; to poke (especially using one's fingers)
to clip (nails)
to staple
to pinch; to clench

bầu

bầu
noun

Lagenaria siceraria (calabash vine, bottle gourd)
(by extension) Any plant of genus Lagenaria
Various varieties of Oryza sativa rice that are usually planted as lúa Chiêm in deep paddies, and are relatively colorful, rather strong, and can be planted in paddies high in alum, for red rice or low-quality rice.
gourd (hard-shelled fruit from a plant in Lagenaria)
gourd (dried and hardened shell of a gourd fruit)
(botany) ovary (lower part of a pistil or carpel that bears ovules)
(horticulture) rootball
(nautical) bulbous bow; bulbous stern
bosom (seat of one's inner thoughts, feelings, etc.)
(dialectal) womb; baby bump
a space of something
pregnancy

adj

pregnant
(used in compounds) bulging, plump

verb

to be pregnant
to vote
to elect

bầu hồ lô

bầu hồ lô
noun

(botany) a bottle gourd; calabash (of the species Lagenaria siceraria)

bầu sao

bầu sao
noun

(botany) a mottled bottle gourd; long opo squash (a kind of gourd that tends to have light spots)

bẫy

bẫy
noun

trap, snare, pitfall

bẫy chuột

bẫy chuột
noun

mousetrap

bẫy mìn

bẫy mìn
noun

booby trap

bật lửa

bật lửa
noun

(Northern Vietnam, Central Vietnam) lighter

bắp

bắp
noun

(of a banana plant) a blossom
(by extension) muscle
(by extension, Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) maize, corn
(colloquial) popcorn

bẹ

bẹ
noun

(botany) sheath
(dialectal) corn, maize

bể

bể
noun

(archaic in standard Vietnamese, dialectal in Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh) sea, ocean
some small water bodies, reserves or containers; a lake, a pool, a water reserve, a water tank, etc.

verb

to break, to be broken

adj

broken

bỉm

bỉm
noun

paper diaper

bịch

bịch
verb

(vulgar) to hit hard

adj

(onomatopoeia) a thudding noise from a heavy object flopping over

noun

cylindrical bamboo tank; basket
(Southern Vietnam) pack; packet

bọ chó

bọ chó
noun

(colloquial) a parasitic bug that feeds on dogs (such as a flea or tick)
(botany) a flowering plant of the genus Buddleja

bọc

bọc
noun

bundle
amniotic sac, womb

verb

to cover
to enclose, to surround

bồ

bồ
noun

(colloquial) boyfriend; girlfriend; date; romantic partner
bamboo basket

pron

(colloquial) you, my pal/mate/buddy

prefix

(non-productive) used to form birds' names

bồ công anh

bồ công anh
noun

dandelion

bồ kết

bồ kết
noun

locust tree

bồn

bồn
noun

a wall-affixed basin or counter-affixed kitchen sink; compare thau (“portable basin”)
Short for bồn cầu (“toilet”).
Short for bồn tắm (“bathtub”).

bồn binh

bồn binh
noun

roundabout; traffic circle

bộ gõ

bộ gõ
noun

(music) percussion instrument
(computing) input method (program that facilitates the input of foreign scripts)

bộ nhớ đệm

bộ nhớ đệm
noun

(computing) buffer (portion of memory set aside to store data)
(computing) cache (fast temporary storage)

bội

bội
noun

Clipping of bội số (“multiple”).
chicken cage

bớt

bớt
noun

birthmark

verb

to diminish, to cut down, to decrease, to reduce

bờm

bờm
noun

(of an equid, lion or cheetah) a mane
a headband

adj

(colloquial, humorous) silly and lacking in common sense

bụng

bụng
noun

belly
(figuratively) personality
(figuratively) inner feelings, inner thoughts

bừa

bừa
noun

rake; harrow

verb

to rake; to harrow

adj

helter-skelter; topsy-turvy
rash; random; reckless

ca
noun

mug (cup)
mug (about 1/4 liter)
(literary, in compounds) a song
(medicine) case
shift (change of workers)
The name of the Latin-script letter K.

verb

(colloquial in Southern Vietnam, somewhat literary in other dialects) to sing
(colloquial, ironic) to praise
(colloquial) to scold

ca nô

ca nô
noun

(nautical) a speedboat

cacbon

cacbon
noun

carbon

cam

cam
noun

orange, such as or citrus sinensis sinensis or citrus aurantium
Short for cam sành (“Citrus reticulata × sinensis”).

adj

made of oranges
(màu ~) of the colour orange

cam thảo

cam thảo
noun

licorice

can

can
noun

(alternative medicine) liver
Short for Thiên Can (“celestial stem”).
walking stick

verb

to concern; to apply to
to be involved (in); to be implicated (in)
to dissuade (someone from doing something); to intervene
to join; to unite; to sew together
to trace (through translucent paper), to do tracing

canh ki na

canh ki na
noun

cinchona

cao lương

cao lương
noun

(agriculture) sorghum
(only in compounds) rich food

cau

cau
noun

areca

verb

to frown

chai

chai
noun

a bottle
(slang) one million dongs

adj

(of skin) callous

chanh

chanh
noun

lime

chanh dây

chanh dây
noun

(Southern Vietnam) passion fruit

chanh leo

chanh leo
noun

(Northern Vietnam) passion fruit

chanh tây

chanh tây
noun

lemon

chay

chay
noun

Artocarpus tonkinensis A Cheval (a tree in the mulberry family)

adj

vegan

adv

(colloquial) in an ordinary, even lackluster, way; without special aids or equipment

chiếu

chiếu
noun

a sown mat made of straw strands or bamboo pieces
seat; rank
(history) imperial order

verb

to emit light onto a surface; to light up, to shine, to project onto, etc.
(by extension) to display a movie in a theater, by projection or otherwise
(by extension, geometry) to project
(chess, xiangqi) to check

chiều tím

chiều tím
noun

(botany) a Mexican bluebell; Mexican petunia (flower of the species Ruellia simplex)

chong chóng

chong chóng
noun

a pinwheel
(by extension) a propeller
(by extension) a wind turbine

chum

chum
noun

a kind of vase used to contain water

chung

chung
adj

general; common; public

verb

(in compounds) to end; to finish

noun

small handleless cup (usually for drinking alcohol)

chuông

chuông
noun

(music) a bell
(by extension) the alarm sound of a timepiece or the ringtone of a telephone

chuối

chuối
noun

banana
(slang) penis

adj

(slang, Northern Vietnam) cringeworthy; cringy

chuỳ

chuỳ
noun

spiked club

chà là

chà là
noun

date (fruit of the date palm)

chài

chài
noun

a cast net; casting net; throw net
(by extension) fishery with cast nets

chàng

chàng
noun

(chiefly fiction, endearing) an admirable/lovable young/young adult man
chisel

pron

(archaic, now literary, chiefly fiction, women's speech, endearing) you, my beloved man
(narratology, literary, endearing) he/him, that admirable or lovable young man
(literary, usually humorous, endearing) he/him, my male romantic partner

chày

chày
noun

a pestle (instrument used with a mortar to grind things)
(by extension, baseball, softball) a bat

chân chống

chân chống
noun

a kickstand (levered bar of a bicycle or motorcycle)

chèo

chèo
noun

either an oar or a paddle
chèo (traditional Vietnamese opera)

verb

either to oar or to paddle

ché

ché
noun

big-bellied jar

chén

chén
noun

a small handleless porcelain cup that can be held with three fingers for drinking rice alcohol or tea, similar to a small shot glass
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) a small bowl that can be held in one hand, chiefly used for eating rice

verb

(informal, colloquial) to eat

chìa vôi

chìa vôi
noun

a tool for spreading lime (on a betel leaf)
(zoology) a wagtail (bird of the genus Motacilla)
(zoology, by extension) any bird of the family Motacillidae
(botany) turpeth; St. Thomas lidpod (plant of the species Operculina turpethum)

chò

chò
noun

a three-legged device for raising plates on the altar
(botany) a tree in the genus Parashorea

chò chỉ

chò chỉ
noun

(botany) a tree of the species Parashorea chinensis

chòi

chòi
noun

a hut; shack; shed

verb

to knock down; to pick out; to dislodge (especially with a long tool)
to emerge; to protrude; to come out

chòi mòi

chòi mòi
noun

(botany) a shrub of the species Antidesma ghaesembilla

chòng

chòng
verb

to tease; to bother (especially playfully)

chôm chôm

chôm chôm
noun

(archaic or probably obsolete) sponge
rambutan
(slang) HIV

chõ

chõ
noun

(cooking) a steam boiler (often for sticky rice); steamer

verb

(colloquial) to face; to turn toward; to direct (one's mouth) to
(figuratively) to butt in; to meddle; to poke one's nose into

chùa

chùa
noun

Buddhist monastery; temple; pagoda

adj

(colloquial, informal) free, uncharged
(colloquial, informal) pirate (unlicensed)

adv

(colloquial, informal) for free, without charge

chùm bao

chùm bao
noun

wild maracuja (Passiflora foetida)

chùm ruột

chùm ruột
noun

Malay gooseberry (Phyllanthus acidus)

chăn

chăn
verb

to shepherd; to lead and guard free-range livestock animals
to nurture; to foster; to raise

noun

(Northern Vietnam) a blanket or a duvet

chĩa

chĩa
noun

a pitchfork
a harpoon; pike (especially for fishing)

verb

to point (at); to aim (at) (with a weapon)
to stab with a pitchfork or a harpoon

chĩa ba

chĩa ba
noun

a pitchfork (typically with three prongs)

chũm choẹ

chũm choẹ
noun

cymbal

chảo

chảo
noun

a pan-like item of cookware; a pan, a wok, etc.
a dish (type of antenna)

chậu

chậu
noun

basin (for water); pot; vessel
Short for xương chậu (“pelvis”).
(neologism, figuratively, slang) lover; sweetheart; boyfriend or girlfriend

chặn giấy

chặn giấy
noun

a paperweight

chỉ thiên

chỉ thiên
noun

(botany) Elephant’s foot (flowers of the genus Elephantopus)

adv

skyward; upward

chổi

chổi
noun

broom

chợ xổm

chợ xổm
noun

an outdoor public market characterized by vendors selling produce while squatting on the ground; a squatting market

chụt

chụt
noun

smack (a loud kiss; a quick, sharp noise when separating the lips)

adv

smackingly

cung

cung
noun

a palace
(astrology) a sign
the first note in the classic pentatonic scale.
(archery) bow
(geometry) arc
(economics) supply

cuốc

cuốc
noun

swamphen
hoe
errand

verb

to hoe

cuống

cuống
noun

petiole
cord connecting organs or tissue

adj

clumsy due to haste, panic, or other great emotion

cà

cà
noun

nightshade

verb

to rub

prefix

repetitive prefix used for some verbs

cà chua

cà chua
noun

tomato

cà dái dê

cà dái dê
noun

eggplant

cà kheo

cà kheo
noun

a stilt (walking pole)

cà pháo

cà pháo
noun

African eggplant, Solanum macrocarpon

cà tím

cà tím
noun

eggplant

cà vạt

cà vạt
noun

a necktie

cày

cày
noun

plough

verb

to plough
(figuratively) to toil

cá

cá
noun

a fish (vertebrate animal)

verb

(colloquial) to bet

cá ba đuôi

cá ba đuôi
noun

goldfish

cá biệt

cá biệt
adj

particular; unique; individual

adv

particularly; uniquely

cá bơn

cá bơn
noun

(zoology) flatfish; sole

cá bống

cá bống
noun

(zoology) goby

cá bột

cá bột
noun

juvenile fish, fry

cá chiên

cá chiên
noun

(zoology) a devil catfish; dwarf goonch (of the species Bagarius bagarius)

cá chuối

cá chuối
noun

(dialectal, Northern Vietnam, zoology) snakehead

cá chuồn

cá chuồn
noun

a flying fish

cá cháy

cá cháy
noun

a fish from the genus Tenualosa (in the family Clupeidae)

cá chép

cá chép
noun

carp

cá chét

cá chét
noun

a fourfinger threadfin (of the species Eleutheronema tetradactylum)

cá chình

cá chình
noun

cá chạch

cá chạch
noun

a loach (fish of the superfamily Cobitoidea)

cá cóc

cá cóc
noun

(zoology) salamander

cá cóc Tam Đảo

cá cóc Tam Đảo
noun

Tam Dao salamander

cá cơm

cá cơm
noun

anchovy

cá cờ

cá cờ
noun

(zoology) paradisefish

cá diêu hồng

cá diêu hồng
noun

(Northern Vietnam) red tilapia

cá giếc

cá giếc
noun

a crucian carp

cá heo

cá heo
noun

a dolphin
a dophin-like cetacean (such as the porpoise)

cá hẻn

cá hẻn
noun

(North Central Vietnam) airbreathing catfish

cá hồi

cá hồi
noun

a salmon (fish)

cá hồng

cá hồng
noun

a red snapper

cá hổ kình

cá hổ kình
noun

killer whale

cá kho tộ

cá kho tộ
noun

Vietnamese braised and caramelised catfish (a southern Vietnamese dish)

cá kiếm

cá kiếm
noun

swordfish

cá kèo

cá kèo
noun

Pseudapocryptes elongatus

cá kình

cá kình
noun

(obsolete) whale
killer whale
(dialectal) a species of fish found in Hue, Vietnam

cá linh

cá linh
noun

fish in the genus Henicorhynchus

cá lòng tong

cá lòng tong
noun

certain small fishes in Cyprinidae, particularly those in the genus Luciosoma

cá lóc

cá lóc
noun

(Southern Vietnam, zoology) snakehead

cá lăng

cá lăng
noun

(zoology) bagrid catfish, naked catfish (especially species present in Vietnam)

cá mang rổ

cá mang rổ
noun

(zoology) archerfish

cá mè

cá mè
noun

(zoology) barb

cá mè một lứa

cá mè một lứa
phrase

two peas in a pod

cá mòi

cá mòi
noun

(zoology) a sardine; pilchard (small oily fish of the family Clupeidae)

cá mú

cá mú
noun

grouper

cá măng

cá măng
noun

Elopichthys bambusa
certain species in the genus Ecox

cá mập

cá mập
noun

(zoology) shark (especially the bigger species)

cá mặt trăng

cá mặt trăng
noun

an ocean sunfish (Mola mola).

cá ngát

cá ngát
noun

eeltail catfish

cá ngừ

cá ngừ
noun

tuna

cá ngừ đại dương

cá ngừ đại dương
noun

tuna

cá ngựa

cá ngựa
noun

a sea horse (fish)
Short for cờ cá ngựa.

cá nheo

cá nheo
noun

a silurid

cá nhà táng

cá nhà táng
noun

sperm whale

cá nhám

cá nhám
noun

shark (especially the smaller species)

cá nhân

cá nhân
adj

individual, personal

noun

individual; person

cá nhồng

cá nhồng
noun

(zoology) barracuda

cá nóc

cá nóc
noun

most members in the Tetraodontiformes order
the Tetraodontiformes order

cá nược

cá nược
noun

Irrawaddy dolphin

cá phổi

cá phổi
noun

lungfish

cá quả

cá quả
noun

(dialectal, Northern Vietnam, zoology) snakehead

cá rô

cá rô
noun

(zoology) climbing perch

cá rô phi

cá rô phi
noun

tilapia

cá rô đồng

cá rô đồng
noun

(zoology) climbing perch (Anabas testudineus)

cá răng đao

cá răng đao
noun

piranha

cá sấu

cá sấu
noun

crocodile
(by extension) crocodilian
(figuratively, slang, a play on sấu ~ xấu (“ugly”)) ugly person

cá sặc

cá sặc
noun

(zoology) gourami

cá sộp

cá sộp
noun

(Northern Vietnam, zoology) snakehead

cá tai tượng

cá tai tượng
noun

(zoology) giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy)

cá thu

cá thu
noun

(zoology) mackerel

cá thát lát

cá thát lát
noun

bronze featherback

cá thính

cá thính
noun

(cooking) a pickled/salted fish dish

cá thể

cá thể
noun

individual

cá tra

cá tra
noun

(Southern Vietnam, zoology) iridescent shark, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
generic name for any species in the Pangasiidae family

cá tràu

cá tràu
noun

(North Central Vietnam, zoology) snakehead

cá trê

cá trê
noun

(zoology) airbreathing catfish

cá trích

cá trích
noun

(zoology) herring

cá trắm

cá trắm
noun

(zoology) grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
(zoology) black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)

cá trắm cỏ

cá trắm cỏ
noun

grass carp

cá trứng

cá trứng
noun

(zoology) capelin, Mallotus villosus (a type of smelt found in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans)

cá tính

cá tính
noun

one's own personality; individuality

cá tầm

cá tầm
noun

(zoology) sturgeon

cá voi

cá voi
noun

whale

cá voi sát thủ

cá voi sát thủ
noun

a killer whale

cá vàng

cá vàng
noun

goldfish

cá ông

cá ông
noun

(Central Vietnam or as an object of worship) whale

cá đao

cá đao
noun

swordfish

cá điêu hồng

cá điêu hồng
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) red tilapia

cá đuối

cá đuối
noun

(zoology) a ray; batoid (fish of the superorder Batoidea)

cá đù

cá đù
noun

croaker, drumfish

cá đối

cá đối
noun

(zoology) a mullet

cá độ

cá độ
verb

(especially sports) to bet or gamble

các

các
det

Plural marker

noun

(dated) cell phone's card

verb

to pay the difference, to give in compensation

các hạ

các hạ
pron

(Chinese fiction, honorific) you

các kiểu

các kiểu
phrase

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see các, kiểu.

adv

(informal) in all kinds of ways

các tông

các tông
noun

cardboard

các-ten

các-ten
noun

(communism, Leninism, economics, business, capitalism) a cartel

cách

cách
noun

way, manner, fashion
(grammar, linguistics) grammatical case

prefix

(in certain expression, often literary) Forming intensifiers preceding certain particles and quantifiers
non-conductive or -proof

verb

to be distant from, to be separated from
(only in compounds) to change, to reform

cách biệt

cách biệt
verb

to separate; cut off
to be distant

cách chức

cách chức
verb

to dismiss; oust; fire; remove from office

cách cách

cách cách
noun

(Chinese fiction) the title of a Manchu Qing princess

cách li

cách li
verb

(especially healthcare) to isolate
(especially healthcare) to quarantine

cách mạng

cách mạng
noun

revolution

cách mệnh

cách mệnh
noun

(Northern Vietnam, dated) revolution

cách ngôn

cách ngôn
noun

an aphorism; maxim; adage

cách quãng

cách quãng
adj

intermittent; recurrent; by intervals

cách thức

cách thức
noun

a manner; way of doing

cách trở

cách trở
verb

to separate and obstruct; divide and preclude reunion
to be kept apart

cách tân

cách tân
verb

to renovate

cách điện

cách điện
verb

to insulate from electricity

cách điệu

cách điệu
verb

to stylize

cách đây

cách đây
adv

cái

cái
classifier

Indicates an inanimate, tangible thing
Precedes another classifier (any one but “cái” itself), effectively acting as a focus marker, sometimes conveying a connotation of deprecation, especially if persons are referred to.

noun

(only in compounds) a thing; a whatsit
the solid bits of a broth
(archaic) mother

adj

(of a non-human and non-avian species of animal or plant or their reproductive organs) female
(now chiefly in compounds) big, large, main

prefix

(Northern Vietnam) Title affixed to rural young girls' names.

cái gai trong mắt

cái gai trong mắt
noun

(figuratively) thorn in the flesh; thorn in one's side

cái ghẻ

cái ghẻ
noun

itch mite

cái gì

cái gì
pron

something

intj

what?
what the heck!

cái gọi là

cái gọi là
phrase

(literally) that which is called...
(usually derogatory) the so-called...

cái ngàn vàng

cái ngàn vàng
noun

(literary, of a woman) virginity

cái này

cái này
pron

this

cái này là gì

cái này là gì
phrase

what is this?

cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp

cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp
proverb

(literally) good personality can beat beauty to death
(figuratively) good personality is way more important than outer beauty

cái răng cái tóc là góc con người

cái răng cái tóc là góc con người
phrase

(literally) teeth and headhair are the human figure
teeth and head hair are the most important when it comes to appearance

cái tôi

cái tôi
noun

an ego

cám

cám
noun

bran
pig slop; pigswill; hogwash

verb

to be moved with compassion; to feel pity

cám cảnh

cám cảnh
verb

to feel compassion for, to pity

cám dỗ

cám dỗ
verb

to seduce, lure

noun

temptation, lure

cám hấp

cám hấp
adj

(vulgar) cracked; crackbrained; potty

cám ơn

cám ơn
verb

to thank

cám ơn rất nhiều

cám ơn rất nhiều
phrase

thank you very much

cán

cán
noun

a handle; grip; staff; lever (especially of a tool)

verb

to flatten; to crush (especially with rolling cylindrical objects)
(figuratively) to run over (with a vehicle)

cán bộ

cán bộ
noun

a government employee

pron

(especially by prisoners) you, a government employee

cán cân

cán cân
noun

balance; parity; equilibrium

cán sự

cán sự
noun

a technician; lower specialist; junior administrator

cáng

cáng
noun

stretcher
palanquin

cáng đáng

cáng đáng
verb

to undertake; assume responsibility for
to take charge of; manage

cánh

cánh
noun

(anatomy) wing
(botany) petal
(of a star symbol) point
(of a football/soccer pitch/field) side
(literary) clothes; clothing

classifier

Indicates doors, windows, gates, kites, bows, forests and agricultural fields (of maize/corn, rice, etc.)

cánh cam

cánh cam
noun

ladybug/ladybird

cánh hoa

cánh hoa
noun

(botany) petal

cánh hữu

cánh hữu
adj

(politics) right-wing

cánh quạt

cánh quạt
noun

propeller

cánh tay

cánh tay
noun

(anatomy) arm

cánh tả

cánh tả
adj

(politics) left-wing

cáo

cáo
noun

a fox (Vulpes)
(history) royal edict-like announcement

verb

(only in compounds) to announce, report
(only in compounds, law) to indict

cáo biệt

cáo biệt
verb

(literary) farewell

cáo buộc

cáo buộc
verb

to accuse; to charge

cáo bạch

cáo bạch
verb

to notify; announce

cáo chung

cáo chung
verb

(formal or literary) to come to an end

cáo giác

cáo giác
verb

(uncommon) to denounce

cáo mượn oai hùm

cáo mượn oai hùm
phrase

(figuratively) to use powerful connections to intimidate people

cáo phó

cáo phó
noun

an obituary

verb

to announce a death

cáo thị

cáo thị
noun

a report; notice

verb

to announce

cáo trạng

cáo trạng
noun

an indictment
an arraignment

cáo từ

cáo từ
verb

(literary) to take leave, to say goodbye

cáp

cáp
noun

a cable
(television) Short for truyền hình cáp (“cable television”).

cáp quang

cáp quang
noun

optical fibre cable

cát

cát
noun

sand
grain (as in a fine grain of silk)

cát cánh

cát cánh
noun

(botany) Platycodon grandiflorus

cát cứ

cát cứ
verb

to set up a separatist regime by force of arms

cát hung

cát hung
adj

propitious or ill-omened

cát kết

cát kết
noun

sandstone

cát-ca-đơ

cát-ca-đơ
noun

a stuntman; a stuntperson

cát-xê

cát-xê
noun

(chiefly film, television, theater) remuneration, honorarium

cáu

cáu
noun

dirt, filth

verb

to be upset
to be angry

cáu bẳn

cáu bẳn
adj

grumpy; cranky; grouchy

cáu ghét

cáu ghét
noun

dirt, filth

cáu kỉnh

cáu kỉnh
adj

irritable; grumpy; surly

cáu tiết

cáu tiết
adj

furious; enraged; very angry

cáy

cáy
noun

small crabs in Sesarmidae family

cân

cân
noun

(colloquial, dated) kilogram
a weighing instrument; a balance, scale, etc.

verb

to weigh

adj

in some kind of balance or equilibrium

cây

cây
noun

a plant with a hard trunk or stem, such as a woody tree or bamboo, as opposed to cỏ (“(soft-stemmed) grass”)
(by extension) a plant (including trees and grasses), or more rarely, a mushroom
(colloquial) Short for cây số (“kilometre/kimometer”).

classifier

Indicates plants
Indicates stick/rod-like objects
(music) Indicates string instruments and some other types of musical instruments

cò

cò
noun

stork (large wading bird of the family Ciconiidae)
egret
(colloquial, slightly childish) penis, pee-pee
(informal, chiefly derogatory) a broker (mediator between a buyer and seller), especially a deceptive one
(obsolete) chief of police, head of police, superintendent
a trigger (finger-operated lever used to fire a gun)

còi

còi
noun

a whistle (device used to make a whistling sound)
a horn (loud alarm, especially on a motor vehicle)
a siren (device for making a sound alarm)

adj

(colloquial) skinny; bony

còng

còng
noun

crabs of genus Uca
handcuffs

verb

to put handcuffs (on the wrists)

adj

hunchbacked

cóc

cóc
noun

a toad
species in the genus Spondias, such as Spondias dulcis

particle

(colloquial) not

intj

(colloquial) no

cói

cói
noun

Cyperus tegetiformis

côca

côca
noun

(botany) coca plant
Coca-Cola; cola (drink)
kola nut
cocaine

côn

côn
noun

(weaponry) a stick or staff
(rare, Chinese mythology) (cá ~) Kun, a giant mythical fish

côn nhị khúc

côn nhị khúc
noun

(weaponry) nunchucks

cùn

cùn
adj

blunt (having a thick edge or point, not sharp)

noun

(in certain dialects of North Central Vietnam, clothing) pants; trousers; shorts

cúc

cúc
noun

daisy; chrysanthemum
ammonite
(Northern Vietnam) button
antlion

cũi

cũi
noun

a square, cuboid cage, used to cage larger animals or humans; compare lồng (“round, cylindrical cage”)
a playpen

cơ

cơ
noun

(anatomy) muscle
(card games) hearts
(billiards, snooker) a cue stick
(historical, military) military unit consisting of 10 or 200–500 soldiers.

suffix

(obsolete) aircraft; airplane

adj

related to mechanics
mechanical

particle

(chiefly Northern Vietnam, colloquial, childish) it must be this way, not any other; my way or no way

cưa

cưa
noun

a saw (tool)

verb

to saw (cut with a saw)

cươi

cươi
noun

(North Central Vietnam) yard

cướp

cướp
verb

to rob

noun

robber

cạc-táp

cạc-táp
noun

briefcase

cạp nia

cạp nia
noun

(literally) {{l|en|a banded outer ring of a nia}type basket
Short for rắn cạp nia (“Malayan krait”).

cạp nong

cạp nong
noun

(literally) {{l|en|a banded outer ring of a nong}type basket
Short for rắn cạp nong (“banded krait”).

cần

cần
verb

to need

noun

water parsnip
pole; rod
Short for cần sa (“marijuana”).

cần câu

cần câu
noun

fishing rod

cầu

cầu
noun

(sports) a jianzi shuttlecock
(badminton) a badminton shuttlecock
(sports) Short for cầu mây (“sepak takraw ball”).
a bridge (construction or natural feature that spans a divide)
(Southern Vietnam) Short for nhà cầu (“latrine; lavatory”).
(economics) demand

verb

to ask for; to demand
to pray that something will happen; compare ước (“to wish”)

cầu lông

cầu lông
noun

badminton
(badminton) a shuttlecock

cầu mây

cầu mây
noun

a sepak takraw ball
sepak takraw

cầu thang

cầu thang
noun

a staircase; flight of stairs

cầu trượt

cầu trượt
noun

a slide

cầu tuột

cầu tuột
noun

a slide

cầu vồng

cầu vồng
noun

a rainbow (multicoloured arch in the sky)

cầy

cầy
noun

civet; viverrid (family Viverridae)
Short for thịt cầy (“dog meat”).
(dialectal) Alternative form of cày (“plough”)

cẩm chướng

cẩm chướng
noun

(botany) any plant, such as carnations and pinks, of the genus Dianthus

cẩn

cẩn
noun

(North Central Vietnam) hibiscus

cẩu

cẩu
noun

(rare, humorous) dog (animal)
Short for cần cẩu (“crane (lifting device)”).

verb

to lift with a crane

cậy

cậy
verb

(rarely used alone) to rely on; to pin one's hopes (on)
to congratulate oneself; plume oneself (on)

noun

date plum (Diospyros lotus)

cằm

cằm
noun

a chin (bottom of a face)

cặp

cặp
noun

pair, duo, couple
(historical) wooden satchel used to hold books
schoolbag

verb

to pair
to date someone

cọ

cọ
noun

a palm tree
(painting) a brush

verb

to scrub (to rub hard)

cọn

cọn
noun

a water wheel

cỏ

cỏ
noun

grass
(slang) weed; marijuana

adj

(literary) negligible

cỏ bợ

cỏ bợ
noun

(botany) European waterclover (Marsilea quadrifolia)

cỏ gà

cỏ gà
noun

Cynodon dactylon

cỏ may

cỏ may
noun

Chrysopogon aciculatus

cỏ tranh

cỏ tranh
noun

cogon grass

cốc

cốc
noun

glass, tumbler
cormorant

cối

cối
noun

a mortar
(by extension) the container of a rice mill
(by extension) a rice mill

cối xay gió

cối xay gió
noun

windmill

cống

cống
noun

sewer; drain

verb

to pay tribute

cồng

cồng
noun

gong

cổ tay

cổ tay
noun

wrist

cổng

cổng
noun

a gate (door-like structure outside; doorway, opening, or passage in a fence or wall)
(computer hardware) a port
(Internet) a portal

cổng xoay

cổng xoay
noun

turnstile (rotating mechanical device)

cột

cột
noun

pillar, column, pole

verb

to fasten, to strap in, to bind, to tie

cờ-lê

cờ-lê
noun

a wrench; a spanner

củ chuối

củ chuối
noun

corm of a banana tree
Calanthe vestita (a species of orchid)

adj

(slang, Northern Vietnam) cringeworthy; cringy

củi

củi
noun

firewood

cứt lợn

cứt lợn
noun

Ageratum conyzoides

cửa

cửa
noun

(architecture) a door or a window

cửa sổ

cửa sổ
noun

(architecture) window

cửa xoay

cửa xoay
noun

revolving door (rotating door)
turnstile (rotating mechanical device)

cựa

cựa
noun

spur (of roosters)

verb

to stir; to move
(colloquial) to disentangle; to extricate oneself

di động

di động
adj

mobile; roving

noun

(colloquial) Short for điện thoại di động (“cell phone; mobile phone”).

diêm

diêm
noun

(in compounds) salt
match (device to make fire)

diên vĩ

diên vĩ
noun

iris (flower)

diều

diều
noun

a gizzard
a hawk (predatory bird of Accipitridae)
a kite (flying toy on string)

dong

dong
verb

drive, escort

noun

Phrynium placentarium

dành dành

dành dành
noun

(botany) Cape jasmine (a flower of the species Gardenia jasminoides)

dâm bụt

dâm bụt
noun

hibiscus

dâu

dâu
noun

mulberry
(by extension) strawberry
daughter-in-law
Short for cô dâu (“bride”).

dâu tây

dâu tây
noun

strawberry

dâu tằm

dâu tằm
noun

mulberry

dây gắm

dây gắm
noun

(botany) a climbing shrub of the species Gnetum montanum
(botany) plants of the division Gnetophyta (generally)

dép

dép
noun

a piece of footwear that doesn't give full coverage to the foot; a sandal, a flip-flop, a slipper, etc.

dù

dù
noun

(Southern Vietnam) umbrella
parachute

conj

(literary or formal) even if, although

dùi

dùi
noun

long stick
drumstick

dùi cui

dùi cui
noun

cudgel, club

dĩa

dĩa
noun

(chiefly Southern Vietnam) a plate, a dish, a saucer, etc.
(dated, chiefly Southern Vietnam) a disc, a disk, etc.
(chiefly Northern Vietnam) a fork

dưa hấu

dưa hấu
noun

watermelon

dưa lê

dưa lê
noun

honeydew melon

dương

dương
noun

(occult) yang
poplar

adj

(occult) having "yang" characteristics, such as "bright", "solar" or "masculine"
(mathematics, physics) positive

affix

ocean
caprid

dương xỉ

dương xỉ
noun

(botany) fern

dương đào

dương đào
noun

kiwi

dạ dày

dạ dày
noun

(anatomy) stomach

dầu giun

dầu giun
noun

(botany) Jesuit's tea; Mexican-tea (an herb of the species Dysphania ambrosioides)

dậm

dậm
noun

a fishing tool

dập ghim

dập ghim
noun

stapler

dẻ

dẻ
noun

chestnut

dọc mùng

dọc mùng
noun

(Northern Vietnam) Colocasia gigantea

dứa

dứa
noun

(Northern Vietnam) pineapple
a species of pineapple commonly found in northern Vietnam

dừa

dừa
noun

coconut

eo
noun

waist

gai

gai
noun

hemp-nettle
thorn
prickle
(Central Vietnam) pineapple
ramie

gan

gan
noun

(anatomy) a liver
(figuratively) audacity; gall; balls
(botany) Malus doumeri

adj

hepatic
courageous, brave, tough

ghe

ghe
noun

a kind of boat

det

(archaic) many, much; a lot

ghi-ta

ghi-ta
noun

a guitar

ghế

ghế
noun

a seat (A piece of furniture made for sitting)

ghế đẩu

ghế đẩu
noun

a stool (A seat for one person without a back or armrest)

giai đoạn

giai đoạn
noun

stage; phase; period

giành

giành
verb

to dispute, to fight (for)

noun

a kind of wooden, weaved basket with a flat bottom

giày

giày
noun

a non-sock, non-stockings piece of footwear that gives full coverage to the foot; a shoe, a boot, etc.

verb

to trample; to tread underfoot

giá

giá
noun

price
(Southern Vietnam) bean sprouts
shelf
mount (object on which another object is mounted)

adj

(obsolete or only in compounds) cold

conj

if; in case; supposing; if only; I wish

giáo

giáo
noun

lance, spear

affix

of teaching or educating

suffix

religion

giò

giò
noun

leg
meat paste
pork sausage

gió

gió
noun

wind (movement of air)
(alternative medicine) harmful elements that are believed to cause fevers, especially if the patient is exposed to a lot of wind, commonly thought of as actual harmful winds that can penetrate the body and that can be guarded against with silver-coated necklaces, wristbands or ankle bands

giùi

giùi
noun

verb

to pierce

giũa

giũa
verb

to file (i.e. to file wood or some other material using a tool)

noun

file (tool)

giường

giường
noun

a bed (piece of furniture)

giếng trời

giếng trời
noun

(architecture) an atrium

giền

giền
noun

amaranth

giỏ

giỏ
noun

basket

verb

(Northern Vietnam) Alternative form of nhỏ (“to drip”)

guốc

guốc
noun

a piece of footwear that is usually made of wood, resembles a high-heeled flip-flop
any piece of footwear that resembles this type of footwear; a clog, geta, sabot, etc.
a piece of high-heeled footwear, except a boot; a slingback, mule, pump, stiletto, wedge, platform, kitten heel, etc.
(anatomy) a hoof

gàu

gàu
noun

dandruff
a type of bucket used to manually splash out water from a pond, or to get water up from a well

gò

gò
noun

mound, knoll
(obsolete) island

verb

to bend, to curve

gòn

gòn
noun

(botany) ceiba
(by extension) cotton pad

gót

gót
noun

heel

gông

gông
noun

cangue

găng

găng
noun

(clothing) glove
Species of the genus Aidia, especially Aidia chantonea
Species of the genus Canthium
Species of the genus Fagerlindia
Species of the genus Oxyceros
indigoberry (Randia)
Species of the genus Rothmannia

adj

tight; tense; strained

adv

tightly; tensely; in a strained manner

gươm

gươm
noun

Synonym of kiếm (“sword”)

gương

gương
noun

a mirror (smooth reflecting surface)
(tấm ~) an example; a role model
(Central Vietnam) Synonym of kính (“eyeglasses”)

gạo

gạo
noun

cotton tree
uncooked, dehusked rice (non-glutinous)

gạt tàn

gạt tàn
noun

an ashtray

gấc

gấc
noun

gậy

gậy
noun

stick, cane, staff

gắm

gắm
noun

(botany) a climbing shrub of the species Gnetum montanum

gắp

gắp
verb

to pick up (with chopsticks or pincers)

noun

tongs (instrument or tool used for picking things up)
the portion of food held by a pair of tongs while cooking

gốc

gốc
noun

foot (of a tree, etc.)
origin
(linguistics) root

adj

original

gối

gối
noun

a pillow
(usually in compounds, likely to avoid ambiguity with gối (“pillow”)) a knee (joint in the middle of the leg and area around it)

verb

to rest one's head on something

gừng

gừng
noun

ginger (plant, spice)

han

han
noun

Dendrocnide

hang

hang
noun

cave
den

hiên

hiên
noun

veranda

hoa bất tử

hoa bất tử
noun

(botany) strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)

hoa chè

hoa chè
noun

(Northern Vietnam, botany) a camellia

hoa giấy

hoa giấy
noun

(botany) a bougainvillea
confetti

hoa hiên

hoa hiên
noun

(botany) orange day-lily (Hemerocallis fulva)

hoa trà

hoa trà
noun

(Southern Vietnam, botany) a camellia

hoàng lan

hoàng lan
noun

(botany) ylang ylang (a tree of the species Cananga odorata)

hoè

hoè
noun

Chinese scholar tree (Styphnolobium japonicum)

huyệt

huyệt
noun

grave (excavation for burial)
pressure point
acupoint
(zoology) cloaca

huệ

huệ
noun

tuberose

hành

hành
noun

scallion; spring onion; green onion

hành tây

hành tây
noun

onion

hào

hào
noun

hao, one tenth of đồng
a moat
oyster

adj

(used in compounds only) great; extraordinary

húng quế

húng quế
noun

Thai basil

hũ

hũ
noun

a large storage pot or jar that must be held with two hands; compare lọ (“small jar”), chai (“bottle”) and nồi (“cooking pot”)

hương thảo

hương thảo
noun

(botany) rosemary

hướng dương

hướng dương
noun

a sunflower

hầm

hầm
verb

to stew, to braise, to simmer

noun

a basement; a cellar
Short for đường hầm (“a tunnel”).

hẹ

hẹ
noun

garlic chive

hẻm

hẻm
noun

the narrow space between two large barriers
(by extension) a cul-de-sac (blind alley)

adj

(of an alley) narrow

hề

hề
noun

some sort of comic-relief (usually male) character in chèo who acts foolishly; a chèo fool
(by extension) a (usually male) fool, clown or jester

verb

to matter, to affect, have influence or effect on

adv

(chiefly in the negative) at all, absolutely, completely, totally

hố

hố
noun

a pit (hole in the ground)

hốc

hốc
noun

creephole, hole

hồng

hồng
adj

pink
(only in compounds) red

noun

persimmon

hồng táo

hồng táo
noun

(botany) red date; Chinese jujube; Chinese date (of the species Ziziphus jujuba)

hộc

hộc
verb

to spit out (blood, etc.)

noun

drawer

hộp

hộp
noun

a squarish container made of bendable material, such as a box or a carton
a can or tin

hộp quẹt

hộp quẹt
noun

(Southern Vietnam) lighter

kem que

kem que
noun

popsicle

keo

keo
noun

glue
acacia

adj

(derogatory, of a person) cheap; stingy

khay

khay
noun

tray

khe

khe
noun

slit, slot
stream, creek

khiên

khiên
noun

shield

khoai môn

khoai môn
noun

taro

khoai sọ

khoai sọ
noun

taro

khoan

khoan
adv

to wait a bit

noun

a drill

verb

to drill

khoang

khoang
noun

cavity
cabin

khoá

khoá
noun

Short for ổ khoá (“lock; padlock”).
Short for chìa khoá (“key”).
Synonym of chìa (“key”)
(cryptography) key
(music) clef
term; course; round
(archaic) Short for khoá sinh.

verb

to lock
to turn off (tap etc.); to close

khu

khu
noun

district, area, zone
ward
(North Central Vietnam) buttock, ass/arse

khuynh diệp

khuynh diệp
noun

(botany) Eucalyptus

khuỷu tay

khuỷu tay
noun

elbow

khánh

khánh
noun

stone chime

khóm

khóm
noun

bush, clump (of trees)
(Southern Vietnam) pineapple
a species of pineapple commonly found in southern Vietnam
(Mekong Delta) a neighborhood

không gian tên

không gian tên
noun

(computing) namespace
(computing) domain name; domain

không khí

không khí
noun

air (gases making up the atmosphere of a planet)
atmosphere; ambiance

khăn

khăn
noun

towel, napkin, handkerchief, kerchief, turban

khăn rằn

khăn rằn
noun

khăn rằn, a type of shawl typically worn in Southern Vietnam

khăn tay

khăn tay
noun

handkerchief

khẩu trang

khẩu trang
noun

a surgical mask; a procedure mask

khế

khế
noun

carambola, star fruit

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 憩
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 契
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 瘈

khố

khố
noun

a loincloth

khủng hoảng

khủng hoảng
noun

crisis

ki
noun

(bowling) a pin
(colloquial, euphemistic) dog (animal)
a dustpan

kim

kim
noun

(rare, only in compounds) metal
Metal, one of the Wu Xing
a needle
(of a clock/watch) a hand

kim tiêm

kim tiêm
noun

injection needle

kim tiêm dưới da

kim tiêm dưới da
noun

hypodermic needle

kiếm

kiếm
noun

a sword

verb

to seek, to search, to find

kiếng

kiếng
noun

(Southern Vietnam) mirror

kiểu gõ

kiểu gõ
noun

(computing) input method (set of mnemonics)

kè

kè
noun

(dialectal) fan palm
lizardfish
revetment

kèn

kèn
noun

a traditional double reed shawm of Vietnam

kèo

kèo
noun

a supporting structure in the house
(by extension, gamble) bet
(informal) appointment
Short for cá kèo (“goby (of the genus Pseudapocryptes)”).

kèo nèo

kèo nèo
noun

Limnocharis flava, yellow velvetleaf, an aquatic flowering plant native to southeast Asia.

ké

ké
verb

(placed after the main verb) to obtain a share of something from someone; to get a share

noun

members of the Xanthium genus

kén

kén
noun

(entomology) a cocoon

verb

to select (carefully, according to certain criteria); to choose; to pick

kéo

kéo
verb

to pull

noun

scissors (tool used for cutting)

két

két
noun

(chiefly Southern Vietnam) parrot
safe; strongbox; coffer; lockbox
case (used to store glass bottles of beer or soft drink)

kê

kê
noun

millet

verb

to rest (a part of one's body) on something
(furniture) to place; to arrange; to put
to prescribe

kìm

kìm
noun

either pincers, or more popularly, pliers

kích

kích
noun

a halberd
(colloquial) a jack; lifting device

verb

(only in compounds) to ambush, to attack
(only in compounds) to stimulate, to arouse, to excite, to incite

kính

kính
noun

glass that comes in thinnish, flattish sheets (as opposed to, for example, a thick block or a globular shape), used to make doors, windows, eyewear, lenses, etc.; compare thuỷ tinh (“glass as a substance in general”)
eyeglasses
(Southern Vietnam) Synonym of gương (“mirror”)
(only in compounds) path, trait; diameter

verb

(rare, chiefly in set phrases) to respect

prefix

(honorific, before verbs) respectfully; cordially

kính vạn hoa

kính vạn hoa
noun

a kaleidoscope (tube of mirrors rotated to produce symmetrical designs)

kơ nia

kơ nia
noun

Irvingia malayana

kẹp giấy

kẹp giấy
noun

paper clip

kết

kết
verb

to plait, to tie in knots
(in certain expressions) to bear (fruits)
(colloquial) to have a crush on someone, to show love interest in someone

noun

end; ending

kệ

kệ
verb

(colloquial) to leave alone; to let be

intj

whatever; screw it; what the hell

noun

a small shelf

la bàn

la bàn
noun

a compass (instrument to determine cardinal directions)

lai

lai
verb

Short for lai giống (“to crossbreed”).
(Central Vietnam) to carry (someone) on one's bicycle or motorbike pillion; to give someone a lift on the bicycle or motorbike
to tow

adj

of mixed blood; crossbred

noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) hemline; turn-up
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) hundredth part of a tael (equal to 0.378 g)
candlenut; candleberry (Aleurites moluccanus)

lan

lan
verb

to spread; to run

noun

orchid

lanh

lanh
adj

fast, quick
(often used for a child) mercurial

noun

flax

lao

lao
noun

(bệnh ~) (medicine) tuberculosis
harpoon; javelin; dart
jail; prison

verb

to plunge; to dart

lao móc

lao móc
noun

harpoon

lau

lau
noun

reed, arundinaceous cane

verb

to clean by wiping or rubbing with a wet cloth

lay ơn

lay ơn
noun

(botany) a gladiolus

le
noun

a plant in the rice family, which grows in forests and has a shape similar to bamboo

verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) Alternative form of lè (“to loll (tongue); to put out”)

adv

(rare) Alternative form of lè (“very”)

conj

(archaic) but; however

li
noun

cup, glass (def. 2)

lim

lim
noun

Erythrophleum fordii

liên kiều

liên kiều
noun

(botany) Forsythia suspensa

liềm

liềm
noun

a sickle

liễu

liễu
noun

willow

loa

loa
noun

megaphone (portable device used to amplify a person's voice)
(by extension) speaker; loudspeaker

lon

lon
noun

beverage can
(military, informal) stripe

long nhãn

long nhãn
noun

(dated or rare) longan

loại từ

loại từ
noun

(grammar) classifier (word used to indicate a semantic class)
(grammar) part of speech

lu
noun

big vase used to contain water

lài

lài
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) jasmine

làn

làn
noun

handled handbasket with a flat bottom and wide mouth, made from rattan, rush, bamboo or plastics
lane (of a road)

classifier

Used for something moving continuously and steadily, forming a wide and flat surface, such as water (nước), wind (gió), smoke (khói) and waves (sóng): wisp; trail; puff
Used for something forming a thin, smooth layer on the outside, such as skin (da) or hair (tóc).

lá ngón

lá ngón
noun

Gelsemium elegans

lê

lê
noun

pear

verb

to drag (one's feet)

lò

lò
noun

kiln, furnace, oven, heater

lò vôi

lò vôi
noun

(manufacturing) limekiln

ló

ló
verb

to appear; to heave; to come into sight

lô hội

lô hội
noun

aloe

lõi

lõi
noun

a core

lúa

lúa
noun

rice (with seed still in stalk)
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) paddy; unhusked rice
(slang) money

adj

Short for hai lúa (“rustic; bumpkinish”).

lúa Chiêm

lúa Chiêm
noun

fifth-month rice; summer crop

lúa chiêm

lúa chiêm
noun

Alternative letter-case form of lúa Chiêm

lưng

lưng
noun

back (the back of people, animals, or objects)

lưu cầu

lưu cầu
noun

(archaic, historical) jade-inlaid sword

lưu manh

lưu manh
noun

thug, hooligan, scoundrel

lưới B40

lưới B40
noun

(colloquial) chainlink fencing

lưỡi

lưỡi
noun

(anatomy) a tongue
(of a knife, sword, etc.) a blade
(of a knife, sword, etc.) a cutting edge

lưỡi hái

lưỡi hái
noun

a scythe

lưỡi lê

lưỡi lê
noun

bayonet

lược

lược
noun

a comb (toothed implement for grooming the hair)

verb

to prune; to abridge
to omit

lần

lần
noun

time; instance; occurrence

prep

(mathematics) times

verb

to grope, to search by touch
to track, to follow

lều

lều
noun

a tent

lệ chi

lệ chi
noun

(obsolete) lychee

lọ

lọ
noun

a small jar or a vase that can be held in one hand; compare chai (“bottle”) and hũ (“larger pot or jar”)
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) soot

lọng

lọng
noun

(historical) a kind of parasol

lồ ô

lồ ô
noun

certain species of bamboo, such as Bambusa procera

lồng

lồng
noun

a roundish, cylindrical-ish, usually small, cage, such as a birdcage; compare cũi (“square, cuboid cage”)

verb

to insert
(of an animal) to rear; to go wild

lỗ

lỗ
noun

a hole made through a layer of material, by piercing, punching, poking, tearing, etc.; compare hố (“pit”, dug hole)
(finance) loss

adj

(finance) having a loss

lỗ trôn

lỗ trôn
noun

(anatomy) anus

lờ

lờ
noun

a fish trap weaved of bamboo (often resembling a basket)

lục bình

lục bình
noun

(Southern Vietnam) water hyacinth

lựu

lựu
noun

pomegranate

lựu đạn

lựu đạn
noun

grenade

mai

mai
noun

early morning
(colloquial) Short for ngày mai (“tomorrow”).
the hair in front of a person's ears, sideburns
Ochna integerrima, a tree species (sometimes shrub) of the family Ochnaceae, sometimes called apricot in English
(of crabs, turtles and tortoises) shell
a kind of shovel
(Southern Vietnam) matchmaker

mang

mang
verb

to carry
to wear (footwear)
to be pregnant

noun

(of a fish) gill
(of a cobra) hood
muntjac

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 忙

me
noun

tamarind
mother

minh quyết

minh quyết
noun

(botany) carob (a flowering tree of the species Ceratonia siliqua)

minh ti

minh ti
noun

(rare, fiction) the underworld department, where cases concerning the dead are judged by King Yama
(botany) Chinese evergreen (flowering plant of the genus Aglaonema)

miếng

miếng
noun

piece, crumb

classifier

Indicates pieces

miếu

miếu
noun

temple, shrine

miễu

miễu
noun

(Southern Vietnam) village shrine

miệng

miệng
noun

(anatomy) a mouth
(informal) a member of a family

mua

mua
verb

to buy; to purchase
to bribe; to square
to bring upon oneself; to court

noun

melastoma (genus Melastoma)

muôi

muôi
noun

a rice paddle; a shamoji
(Northern Vietnam) a ladle (deep-bowled spoon with a long, usually curved, handle)

muỗm

muỗm
noun

katydid, bush-cricket
Mangifera foetida, a species of flowering plants in the Mangifera (mango genus).
spoon

muỗng

muỗng
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) spoon

màn thầu

màn thầu
noun

a mantou

má

má
noun

(anatomy) cheek
(Southern Vietnam) mother; mom

mác

mác
noun

scimitar
(calligraphy) H stroke (一)
marque, brand
mark, quota
mark (unit of currency)
mark (old unit of weight for gold etc.)

máng

máng
noun

trough
spout, gutter

máy

máy
noun

machine
engine
internal combustion engine
(colloquial) phone, mobile phone

máy bay

máy bay
noun

airplane, aeroplane

máy lạnh

máy lạnh
noun

(chiefly Southern Vietnam) an air conditioner

máy quay

máy quay
noun

camera

máy tính

máy tính
noun

a calculator (electronic device that performs mathematical calculations)
a computer (device)

máy ảnh

máy ảnh
noun

camera

mâm

mâm
noun

food tray

mâm xôi

mâm xôi
noun

(botany) berries of the genus Rubus, especially the raspberry

mây

mây
noun

cloud
rattan

mã

mã
noun

code (short symbol)
cipher; code (method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning)
code (computer instructions)
Chinese numerals
yard (unit of length)
joss paper
lemon (defective item)
plumage on the neck or rear of a rooster
outward appearance, looks
horizontal bar of a rake, to which teeth are attached
object to be weighed on a scale
(xiangqi) horse, a piece labeled with the characters 馬 (black) and 傌 (red)
(chess) knight

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 馬 (“horse”)
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 瑪
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 獁
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 碼
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 螞
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 𦄀/𫘖
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 咩/𠴟

mãng cầu

mãng cầu
noun

(Southern Vietnam) sugar apple

mè

mè
noun

bamboo rod used as a purlin or batten in a thatched roof
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) sesame
Short for cá mè.

mìn

mìn
noun

mine; dynamite

mía

mía
noun

sugar cane

mít

mít
noun

jackfruit

adj

(chiefly in compounds) be hermetically closed
(vulgar) thick-headed; ignorant

mò

mò
noun

certain herbaceous plants

verb

to grope

móng

móng
noun

(anatomy, of a primate) a nail
(anatomy, of a non-primate animal) a claw, talon or hoof
(engineering) a foundation

môi

môi
noun

lip
(Central Vietnam) dipper, ladle

mông

mông
noun

buttock

mõ

mõ
noun

(Buddhism) a wooden fish; a temple block

mõm

mõm
noun

(of a non-human mammal) a snout or a muzzle
(offensive, of a human) mouth

mù soa

mù soa
noun

handkerchief

mùi tây

mùi tây
noun

parsley

mùng

mùng
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) mosquito net

măng

măng
noun

bamboo shoot

măng cụt

măng cụt
noun

mangosteen

măng tây

măng tây
noun

asparagus

mũ

mũ
noun

(Northern Vietnam) hat; cap; helmet
circumflex

prep

(arithmetic) to the power of

mũi

mũi
noun

(anatomy) nose
prow, bow

classifier

injection with a syringe; shot

mương

mương
noun

ditch, trench

mạo

mạo
noun

(North Central Vietnam) hat; cap; helmet

mẫu đơn

mẫu đơn
noun

peony

mận

mận
noun

(Northern Vietnam) plum
(Southern Vietnam) wax apple (Syzygium samarangense)

mắc cỡ

mắc cỡ
adj

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) shy; bashful

noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) touch-me-not; shy plant (Mimosa pudica)

mặt

mặt
noun

face (front part of head)
face (facial expression)
face (public image)
face (geometry: bounding surface of a polyhedron)
face (surface, especially a front or outer one)
aspect; dimension

adj

(archaic) right (of direction)

mặt nạ

mặt nạ
noun

mask (cover for the face)
mask (that which disguises)

mề

mề
noun

gizzard (of a bird)

mề đay

mề đay
noun

(pathology) urticaria
medallion, crest

mền

mền
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) blanket

mỏ

mỏ
noun

(anatomy, of a bird or a platypus) beak; bill
(derogatory) trap (a person's mouth)
mine (place from which ore is extracted)

mỏ lết

mỏ lết
noun

a monkey wrench; an adjustable spanner

mồm

mồm
noun

(anatomy, rather informal) mouth

mồng

mồng
prefix

Used in front of the ten native base numerals (một, hai, ba, bốn, năm, sáu, bảy, tám, chín, mười) to denote one of the first ten days of a month, itself optionally prefixed by ngày

noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) crest; comb (of cock)

mồng tơi

mồng tơi
noun

Basella alba; Malabar spinach

mộc lan

mộc lan
noun

(botany) a magnolia

mỡ

mỡ
noun

fat as part of flesh, or grease; compare chất béo (“fat in nutrition”)
(botany) Manglietia

mụt ruồi

mụt ruồi
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) mole; melanocytic nevus

na
noun

(Northern Vietnam) sugar apple (Annona squamosa)

nam châm

nam châm
noun

a magnet (piece of material that attracts some metals by magnetism)

nan hoa

nan hoa
noun

(vehicles) a spoke (part of a wheel)

nang

nang
noun

follicle
(obsolete) areca

nghiên

nghiên
noun

inkstone

nghệ

nghệ
noun

occupation, employment, trade, profession
turmeric

ngà

ngà
noun

(of an elephant) a tusk
ivory

ngái

ngái
adj

(North Central Vietnam) far
having an unpleasant smell

noun

(botany) Ficus hispida

ngâu

ngâu
noun

various Aglaia species, such as Aglaia duperreana (ngâu ta) and Aglaia odorata (ngâu Tàu)
cow (in the context of the “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl” folktale)

adj

(sometimes capitalised) relating to (the beginning of) the seventh lunar month, when a sudden and brief shower falls; July shower

ngò

ngò
noun

cilantro (coriander leaf)

ngón chân

ngón chân
noun

ngón tay

ngón tay
noun

finger (extremity of the hand)

ngưu bàng

ngưu bàng
noun

Arctium lappa (greater burdock)

ngải

ngải
noun

(botany) Artemisia spp.

ngấy

ngấy
verb

to have one's appetite cloyed (by greasy or sweet food)
(colloquial) to be fed up with; to be tired of
(in compounds) to feel feverish

noun

Rubus cochinchinensis

ngọc lan tây

ngọc lan tây
noun

(botany) ylang ylang (a tree of the species Cananga odorata)

nha đam

nha đam
noun

aloe

nhang

nhang
noun

incense

nho

nho
adj

Alternative letter-case form of Nho (“Ruist; Confucianist”)

noun

grape

nho khô

nho khô
noun

raisin

nhà

nhà
noun

a house; a home; a dwelling
(colloquial) an immediate family; a household; a home
(endearing when used for one's own, polite when used to refer to others') a spouse
a building in a complex
a condominium

adj

domestic

prefix

professional; expert; performer
dynasty

nhà kính

nhà kính
noun

a greenhouse

nhài

nhài
noun

(Northern Vietnam) jasmine
(Northern Vietnam) paper fan pin (fastening slats, originally jasmine-shaped)
(archaic, historical) maid; maidservant; abigail

nhàu

nhàu
noun

Morinda citrifolia, noni

adj

be wrinkled

nhân sâm

nhân sâm
noun

ginseng

nhíp

nhíp
noun

tweezers

verb

to sew

nhót

nhót
noun

Elaeagnus latifolia

nhạc

nhạc
noun

music
a bell worn on the neck of a domestic animal

nhẫn

nhẫn
noun

ring (round piece of (precious) metal worn around the finger)

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 忍 (rěn, “to endure”)

niền

niền
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) rim of a wheel
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) hoop; band (put around a barrel etc.)

verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to bind (as with a hoop or band on the outside); to tie
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to put in the stocks

nong

nong
noun

winnowing basket

verb

to make bigger or larger

ná

ná
noun

(dialectal, weaponry) Synonym of nỏ (“crossbow”)
(weaponry) slingshot

nêu

nêu
verb

to raise (question, suggestion, etc.); to bring up; to set

noun

long bamboo pole traditionally erected during the Vietnamese lunar new year (Tết)

nón

nón
noun

Asian conical hat
(Southern Vietnam, colloquial) hat; cap; helmet

nôi

nôi
noun

a cradle (oscillating bed for a baby)
(figuratively) a cradle (place of origin)

núi

núi
noun

a mountain

núi lửa

núi lửa
noun

volcano (mountain containing a magma chamber)

nút

nút
noun

knot
(of a machine) button
(dated, computing) button; key
(graphical user interface) button
(Southern Vietnam, of a garment) button
(of a bottle) bung; stopper; cork

nút bấm

nút bấm
noun

push-button, button

năng

năng
adv

frequently; often; habitually

noun

(botany) Short for cỏ năng (“water chestnut”).

nĩa

nĩa
noun

fork

nơ

nơ
noun

a bow (type of knot with two loops)

nơm

nơm
noun

(fishing) bell-shaped trapping basket made of bamboo for capturing fish

verb

(transitive) to catch fish with a bell-shaped trapping basket

nước

nước
noun

water
liquid; fluid
the liquid part of a broth
Short for đất nước (“country; polity”).
(chiefly in board games) move, step

nạng

nạng
noun

a crutch (device to assist in motion as a cane)

verb

to push, to push off

nấm

nấm
noun

mushroom
(by extension) fungus
mound; tumulus (shaped like a mushroom cap, or pileus)

nắp

nắp
noun

a hard piece put on top to cover or seal a container, such as a lid, a cover or a cap

nắp ấm

nắp ấm
noun

(botany) Nepenthes

nến

nến
noun

(Northern Vietnam) a candle
wax

nệm

nệm
noun

mattress

nịt vú

nịt vú
noun

(regional) bra, brassiere

nốc

nốc
noun

(dialectal, Central Vietnam) small boat

verb

(usually alcoholism) to chug

nốt ruồi

nốt ruồi
noun

(Northern Vietnam) mole; melanocytic nevus

nồi

nồi
noun

a cooking pot; compare hũ (“storage pot”)

nồi cơm điện

nồi cơm điện
noun

electric rice cooker
(humorous) motorcycle helmet

nứa

nứa
noun

Neohouzeaua (a genus of medium-sized tropical bamboo)

oi
adj

hot and oppressive, sultry

noun

creel

oải hương

oải hương
noun

lavender

phao

phao
noun

a buoy
(informal) a cheat sheet

phao câu

phao câu
noun

the rump, the behind (of birds when used as food)

phi cơ

phi cơ
noun

(originally Southern Vietnam, now dated in Vietnam, still used by Overseas Vietnamese) airplane, aeroplane

phin

phin
noun

batiste
coffee filter

phong

phong
noun

maple
package, bundle
leprosy

verb

(only in compounds) to wrap, to package
to assign a rank of nobility

phong cầm

phong cầm
noun

(dated, music) Synonym of ắc-coóc-đê-ông (“accordion”)

phong lan

phong lan
noun

(botany) an orchid

phuy

phuy
noun

Synonym of thùng (“barrel”)

phuốc-sét

phuốc-sét
noun

(obsolete) Synonym of nĩa (“fork”) (eating utensil)

phá

phá
verb

destroy, demolish

noun

lagoon

phôi

phôi
noun

an embryo (an organism in early stages; often prior to becoming a fetus).
(manufacturing) an unfinished product; semifinished item; partially processed material

phượng

phượng
noun

Clipping of phượng hoàng (“fenghuang”).
Clipping of phượng vĩ (“royal poinciana”).

phượng vĩ

phượng vĩ
noun

(botany) the royal poinciana, the flamboyant

phận

phận
noun

(literary) a role (the expected behavior of an individual in a society)

phật thủ

phật thủ
noun

Buddha's hand (fruit)

phễu

phễu
noun

a funnel (utensil used to guide poured liquids)

quai

quai
noun

strap

que

que
noun

small stick

quân hàm

quân hàm
noun

military grade
insignia

quýt

quýt
noun

tangerine; mandarin orange

quạt

quạt
noun

a fan (hand-held or electrical device)

verb

to fan (to blow air on by means of a fan)

quả

quả
noun

(especially Northern Vietnam) piece of fruit
(by extension) something round
(Northern Vietnam) round, painted casket (i.e., a jewelry box) with a lid
(Northern Vietnam) punch (a hit or strike with one's fist)

classifier

(especially Northern Vietnam) Refers to anything round, such as a piece of fruit.

quần

quần
noun

(clothing) a two-legged/holed bottom; pants, shorts, briefs, panties, etc.

verb

to wear (someone) out; to exhaust (someone)

rau muống

rau muống
noun

water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica), a green leafy vegetable used as a food in several cuisines of East and Southeast Asia

rau má

rau má
noun

centella (Centella asiatica)

rau sam

rau sam
noun

common purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

riềng

riềng
noun

Alpinia

roi

roi
noun

whip, rod
(Northern Vietnam) Syzygium samarangense (wax apple)

rong

rong
noun

seaweedlike algae
seaweed

adj

wandering

ruộng

ruộng
noun

field (an area of open land used for growing crops)

rào

rào
noun

fence
(North Central Vietnam) small river, creek, stream

verb

to encircle

rá

rá
noun

bamboo basket

ráy

ráy
noun

earwax
giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos(
other similar plants in the Araceae family

râm bụt

râm bụt
noun

(botany) a flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, especially the Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

rây

rây
noun

sieve

verb

to sift

rìu

rìu
noun

an axe (tool)

răng

răng
noun

tooth

adv

(Central Vietnam) why

răng cửa

răng cửa
noun

an incisor

răng khôn

răng khôn
noun

(dentistry) wisdom tooth

răng nanh

răng nanh
noun

canine tooth; canine

răng sữa

răng sữa
noun

a milk tooth

răng vĩnh viễn

răng vĩnh viễn
noun

a permanent tooth

rương

rương
noun

box, trunk

rắm

rắm
noun

(Northern Vietnam, now rarely used in isolation) a fart

rọ

rọ
noun

cage
Short for rọ mõm (“muzzle”).

rọ mõm

rọ mõm
noun

muzzle (a device used to prevent animal from biting or eating, which is worn on its snout)

rốn

rốn
noun

(Northern Vietnam, anatomy) a navel; a belly button

rổ

rổ
noun

basket

rừng

rừng
noun

forest
jungle

rừng thưa

rừng thưa
noun

woodland

rựa

rựa
noun

machete

sa kê

sa kê
noun

breadfruit

sam

sam
noun

a horseshoe crab
common purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

sao đen

sao đen
noun

Hopea odorata

sen

sen
noun

lotus
a maidservant
(slang, humorous) Owner of cat or dog.

si
noun

certain members of the Mallotus and Ficus genera

sim

sim
noun

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa

song

song
noun

big rattan
(archaic, literary) window
Short for chấn song (“upright post in a paling or railing”).

prefix

bi-; double; parallel

adv

(formal) however
(formal) but

sui

sui
noun

Antiaris toxicaria
(Southern Vietnam) Short for sui gia.

sung

sung
noun

sycamore

sàng

sàng
noun

winnowing basket
sieve; riddle

verb

to winnow; to sift; to strain

sào

sào
noun

pole; stick

sáo

sáo
noun

blackbird
starling
myna
bamboo flute
bamboo screen

adj

clichéd; tired

sát nhân

sát nhân
noun

a killer, a murderer

sát thủ

sát thủ
noun

assassin

sâm

sâm
noun

ginseng

sóng

sóng
noun

wave

verb

to shake out even

sú

sú
noun

Aegiceras corniculatum

súng

súng
noun

water lily
gun

săng

săng
noun

(obsolete) plant; wood
(by extension, obsolete) coffin; casket

sơ ri

sơ ri
noun

acerola

sơn

sơn
noun

paint
Toxicodendron succedaneum

affix

mountain

sương sáo

sương sáo
noun

(Southern Vietnam) grass jelly

sạp

sạp
noun

stall to display goods

sả

sả
noun

lemongrass

verb

to cut into pieces, to chop up

sấu

sấu
noun

crocodile
(by extension) crocodilian
Dracontomelon duperreanum, a species of flowering plants in the Anacardiaceae (cashew family).
(by extension) The genus Dracontomelum.
Fruit of Dracontomelon duperreanum.

sầu riêng

sầu riêng
noun

durian

sậy

sậy
noun

reed

sẹo

sẹo
noun

scar, cicatrice

sến

sến
noun

Name for a number of plant species.

adj

overly romantic; old-fashionedly romantic; cheesy, sappy

sọt

sọt
noun

basket
cylindrical crate

sống đời

sống đời
verb

to live forever, to be everliving

noun

Kalanchoe pinnata

sồi

sồi
noun

oak
pongee

sở

sở
noun

sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua)
a workplace
(government) a department (the provincial equivalent of a bộ (“ministry”))

sữa

sữa
noun

milk (white liquid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals to nourish their young)
milk (liquid from a vegetable source)
semen
Alstonia scholaris
Alstonia

tai

tai
noun

(anatomy) ear

tai nghe

tai nghe
noun

earphone; headphones

tam quan

tam quan
noun

(architecture) tam quan, a Vietnamese traditional gate

tay nải

tay nải
noun

(clothing) a kind of cloth bag

tay trắng

tay trắng
noun

(chiefly in the dual) the state of having no money

thang

thang
noun

a ladder
(alternative medicine) a prescribed dose of Chinese or Vietnamese medicine

thang máy

thang máy
noun

lift; elevator

thanh long

thanh long
noun

pitaya, dragon fruit

thau

thau
noun

brass
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) a portable, perfectly circular wash basin; compare bồn (“wall-affixed basin; counter-affixed sink”)

then

then
noun

bar, peg (used for locking a door)
latch

thiên điểu

thiên điểu
noun

(botany) bird of paradise

thuyền

thuyền
noun

(nautical) a boat
(history) a wooden ship (large water vessel)

thuyền độc mộc

thuyền độc mộc
noun

(nautical) a dugout; logboat

thuẫn

thuẫn
noun

(weaponry, dated or archaic) shield

thuổng

thuổng
noun

spade

thuỷ tiên

thuỷ tiên
noun

narcissus (any of several bulbous flowering plants of the genus Narcissus)

thá

thá
noun

(colloquial) purpose, avail (effect in achieving a goal or aim)

thác

thác
noun

fall, waterfall

verb

(literary, poetic) to die.

thánh giá

thánh giá
noun

(Christianity) cross (modified representation of the crucifixion stake); crucifix
(Christianity, figuratively) cross (difficult situation that must be endured)
(rare) imperial carriage

thân

thân
adj

(usually of friends) close or even best
(only in fixed expressions) relative

prefix

(history, usually derogatory) pro-

noun

(chiefly anatomy or zoology) a torso
(botany, of a tree) a trunk
(botany, of a grass) a stem

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 申
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 紳
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 砷
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 伸
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 呻
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 抻
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 珅
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 身
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 親
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 峷

thìa

thìa
noun

(Northern Vietnam) spoon (scooped utensil for eating (or serving))

thích

thích
verb

to like

noun

maple

thói tật

thói tật
noun

vice, bad habit

thông

thông
noun

pine (tree of the genus Pinus)
Short for thông phán (“secretary”).
Short for thông ngôn (“interpreter”).

verb

to go over or through (to); to run through; to travel through; to cross
to clear off; to unchoke; to unclog
to be in succession; to be non-stop; to be on end
to understand (thoroughly) and accept; to understand and agree to
to be familiar with; to master; to be fluent or conversant in
(archaic) to be sufficient; to be enough
(slang) to buttfuck; to do anal sex

adj

(Central Vietnam) good; skilled

thông rụng lá

thông rụng lá
noun

larch (Larix)

thùng

thùng
noun

a barrel (round vessel made from staves bound with a hoop)
(by extension) the hip area of an outerwear bottom (pants, shorts, a skirt, etc.) within which a top is tucked in
(by extension) a cardboard box used to contain a fairly large amount of retail goods, typically beverage cans, milk bottles/packs or instant noodle packs

thơm

thơm
adj

fragrant, sweet-smelling; of a pleasant aroma

noun

a species of pineapple commonly found in southern Vietnam

verb

(colloquial, not on the lips) to kiss

thương

thương
noun

long-handled spear
lance
(only in compounds) commerce
(arithmetic) a quotient

affix

injury

verb

to love non-romantically
to feel sorry for
(Southern Vietnam, colloquial, euphemistic) to be in love with; to love romantically

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 傷
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 艙
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 蹡
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 瑲
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 殤
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 鏘
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 戧
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 槍
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 倉
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 蒼
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 觴
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 商

thước

thước
noun

a tool for measuring length
a Vietnamese yard, equal to 40 cm

thước Anh

thước Anh
noun

yard (three feet)

thược dược

thược dược
noun

(botany) a dahlia

thạch tùng

thạch tùng
noun

common club moss, Lycopodium clavatum

thảo

thảo
noun

grasses and herbs

verb

to write, to draft
to be pious, to be generous, to be open-handed, to be devoted, to be virtuous, to be dutiful

thầu dầu

thầu dầu
noun

(botany) castor oil plant; castor bean (a flowering plant of the species Ricinus communis)

thận

thận
noun

(anatomy) a kidney

thắng

thắng
noun

brake (of a vehicle, etc.)
victory
(sports) a score; a goal

verb

to stop a horse while riding him
to win something, to gain something
to win over someone
to caramelize

thẹo

thẹo
noun

scar, cicatrice

thị

thị
noun

yellow persimmon (gold apple), Diospyros decandra
(only in compounds) market

pron

(archaic or literary or formal, derogatory) she/her, that criminal
(archaic or literary, derogatory) you, bitch

verb

(only in compounds) to see

thịt

thịt
noun

human or animal flesh, especially meat, but mostly except fish and shellfish

thốt nốt

thốt nốt
noun

sugar palm, palmyra palm, wine palm

thớt

thớt
noun

a cutting board; a chopping board
(Internet, slang) thread (series of messages)

classifier

(historical or dated) Indicates certain animals, chiefly horses and elephants.

tim

tim
noun

(anatomy, cardiology) a heart

tin vịt

tin vịt
noun

canard, hoax

tiếng

tiếng
noun

voice
sound
language
reputation or renown
(linguistics) syllable
(linguistics, colloquial) dialect
(linguistics, prosody, colloquial) accent
(colloquial) hour

tiểu bang

tiểu bang
noun

(chiefly Overseas Vietnamese) state (a political division of a federation)
(Vietnam) the U.S. states

tre

tre
noun

bamboo

trung quân

trung quân
phrase

to be loyal to the monarch; loyalty to the monarch

noun

(archaic) Army of the Center, Central Army
Ancistrocladus tectorius, a plant species in the monogeneric family Ancistrocladaceae.

tràm

tràm
noun

melaleuca

trám

trám
noun

members of the genus Canarium

verb

to fill

trán

trán
noun

forehead

trâm

trâm
noun

hairpin
certain species of plants

trã

trã
noun

wide-mouthed and shallow earthen pot

tròng

tròng
noun

(of eyeglasses) a lens
Short for tròng đen (“iris”).
Short for tròng trắng (“sclera”).
a snare (typically on a long, metal pole)
(by extension) a ratchet wrench

verb

to put in; to insert something into

trúc

trúc
noun

a member of the genus of bamboo, Phyllostachys

trước

trước
prep

before (earlier than in time)
in front of

adv

before
ago

trường trung học

trường trung học
noun

secondary school

trường trung học cơ sở

trường trung học cơ sở
noun

junior high school

trường trung học phổ thông

trường trung học phổ thông
noun

high school

trượng

trượng
noun

(dated) stick, cane
(dated) staff, rod
(archaic) a unit of length
(North Central Vietnam) paternal uncle-in-law, father's sister's husband

trầu

trầu
noun

betel

trẩu

trẩu
noun

mu oil tree (Vernicia montana)
(neologism, slang) Contraction of trẻ trâu.

trốc

trốc
noun

(North Central Vietnam, anatomy) a head

trống

trống
adj

empty; vacant
(of a bird) male
(of an animal with cá (“fish”) in its name, including cetaceans) male

noun

(music) drum

trời

trời
noun

the sky
weather
(sometimes capitalized) a generic deification of the sky that is said to be able to grant "natural gifts" (talent, good weather, etc.) and deal heavenly "punishments" (storms, lightning, etc.); he may be conflated with the Ngọc Hoàng (“Jade Emperor”) borrowed from Chinese myths; the heavenly lord; compare Chinese 老天 (literally “old heaven”)

adj

(of anseriforms) wild
Used after ngày, tháng, or năm to emphasize a lengthy duration

intj

(colloquial) good Lord!

trụ

trụ
noun

pillar

verb

to last; to be able to continue (a competition, etc.)

trứng

trứng
noun

an egg (body housing an embryo; egg of domestic fowl as food item; ovum)

trứng cá

trứng cá
noun

(literally) a fish egg(s); roe
Muntingia calabura
Short for mụn trứng cá (“acne pimple”).

trứng gà

trứng gà
noun

chicken egg
the canistel, a tropical fruit (Pouteria campechiana)

tu-líp

tu-líp
noun

(botany) a tulip

tulip

tulip
noun

(botany) a tulip

tàu lượn siêu tốc

tàu lượn siêu tốc
noun

rollercoaster

táo

táo
noun

apple
jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana)
(rare) jujube (Ziziphus jujuba); jharber (Ziziphus nummularia)
(Southern Vietnam) plum
(colloquial) constipation

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 澡
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 躁
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 掃
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 臊
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 燥
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 氉
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 竈
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 扫
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 噪
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 趮
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 譟
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 棗
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 灶
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 棘
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 埽
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 喿
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 橾

táo ta

táo ta
noun

(botany) Indian jujube; Indian plum; Chinese apple; dunks (of the species Ziziphus mauritiana)
(botany) jharber (of the species Ziziphus nummularia)
(botany) a tree of the genus Ziziphus (generally)

táo tàu

táo tàu
noun

(botany) Chinese jujube; Chinese date; red date (of the species Ziziphus jujuba)

táo tây

táo tây
noun

(botany) apple (of the species Malus domestica)

tên

tên
noun

given name
(by extension) name
(informal, derogatory) person
(archery) arrow

classifier

Indicates hostile people, such as (enemy) soldiers (lính), criminals (tội phạm), etc.

tên chính

tên chính
noun

(uncommon) given name

tên chữ

tên chữ
noun

(dated) pen name
(historical) courtesy name
(historical) formal name or literary name, used in administrative written records, as opposed to tên Nôm (“demotic name”)

tên gọi

tên gọi
noun

name (any nounal word or phrase which indicates a particular person, place, class, or thing)
given name

tên hiệu

tên hiệu
noun

art name (pseudonym adopted by an artist)
(historical) nickname (familiar, invented given name)

tên hèm

tên hèm
noun

posthumous name

tên húy

tên húy
noun

(history) the name of a person, usually a noble, that is not meant to be said by the general public

tên họ

tên họ
noun

family name

tên lót

tên lót
noun

middle name

tên lửa

tên lửa
noun

a rocket
(military) a missile

tên miền

tên miền
noun

(computing) domain name; domain

tên tự

tên tự
noun

(dated) pen name
(historical) courtesy name

tên đệm

tên đệm
noun

middle name

tì bà

tì bà
noun

pipa (pear-shaped plucked lute) or one of its derivatives (Vietnamese dan ty ba, Japanese biwa, Korean bipa)
loquat

tía tô

tía tô
noun

perilla

tò he

tò he
noun

a kind of toy made from glutinous rice powder

tô

tô
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) bowl

verb

to apply color to

tôn

tôn
verb

to revere, to respect, to honor
(by extension) to strengthen and heighten
(by extension) to accentuate

adj

(only in compounds) revered, venerable

noun

(only in compounds) Alternative form of tông
sheet metal

tông-đơ

tông-đơ
noun

an electric razor

tù và

tù và
noun

blowing horn (sound device usually made of or shaped like an animal horn)

túi

túi
noun

bag
pocket
(zoology) pouch

túi ngủ

túi ngủ
noun

sleeping bag

tăm

tăm
noun

a toothpick
little air bubbles
(by exension) one's trace

tạ

tạ
noun

quintal (one hundred kilograms)
picul
dumbbell, weight

verb

(only in compounds, formal) to thank

tất

tất
adv

then surely; of course

noun

all; the whole of
(Northern Vietnam, colloquial) Clipping of bít tất (“sock”).

tầm gửi

tầm gửi
noun

mistletoe

tầm vông

tầm vông
noun

certain species of bamboo

tầm xuân

tầm xuân
noun

dog rose

tắc

tắc
noun

(Southern Vietnam) kumquat

verb

to be blocked; to be obstructed

tỏi

tỏi
noun

garlic

tủ

tủ
noun

cabinet; cupboard; wardrobe; chest; safe
(figuratively, colloquial) something valuable and useful that is kept by people to themselves, and only shown or used in times of need to win over others; stock-in-trade
(figuratively) part of a subject deemed to be high-yield in exams and chosen as the focus of one's study/exam preparation

verb

(Central Vietnam) to cover (with); to overlay (with)

tủ lạnh

tủ lạnh
noun

refrigerator

tựa

tựa
noun

Clipping of tựa đề (“title”).
the part of a chair that supports the back of a seated person

verb

to lean

particle

(literary) like; as if

van

van
verb

to beg, to implore

noun

valve
waltz

vang

vang
verb

to echo; to resound

noun

(colloquial) Short for rượu vang (“wine”).
sappanwood (Biancaea sappan)

vi
noun

(anatomy, especially of sharks) Alternative form of vây (“fin”)

prefix

micro-

vi-ô-lông

vi-ô-lông
noun

a violin

viết

viết
verb

to write

noun

(Southern Vietnam) non-chalk handheld writing instrument

viết chì

viết chì
noun

(Southern Vietnam) a pencil (graphite writing-instrument)

viễn chí

viễn chí
noun

milkwort (flowering medicinal herb of the genus Polygala)

vung

vung
noun

(Northern Vietnam) lid, cover

verb

(transitive) to brandish, flourish (to make bold, sweeping movements with)
(transitive) to raise up (something) with one's hands and toss it at the ground
(transitive) to squander

adv

freewheelingly

vá

vá
verb

to sew, to mend (to repair a tear in clothing)

noun

patch
(soup) ladle

vách

vách
noun

wall

váy

váy
noun

skirt (women's garment)
dress (women's garment)

vây

vây
verb

to encircle

noun

(anatomy) a fin

vè

vè
noun

(poetry) a rhyming poetic and song form, most typical of northern Vietnam
(rare) shoot (of rice plant)
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) pole erected to mark water level in a river or ditch
(Southern Vietnam) mudguard

verb

(Southern Vietnam) to draw near or nearer
(Southern Vietnam) to come alongside (another boat)

ví

ví
noun

wallet, purse

verb

(literary) to compare, to link to, to liken

conj

(archaic, literary) supposing (something unlikely happens); if

vò

vò
noun

jar (pot used to contain liquid)

verb

to crumple up
to make into a ball

vòi

vòi
noun

(anatomy, of an elephant or a tapir) a trunk
(anatomy, by extension) any tube-like organ
(by extension) a hose (flexible tube)

verb

to clamour for; to exact; to demand

võng

võng
noun

hammock

verb

to carry (a person) in a hammock
to sag down

vùng nhớ đệm

vùng nhớ đệm
noun

(computing) buffer (portion of memory set aside to store data)
(computing) cache (fast temporary storage)

vú sữa

vú sữa
noun

the star apple fruit, Chrysophyllum cainito

vĩ

vĩ
noun

(music) bow
(only in compounds) latitude
(only in compounds) great, grand

vĩ cầm

vĩ cầm
noun

(dated) Synonym of vi-ô-lông (“violin”)

vạc

vạc
noun

cauldron
black-crowned night heron

vạn thọ

vạn thọ
noun

(botany) Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta)

vả

vả
verb

to slap

noun

(botany) Ficus auriculata

adv

besides, again

vải

vải
noun

cloth, fabric
lychee

vảy

vảy
noun

(anatomy) scales

vầu

vầu
noun

Bambusa nutans

vẹt

vẹt
noun

(zoology) parrot
kite (flying toy on string)
Bruguiera, six species of mangrove plants of coastal areas from east Africa to northern Australia.

vỉ

vỉ
noun

trellis matting (used to lag bottom of a double boiler (chõ), usually made of bamboo)
something flat with many small holes in it, such as a fly swatter, a barbecue grill, etc.

classifier

Used for small flat objects containing many small items of the same type, such as blister packs (of medicine, batteries), etc.

vỏ

vỏ
noun

cover, bark, shell, sheath, husk, skin, peel, pot, crust
tyre, tire

vối

vối
noun

Syzygium nervosum

vồ

vồ
noun

a mallet

verb

(of animals) to pounce

vớ

vớ
verb

(colloquial) to seize (quickly); to grasp; to grip; to snatch
(vulgar) to come upon; to light upon

noun

(Southern Vietnam) a sock
(by extension, Southern Vietnam) stocking

vợt

vợt
noun

hand net; scoop net
racquet; bat

verb

to catch with a hand net

vụ

vụ
noun

season
case, affair
specialized department within a ministry
(dialectal) spinning top, humming top, gyro, fizgig

verb

(literary) to seek

vừng

vừng
noun

(Northern Vietnam) sesame

xa pô chê

xa pô chê
noun

(Southern Vietnam) sapodilla (Manilkara zapota)

xanh

xanh
adj

grue (green or blue)
(of a complexion) green (sickly, unwell)
(of fruit) green (unripe)
(literary, of people's head hair) youthfully black

noun

xe hơi

xe hơi
noun

(Southern Vietnam) car

xe lu

xe lu
noun

a road roller

xe lăn

xe lăn
noun

wheelchair

xe lửa

xe lửa
noun

(Southern Vietnam) train

xe rùa

xe rùa
noun

a wheelbarrow

xe đạp

xe đạp
noun

bicycle

xiên

xiên
noun

fork
skewer

verb

(transitive) to skewer, to impale

adj

slanted, oblique
(figuratively) crooked, dishonest

xoan

xoan
noun

(botany) bead tree; chinaberry, Melia azedarach

xoay

xoay
verb

to turn, to swivel

noun

Dialium cochinchinense

xoài

xoài
noun

mango

xà

xà
noun

squared beam (in a house)
Short for xà đơn (“horizontal bar”), xà kép (“parallel bars”) or xà lệch (“uneven bars”).

xà cừ

xà cừ
noun

Khaya senegalensis
mother-of-pearl, nacre

xà mâu

xà mâu
noun

(archaic, historical romance) snake lance, a kind of long lance
(bệnh ~) (medicine) mange

xác

xác
noun

corpse
(informal) body

xê-ri

xê-ri
noun

series (sequence of releases, broadcasts, etc.)

xí hổ

xí hổ
adj

shy; bashful; embarrassed

noun

touch-me-not; shy plant (Mimosa pudica)

xích đu

xích đu
noun

a swing hung by chains

xô

xô
noun

a bucket (container)

verb

to push; to shove

xúc tu

xúc tu
noun

(botany) tentacle

xăm

xăm
verb

to tattoo

noun

oracle; fortune stick (in temples)

xương rắn

xương rắn
noun

Euphorbia milii, the crown of thorns

xương rồng

xương rồng
noun

cactus

xấu hổ

xấu hổ
verb

to be ashamed; to be embarrassed
to be bashful; to be shy

noun

touch-me-not; shy plant (Mimosa pudica)

xẻng

xẻng
noun

a shovel

xửng

xửng
noun

(cooking) a steam boiler (often for sticky rice); steamer

yên

yên
adj

(literary) tranquil; peaceful
still and not disrupting

noun

(horsemanship) a saddle
(numismatics) yen

yếm

yếm
noun

a yem, a Vietnamese bodice based on the Chinese dudou.
(by extension) a garment that looks similar and that is worn in a similar fashion, such as a bib or a dudou
(by extension, of a crab, turtle or tortoise) the bottom side of a shell, such as a plastron
(by extension, of a bovine) a dewlap

ác-ti-sô

ác-ti-sô
noun

(botany) artichoke

ách

ách
noun

yoke

verb

to stop

áo

áo
noun

(clothing) a top
(by extension, clothing, rare) an outfit

áo ba lỗ

áo ba lỗ
noun

A-shirt

áo dài

áo dài
noun

(clothing) ao dai

áo khoác

áo khoác
noun

coat, jacket

áo may ô

áo may ô
noun

A-shirt

âm li

âm li
noun

(electronics, music) amp; amplifier

é
noun

(botany) lemon basil

óc chó

óc chó
noun

walnut

adj

(offensive) stupid, silly

ót

ót
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam, anatomy) nape

ô
noun

The name of the Latin-script letter Ô.
The name of the Latin-script letter O.
(Northern Vietnam, Central Vietnam) umbrella (cloth-covered frame used for protection against rain or sun)
(of a table or grid) a cell
a blank (space to be filled in on a form or template)

adj

(of a horse) black

ô-liu

ô-liu
noun

olive

ôm

ôm
noun

(dated) an armful
a hug
(physics) ohm

verb

to embrace; to hug
to harbour (grudges, hatred, dreams)

ý dĩ

ý dĩ
noun

Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi)

ăn mày

ăn mày
noun

(colloquial) beggar

verb

(colloquial, of a beggar) to beg for money

ăn trộm

ăn trộm
verb

to steal

noun

thief

đa

đa
noun

(botany) banyan

đao

đao
noun

a Chinese sabre
(rare) a katana
Down syndrome

đay

đay
noun

jute (genus Corchorus, especially the jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius)

verb

to nag; to grumble

đe

đe
noun

anvil

verb

to warn, to threaten

đinh

đinh
noun

a nail (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials)
(history) an adult man who has to contribute some type of tax (for being an adult man), or is subject to conscription
a share of fees that a male member is expected to contribute to his extended family's mutual fund

đinh ba

đinh ba
noun

(fiction, weaponry) the 九齒釘耙 (Cửu Xỉ Đinh Bá, literally “Nine-Toothed Rake”), the weapon of the magical pig man Zhu Bajie in Journey to the West
(weaponry) a trident

điếu cày

điếu cày
noun

pipe for smoking thuốc lào

điều

điều
noun

something to say or tell
something to think about or discuss
(business, law, of a contract or legislative bill) a clause
cashew

điện thoại di động

điện thoại di động
noun

mobile phone; cell phone

đu đủ

đu đủ
noun

papaya

đuôi

đuôi
noun

(anatomy) tail
(computing, colloquial) extension
(of a ship, boat, etc.) stern
(linguistics, colloquial) suffix

đuốc

đuốc
noun

torch

đàn

đàn
noun

flock, herd
a number of musical instruments (properly a string instrument, though used for a few non-string instruments)

verb

to play (a string instrument)

đàn hạc

đàn hạc
noun

harp

đàn xếp

đàn xếp
noun

accordion

đào

đào
noun

peach

verb

to dig up, to unearth
(historical) a songstress or an actress in certain types of Vietnamese performance art

đào lộn hột

đào lộn hột
noun

cashew

đãy

đãy
noun

large bag, sack

đèn

đèn
noun

a light; a lamp, an oil lamp, a light bulb, an incandescent light, a fluorescent light, a flashlight, etc.

đèn cầy

đèn cầy
noun

(Southern Vietnam) candle

đèn pin

đèn pin
noun

a flashlight

đình

đình
noun

(Northern Vietnam, Central Vietnam) village shrine

verb

(only in compounds) to stop, to postpone

đòn

đòn
noun

lever, carrying pole
(martial arts) a hit, a blow

đó

đó
pron

that place over there
that person/thing over there
that idea/notion I/we've just described/discussed

particle

(Southern Vietnam) emphasizes a quality that the listener may not have known; you see?; I'm telling you

noun

(fishing) a kind of fish trap

đùm

đùm
verb

to wrap around

noun

(colloquial) packet

đĩ

đĩ
noun

(vulgar) whore; prostitute
(Northern Vietnam, colloquial) little girl (of a peasant family); baby girl; girlie; kiddy
(Northern Vietnam, colloquial) Name used to call a close peasant friend who has a first-born baby girl.

adj