(zoology) a Southern Yellow zebu (a bovine of the breed Feng cattle)
(zoology, by extension) any bovine from the subtribe Bovina
(informal) a unit of measurement for grain volume equivalent to the capacity of a condensed milk can

verb

to creep; to crawl (move slowly with the abdomen close to the ground)
(botany) to creep (to grow across a surface rather than upwards); to climb (to grow upwards by clinging to something)
to slowly climb

bò cạp

bò cạp
adj

(Southern Vietnam) shivering (from cold with teeth clattering); trembling

bò mộng

bò mộng
noun

a bull (uncastrated male cattle)

bò tót

bò tót
noun

gaur

bói cá

bói cá
noun

kingfisher

bù nhìn

bù nhìn
noun

scarecrow
(figuratively, politics) puppet

búp bê

búp bê
noun

a doll (a toy in the form of a human)

bươm bướm

bươm bướm
noun

(zoology) butterfly

bướm

bướm
noun

a butterfly
(slang, anatomy) vulva

bướm đêm

bướm đêm
noun

moth

bạc má

bạc má
noun

(bird) tit

bạch tuộc

bạch tuộc
noun

(zoology) an octopus (mollusc)

bạn

bạn
noun

a friend, mate, buddy, ally, etc.

pron

you (used for young person in their twenties)
(narratology) you (used to preferring to the one experiencing the story; the reader, the viewer, etc.)
(especially Southern Vietnam) you (used for a stranger who is roughly the same age as the speaker)

verb

(obsolete, literary) to revolt against; to oppose the higher power

bắp chuối

bắp chuối
noun

(zoology) a spiderhunter (bird of the genus Arachnothera)
(botany, literally) a banana blossom
(anatomy, figuratively) a calf muscle; gastrocnemius

bắp chuối mỏ dài

bắp chuối mỏ dài
noun

(zoology) a little spiderhunter (bird of the species Arachnothera longirostra)

bắt cô trói cột

bắt cô trói cột
noun

Indian cuckoo

intj

(onomatopoeia) The cry of an Indian cuckoo

bằng

bằng
adj

(of a surface) flat
(linguistics, poetry, of a tone) being a ngang or huyền tone
(poetry, of a rhyme) carrying a bằng tone
(mathematics) equal to
(geometry) congruent to

noun

diploma; certificate; license; degree
(rare, Chinese mythology) (chim ~) Peng, a giant mythical bird

prep

by; by means of
made of

verb

(with vào) to count (on), to depend (on)

bề bề

bề bề
noun

(Northern Vietnam) mantis shrimp

bọ

bọ
noun

insect; bug
(Southern Vietnam) guinea pig
(Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh) father; dad

bọ chét

bọ chét
noun

a flea (a parasitic insect of the order Siphonaptera)

bọ cánh cứng

bọ cánh cứng
noun

a beetle (of the insect order Coleoptera)

bọ cạp

bọ cạp
noun

a scorpion (any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones)

bọ gậy

bọ gậy
noun

(Northern Vietnam) mosquito larva

bọ hung

bọ hung
noun

dung beetle; scarab

bọ ngựa

bọ ngựa
noun

mantis

bọ que

bọ que
noun

stick insect

bọ rùa

bọ rùa
noun

ladybug/ladybird

bọ xít

bọ xít
noun

stinkbug

bọt biển

bọt biển
noun

sponge

bồ các

bồ các
noun

Eurasian magpie

bồ câu

bồ câu
noun

pigeon; dove

bồ nông

bồ nông
noun

(zoology) pelican

bồng chanh

bồng chanh
noun

common kingfisher

bổ củi

bổ củi
noun

click beetle

bộ đội

bộ đội
noun

a serviceperson of Vietnam's armed forces

chem chép

chem chép
noun

certain bivalve molluscs

cheo cheo

cheo cheo
noun

chevrotain; mouse deer (of the family Tragulidae)

chim

chim
noun

(zoology) a bird (an animal of the class Aves)
(slang, anatomy) penis, cock; dick

chim chích

chim chích
noun

(zoology) an acrocephalid warbler (a songbird of the family Acrocephalidae)

chim cánh cụt

chim cánh cụt
noun

a penguin (flightless sea bird)

chim công

chim công
noun

peacock

chim cút

chim cút
noun

quail

chim cắt

chim cắt
noun

a falcon

chim di

chim di
noun

munia

chim lợn

chim lợn
noun

barn owl (family Tytonidae)
(figuratively, slang) scout; spotter; spy; informant
(figuratively, slang) gossiper; gossipmonger

chim nhại

chim nhại
noun

mockingbird

chim ong

chim ong
noun

Synonym of chim ruồi (“hummingbird”)

chim ruồi

chim ruồi
noun

a hummingbird

chim sâu

chim sâu
noun

flowerpecker

chim sẻ

chim sẻ
noun

sparrow

chim điên

chim điên
noun

booby (bird)

chiên

chiên
verb

(chiefly Southern Vietnam) to fry

noun

(archaic, now only in compounds) lamb; young sheep
(Christianity) Christian; sheep

adj

made of animal fur or of imitation fur

chiến binh

chiến binh
noun

a warrior; combatant; fighter

chiền chiện

chiền chiện
noun

(zoology) a bird of the passerine family Cisticolidae

choi choi

choi choi
noun

(zoology) plover

chuồn chuồn

chuồn chuồn
noun

a dragonfly

chuồn chuồn kim

chuồn chuồn kim
noun

damselfly

chuột

chuột
noun

a rat, a mouse or the like
(anatomy, colloquial) biceps
(electrical engineering, of a fluorescent light set) a starter
(computer hardware) a mouse

chuột bạch

chuột bạch
noun

a white mouse, especially a white laboratory mouse

chuột chù

chuột chù
noun

a shrew (mouselike animal)

chuột chũi

chuột chũi
noun

a mole (burrowing insectivore)

chuột cống

chuột cống
noun

a rat (rodent)

chuột lang

chuột lang
noun

(zoology) guinea pig

chuột lắt

chuột lắt
noun

Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans)

chuột nhắt

chuột nhắt
noun

a mouse (rodent of the genus Mus)

chuột sóc

chuột sóc
noun

dormouse

chuột túi

chuột túi
noun

kangaroo

chuột đồng

chuột đồng
noun

a vole

chàm quạp

chàm quạp
noun

Calloselasma rhodostoma

chàng bè

chàng bè
noun

(zoology) pelican

chào mào

chào mào
noun

a red-whiskered bulbul; crested bulbul

châu chấu

châu chấu
noun

a flat-headed grasshopper or locust
(taxonomy) a grasshopper (an insect of the suborder Caelifera)

chèo bẻo

chèo bẻo
noun

black drongo

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)

chí

chí
noun

will; resolve; volition; determination
publication; record

prep

(rare as a standalone word, usually in compounds) to; until

verb

(in compounds) to arrive; to reach
(in compounds) most; extremely

chích bông

chích bông
noun

tailorbird

chích choè

chích choè
noun

(zoology) a magpie-robin; shama (bird of the genus Copsychus)
(zoology, by extension) any Old World flycatcher (of the family Muscicapidae)

chó

chó
noun

a dog

chó biển

chó biển
noun

(zoology) a true seal (of the family Phocidae)

chó cỏ

chó cỏ
noun

a common Vietnamese dog (often of a breed with short, tawny fur)

chó lài

chó lài
noun

an Indochinese dingo (one of the "national dogs" of Vietnam)

chó rừng

chó rừng
noun

jackal
(rare) dhole
(obsolete) wolf (Canis lupus)

chó sói

chó sói
noun

wolf (animal)

chó săn

chó săn
noun

a hunting dog
(derogatory, figuratively) a running dog; lackey; stooge

chó xù

chó xù
noun

(zoology) bichon

chó đốm

chó đốm
noun

Dalmatian (breed of dog)

chấy

chấy
noun

(Northern Vietnam) a head louse

verb

to fry and ground (prawn)

chằn

chằn
noun

(mythology) a kind of monster in Vietnamese folklore
(Western mythology) ogre

chỉ điểm

chỉ điểm
verb

to point out; to pinpoint; to indicate

noun

an informer; informant; spy

chị gái

chị gái
noun

(chiefly literary) Synonym of chị (“elder sister”)

pron

(rather childish) Synonym of chị (“you, that sister over there who I'm assuming is a little older than me”)

chồn

chồn
noun

(zoology) a weasel
(dialectal, in translations of Chinese fictions or the Bible) a fox

adj

dead tired; exhausted; fatigued and stiff

chữ

chữ
noun

(collective) alphabet, writing system, script
letter, character (symbol in an alphabet)
writing
handwriting (characteristic writing of a particular person)
(informal) a syllable, especially written and considered for "word" counts; compare từ (lexical word)
(informal) a Sinoxenic vocabulary item
(historical) courtesy name
(obsolete, literature) ancient words
(obsolete) an old type of coin
concept (as denoted by one Chinese character)

con

con
noun

a child (daughter or son)
(rare, chiefly in translations of ancient texts) a son
(rare, only in compounds) a small thing

pron

I/me, your child
(familiar or dialectal, chiefly Central Vietnam and Southern Vietnam) I/me, someone a lot younger than you
you, my child
(familiar or dialectal, chiefly Central Vietnam and Southern Vietnam) you, someone a lot younger than me

classifier

Indicates animals (including humans).
(disrespectful) Indicates female people.
Indicates knives, ships, boats, trains and eye pupils.
Indicates roads, rivers, streams and waves.
(somewhat literary) Indicates written characters.
(colloquial) Indicates wheeled vehicles.
(colloquial) Indicates video games and movies.

con gái

con gái
noun

girl (young female)
daughter

cu
noun

dove; pigeon (especially the wild ones)
(anatomy, informal) penis; cock; prick
(colloquial) boy

intj

(onomatopoeia) coo

cu li

cu li
noun

(historical, dated, offensive) coolie
(colloquial) a wage slave
loris

cua

cua
noun

(zoology) a crab (a crustacean of the infraorder Brachyura)
(dated, informal) corner, curve, bend (point where a route changes sharply)
(informal) period, term, round (period of time required to complete a task)

verb

(Southern Vietnam, slang) to take out a girl

adj

(informal) having a buzzcut, crewcut

cua đinh

cua đinh
noun

(zoology, Mekong Delta) soft-shell turtle

cun cút

cun cút
noun

buttonquail; hemipode

cuốc

cuốc
noun

swamphen
hoe
errand

verb

to hoe

cuốn chiếu

cuốn chiếu
verb

(literally) to roll one's mat
to wrap up; to summarize

noun

a millipede

cuốn chiếu viên

cuốn chiếu viên
noun

pill millipede (Oniscomorpha)

cà cuống

cà cuống
noun

lethocerus indicus; giant water bug

cào cào

cào cào
noun

a pointy-headed grasshopper or locust
(taxonomy) a locust (a grasshopper of the family Acrididae)

cá

cá
noun

a fish (vertebrate animal)

verb

(colloquial) to bet

cá ba đuôi

cá ba đuôi
noun

goldfish

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 hổ kình

cá hổ kình
noun

killer whale

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 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 nhồng

cá nhồng
noun

(zoology) barracuda

cá nóc

cá nóc
noun

most members in the Tetraodontiformes order
the Tetraodontiformes order

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 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 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

cái ghẻ

cái ghẻ
noun

itch mite

cánh cam

cánh cam
noun

ladybug/ladybird

cáo

cáo
noun

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

verb

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

cáy

cáy
noun

small crabs in Sesarmidae family

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)

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

côn

côn
noun

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

côn trùng

côn trùng
noun

insect

công

công
noun

peafowl; peacock; peahen; peachick
the amount of labor that will factor in your pay
accomplishment
(Confucianism) competence, one of the tứ đức (“four virtues”) that women are supposed to have
(physics) work
(only in compounds) duke
(neologism) a top; seme (in a male same-sex relationship)

adj

(formal or of a school) public or state-owned

verb

strike; hit

cù

cù
verb

(Northern Vietnam) to tickle; to entice

noun

humming top, spinning top

cù kì

cù kì
noun

(zoology) stone crab; thunder crab (Myomenippe hardwickii)

cù lần

cù lần
noun

loris

adj

(colloquial) slow on the uptake, dumb

cú

cú
noun

an owl (bird)

intj

(onomatopoeia) hoot

verb

to knuckle one's head

classifier

Used for a (usually quick) action.

cú lợn

cú lợn
noun

a barn owl

cú muỗi

cú muỗi
noun

nightjar

cú mèo

cú mèo
noun

a true owl

cú vọ

cú vọ
noun

a pygmy owl

cúc

cúc
noun

daisy; chrysanthemum
ammonite
(Northern Vietnam) button
antlion

cúi

cúi
noun

(zoology, archaic) pig

verb

to bend (one's body)

cúm

cúm
noun

(bệnh ~) (medicine) influenza; flu
certain species of crabs

cún

cún
noun

a puppy (young dog)

cún con

cún con
noun

a puppy (young dog)

cút

cút
noun

quail
a bottle-shaped container with an approximate volume of 1/4 or 1/8 litres, often used for holding liquor or used as a measuring vessel

intj

(informal, offensive) Beat it!; Take a hike!; Get lost!

verb

(informal, offensive) to beat it; to take a hike; to get lost

cương thi

cương thi
noun

(obsolete) zombie, undead

cưỡng

cưỡng
noun

(Southern Vietnam) Gracupica nigricollis, black-collared starling
(only in compounds) to force

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”).

cầu gai

cầu gai
noun

sea urchin

cầy

cầy
noun

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

cẩu

cẩu
noun

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

verb

to lift with a crane

cắc kè

cắc kè
noun

(dialectal) gecko

cắt

cắt
verb

to sever using a sharp object; to cut, snip, slit, trim, clip, shear, etc.
(mathematics) to intersect

noun

a falcon (bird of the genus Falco)

cọp

cọp
noun

(dialectal, chiefly Southern Vietnam) tiger

cốc

cốc
noun

glass, tumbler
cormorant

cồ cộ

cồ cộ
adj

(rare) big, large, great

noun

(dialectal) large locust
(dialectal) large black cicada

cờ hó

cờ hó
noun

(Internet slang, minced oath) Alternative form of chó (“dog; A-hole”)

cừu

cừu
noun

(zoology) sheep (of the genus Ovis)
(athletics) hurdle (artificial barrier over which athletes jump in a race)
(only in compounds) hatred; enemy

dam

dam
noun

(North Central Vietnam) field crab; freshwater crab

dao

dao
noun

knife

diều

diều
noun

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

diệc

diệc
noun

heron

don

don
noun

Atherurus macrourus, Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine

dã tràng

dã tràng
noun

(zoology) a sand-bubbler crab (especially of the family Dotillidae)

adj

(figuratively) useless; superfluous; unfruitful

dê

dê
noun

goat
The name of the Latin-script letter D.

adj

(colloquial, vulgar) lewd; lascivious

dúi

dúi
noun

bamboo rat

adv

headlong, headfirst

dơi

dơi
noun

(zoology) bat

dơi quạ

dơi quạ
noun

flying fox
megabat

dưa chuột biển

dưa chuột biển
noun

sea cucumber

dạ oanh

dạ oanh
noun

nightingale

dẽ

dẽ
noun

(zoology) curlew

adj

lumpy

dẽ giun

dẽ giun
noun

(zoology) a sandpiper (a shorebird of the family Scolopacidae)
(zoology) genus Gallinago (of the family Scolopacidae)

dế

dế
noun

cricket
(slang) cell phone/mobile phone

dế mèn

dế mèn
noun

cricket; house cricket

dế trũi

dế trũi
noun

mole cricket

dốc

dốc
verb

to slope, to dip
to pour out; to empty; to exhaust

noun

slope

dộc

dộc
noun

douc
langur

em
noun

a younger sibling
a cousin who is descended from an ancestor who is/was a younger sibling to oneself's or one's spouse's (such as a child of a younger sibling of one of one's parents or a grandchild of a younger sibling of one of one's grandparents)
a person younger than oneself but of the same generation
(formal) a child or a student

pron

(familiar) pronoun used to refer to younger person of the same generation
pronoun used to refer to younger siblings or cousins descended from an ancestor who is/was a younger sibling to one's own or one's spouse's
(formal) pronoun used to refer to a child or a student
pronoun used to refer to the girl or woman in a romantic relationship

adj

small; smaller

ghẹ

ghẹ
noun

(zoology) a swimming crab (of the family Portunidae)
(figuratively) a bully; tyrant
(slang) Alternative form of ghệ (“girlfriend”)

verb

to sponge (something from someone); to do at the expense of others

ghẻ

ghẻ
noun

(medicine) scabies
(colloquial) scab
Short for cái ghẻ (“itch mite”).

adj

(somewhat derogatory) step-

ghệ

ghệ
noun

(Southern Vietnam, colloquial, often disrespectful) girlfriend; girl

giun

giun
noun

a worm (animal)

giun chỉ

giun chỉ
noun

(zoology) a filarial roundworm of the species Wuchereria bancrofti

giun dẹp

giun dẹp
noun

(zoology) a flatworm; platyhelminth (of the phylum Platyhelminthes)

giun lươn

giun lươn
noun

(zoology) a threadworm (a roundworm of the species Strongyloides stercoralis)

giun tròn

giun tròn
noun

(zoology) a roundworm; nematode (of the phylum Nematoda)

giun đất

giun đất
noun

earthworm

giun đốt

giun đốt
noun

(zoology) a ringed worm; segmented worm; annelid (of the phylum Annelida)

gián

gián
noun

a cockroach (type of insect)

giòi

giòi
noun

a maggot (dipterous insect's larva that eats decomposing organic matter)

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

giông

giông
adj

(only in compounds) unlucky

noun

(zoology) salamander

giải

giải
noun

an accolade; prize; award
(by extension) an awards event
(by extension) a tournament
(zoology) a large soft-shell turtle (various species in the family Trionychidae)

verb

to relieve; to alleviate; to break down; to release; to liberate; to free; to raise (a seige)
(mathematics) to solve (a mathematics problem); to answer
Short for đi giải (“to relieve oneself; to pass water”).
to deliver (a criminal); to conduct under escort; to transport under guard
(Northern Vietnam) Alternative form of trải (“to spread out; to lay out”)

giẻ cùi

giẻ cùi
noun

red-billed blue magpie (Urocissa erythroryncha)
some other birds in the genera Urocissa and Cissa

gà

gà
noun

a chicken (bird)

adj

(slang) inexperienced or unskilled; newbie

verb

(card games) to up the ante
to give away an answer (e.g., to a math exercise)
(board games) to give a hint or tip; to forgo a turn

gà công nghiệp

gà công nghiệp
noun

an industrially raised chicken
(figuratively) a child who lacks common sense due to parental protectiveness

gà cồ

gà cồ
noun

cockerel, rooster, gamecock

gà gô

gà gô
noun

(zoology) grouse

gà lôi

gà lôi
noun

(zoology) certain species of pheasants

gà ri

gà ri
noun

(zoology) bantam

gà sao

gà sao
noun

helmeted guineafowl

gà tây

gà tây
noun

a turkey

gái

gái
noun

(collective) girls and women
(collective, informal, colloquial) whores

adj

(only in fixed expressions, of people) female
wife of, Mrs (when used after a pronoun or noun denoting a male person)

gõ kiến

gõ kiến
noun

a woodpecker

gấu

gấu
noun

a bear (large mammal of family Ursidae)
(slang) date; romantic partner

gấu trúc

gấu trúc
noun

a giant panda
a red panda

gấu túi

gấu túi
noun

a koala

gấy

gấy
noun

wife

gầm ghì

gầm ghì
noun

(zoology) dove, pigeon (especially the wild ones)

heo

heo
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) a pig (mammal of genus Sus)
(card games) a two

heo đất

heo đất
noun

(Southern Vietnam) piggy bank

hoàng oanh

hoàng oanh
noun

oriole

hoẵng

hoẵng
noun

muntjac

hà

hà
verb

to exhale, to breathe out (through mouth)

noun

(only in compounds) river
barnacle (marine crustacean)

hà mã

hà mã
noun

a hippopotamus

hào

hào
noun

hao, one tenth of đồng
a moat
oyster

adj

(used in compounds only) great; extraordinary

hàu

hàu
noun

(zoology) an oyster (a type of mollusc; especially of the family Ostreidae)

hôn

hôn
verb

(Northern Vietnam, formal in other dialects, especially on the lips) to kiss

noun

a kiss
(only in compounds) marriage
soft-shell turtle

adj

(only in compounds) dim, dark; indistinct
(only in compounds, figuratively) dim (witted); devious, evil

hù

hù
verb

to scare someone with a surprise

intj

boo (a loud exclamation intended to scare someone)

noun

wood owl

hùm

hùm
noun

(Central Vietnam or literary) tiger (Panthera tigris)

hùm xám

hùm xám
noun

blue tiger; Maltese tiger

hươu

hươu
noun

a deer

hươu cao cổ

hươu cao cổ
noun

a giraffe (mammal)

hươu sao

hươu sao
noun

a sika deer

hạc

hạc
noun

(zoology) crane

hạm

hạm
noun

battleship
(obsolete) a big tiger

hải li

hải li
noun

beaver

hải mã

hải mã
noun

seahorse
walrus

hải quỳ

hải quỳ
noun

a sea anemone

hải âu

hải âu
noun

birds in the Procellariidae and Diomedeidae families

hậu

hậu
noun

(chess) queen

prefix

post-
(history, of a dynasty) later (used to distinguish similarly named dynasties)

hắc tinh tinh

hắc tinh tinh
noun

(rare) chimpanzee

hẻm

hẻm
noun

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

adj

(of an alley) narrow

hồ li

hồ li
noun

(Chinese mythology) a type of fox yaoguai that disguises as a human; a fox in human's clothing
(rare, derogatory) a mistress

hổ

hổ
noun

tiger (Panthera tigris)
(archaic) elapid

adj

ashamed

hổ sư

hổ sư
noun

tigon

khách

khách
noun

someone who is not the owner, host or proprietor of a place and who's visiting or temporarily staying at that place; a guest, shopper, patron, customer, client, visitor, passenger, etc.; compare chủ (“owner; host; proprietor”)
(dated) celebrity
(dated, informal) Sino-Vietnamese (ethnic Chinese in Vietnam)
(onomatopoeia) treepie

khái

khái
noun

(North Central Vietnam) a tiger (The mammal Panthera tigris)

khỉ

khỉ
noun

a monkey (primate)
(loosely) an ape (animal)

khỉ đột

khỉ đột
noun

a gorilla (a kind of ground-dwelling great ape)

khọn

khọn
noun

(obsolete) monkey

khổng tước

khổng tước
noun

peafowl, peacock, peahen, peachick

khủng long

khủng long
noun

a dinosaur
(by extension) some other prehistoric reptiles, such as pterosaurs and ichthyosaurs

khủng long bạo chúa

khủng long bạo chúa
noun

a T. rex

ki
noun

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

kiến

kiến
noun

kiến lửa

kiến lửa
noun

a fire ant

kiến sư tử

kiến sư tử
noun

antlion

kè

kè
noun

(dialectal) fan palm
lizardfish
revetment

két

két
noun

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

kênh

kênh
noun

canal; waterway
(geography, technology, communication, business) channel

verb

to slightly raise one end or side of a heavy object

adj

not even; warped; shaky; unsteady

kì giông

kì giông
noun

a salamander

kì lân

kì lân
noun

(Chinese mythology) qilin
(by extension, mythology) unicorn

kì lân biển

kì lân biển
noun

narwhal

kì nhông

kì nhông
noun

an iguana

kì đà

kì đà
noun

(biology) monitor lizard

kền kền

kền kền
noun

vulture

kễnh

kễnh
noun

(dialectal) tiger

kịch

kịch
noun

play, drama
common moorhen

la
verb

to cry, to shout
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to reprimand, to scold

noun

a horse-donkey hybrid; a mule or a hinny

le le

le le
noun

(zoology) lesser whistling duck

linh cẩu

linh cẩu
noun

hyena (mammal)

linh dương

linh dương
noun

antelope

linh miêu

linh miêu
noun

lynx

loan

loan
noun

hen-phoenix

lân

lân
noun

(dated) phosphorus
the qilin, one of the four sacred beasts, along with the dragon, the tortoise and the fenghuang

verb

(only in compounds) to encroach

lãi

lãi
noun

(finance) interest
parasitic worms

lính

lính
noun

(military) a servicemember; soldier; trooper
(figuratively) a subordinate; drone

lăng quăng

lăng quăng
noun

mosquito larva

lươn

lươn
noun

an Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus)
(colloquial) median strip, central reservation, roadway divider

lười

lười
adj

lazy; slothful

noun

a sloth

lạc đà

lạc đà
noun

a camelid

lạch

lạch
noun

rivulet, canal, creek

lật đật

lật đật
adj

(ideophonic) hurried; in a hurry

noun

(toy) tumbler

lệch

lệch
adj

be deviated, be out of orbit

noun

eel of the genus Pisodonophis

lịch

lịch
noun

calendar
timetable; schedule
(Southern Vietnam) Alternative form of lệch (“eel of the genus Pisodonophis”)

adj

(Southern Vietnam) Alternative form of lệch (“inclined; uneven; aberrant”)

lợn

lợn
noun

(zoology, Northern Vietnam) pig

lợn lòi

lợn lòi
noun

wild boar

lợn nước

lợn nước
noun

(obsolete) a hippopotamus

lừa

lừa
noun

a donkey

verb

to dupe; to trick

lửng

lửng
noun

badger

adj

(only in fixed expression) not absolute, definitive, conclusive or well-defined, especially in terms of length, height or completeness of ideas or thoughts; in-between; medium

lửng chó

lửng chó
noun

raccoon dog, tanuki

ma
noun

ghost (spirit appearing after death)
(archaic) a demon
(archaic) magic

ma men

ma men
noun

(colloquial) drunkard

ma mút

ma mút
noun

(voi~) mammoth

ma nữ

ma nữ
noun

(fiction) the ghost of a dead girl or woman

ma trơi

ma trơi
noun

will o' the wisp

mai hoa

mai hoa
noun

red avadavat; red munia; strawberry finch

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

manh giông

manh giông
noun

min

min
pron

(archaic, literary) I; me

noun

(dialectal) gaur

miu

miu
noun

(rare) a pussy-cat (affectionate term for a cat)

moi

moi
verb

to drag out, to dig out

noun

a kind of sea shrimp

moóc

moóc
noun

walrus
Short for rơ moóc (“trailer”).

muỗi

muỗi
noun

a mosquito

muỗm

muỗm
noun

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

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 xà

mãng xà
noun

some kind of giant, monstrous, wicked snake or serpent, perhaps resembling a python (hence the alternative name trăn tinh (literally “monstrous python”)), in Vietnamese folklore

mèo

mèo
noun

verb

meow

mèo mướp

mèo mướp
noun

tabby cat

mèo tam thể

mèo tam thể
noun

calico cat

mòng

mòng
noun

certain flies in the Tabanidae family

mòng biển

mòng biển
noun

seagull

mòng két

mòng két
noun

a teal (bird)

móng tay

móng tay
noun

fingernail
solenid

mương

mương
noun

ditch, trench

mạt

mạt
noun

certain species of mites and lice

adj

extremely poor; be in deep poverty

mắt

mắt
noun

(anatomy) an eye
a knot (in wood); a joint; a node
a mesh; a link (in chain, net)

mắt cá

mắt cá
noun

(literally) a fish eye
(anatomy) a malleolus
(dermatology) a plantar wart

adj

(photography, film, of lenses or shots) fisheye

mọt

mọt
noun

weevil

mối

mối
noun

termite
(dialectal) common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)
knot; end (of entangled thread or string)
negotiator; go-between

classifier

Used for romantic relationships or a sentiment of hatred

verb

(colloquial) to be a matchmaker

mực

mực
noun

ink (coloured fluid used for writing)
ink (dark fluid ejected by squid, etc.)
squid (sea animal)
Short for dây mực (“line made by a carpenter's ink marker”).
(only in fixed compounds and expressions) level

adj

(of a dog) black

mực khổng lồ

mực khổng lồ
noun

giant squid, any of the very large squid, of the genus Architeuthis (family Architeuthidae)

nai

nai
noun

a sambar deer
(by extension) any species of deer

adj

(slang) innocent; naive

ngan

ngan
noun

Muscovy duck

ngao

ngao
verb

(of a cat) to meow

noun

certain bivalves

nghé

nghé
intj

(onomatopoeia) The cry of a water buffalo calf

noun

water buffalo calf; baby water buffalo

nghê

nghê
noun

a creature that has the traits of a dog and a lion, serves as a guardian of temples, similar to a Chinese guardian lion

nghêu

nghêu
noun

clam

ngoáo ộp

ngoáo ộp
noun

bugaboo, bugbear

ngoé

ngoé
noun

small frog

ngài

ngài
noun

(North Central Vietnam) human
moth

pron

(highly formal, respectful) you
(highly formal, respectful) he, him
(highly formal, respectful, rare) she, her

ngươi

ngươi
pron

(archaic or literary) you

noun

pupil (the hole in the middle of the iris of the eye)

người

người
noun

a human being
human character
human physical state; body
(literary) other people

classifier

indicates people, except infants

pron

(literary, polite or endearing) you
(literary, polite) he/him; she/her

ngỗng

ngỗng
noun

goose

ngựa

ngựa
noun

(zoology) horse
(colloquial) Short for sức ngựa (“horsepower”).
(Southern Vietnam) trestle

adj

(figuratively, chiefly Southern Vietnam, slang, derogatory) over-the-top flashy; gaudy; provocative; flirtatious; promiscuous; etc.

ngựa trời

ngựa trời
noun

(Southern Vietnam) mantis

ngựa vằn

ngựa vằn
noun

a zebra (African animal)

nhái

nhái
noun

small frog
tree frog

verb

(disapproving) to imitate; to mimic; to copy

nhân sư

nhân sư
noun

(mythology) sphinx

nhím

nhím
noun

a porcupine
(by extension) a hedgehog (animal)

nhóc

nhóc
noun

(colloquial) kid, child, brat

adj

(Southern Vietnam, colloquial) full of; filled with

nhông

nhông
noun

agama

nhũ mẫu

nhũ mẫu
noun

a nanny (child's nurse)

nhạn

nhạn
noun

certain members of the Hirundinidae family

nhặng

nhặng
noun

flies in the Calliphoridae family

verb

to make a fuss

nhền nhện

nhền nhện
noun

spider

nhện

nhện
noun

a spider

nhồng

nhồng
noun

the common hill myna

nòng nọc

nòng nọc
noun

a tadpole (toad or frog larva)

nô lệ

nô lệ
noun

a slave

oanh

oanh
noun

oriole

ong

ong
noun

ong bầu

ong bầu
noun

carpenter bee

ong bắp cày

ong bắp cày
noun

wasp

ong khoái

ong khoái
noun

giant honey bee (Apis dorsata)

phi

phi
verb

(of a horse) to gallop
to flee; to travel very quickly
to lance (to throw in the manner of a lance)
to stir-fry (an onion, scallion, or clove of garlic) before preparing a dish

prefix

non-, in-

conj

if it isn't

noun

Various species of saltwater clam of the genus Sanguinolaria, such as Sanguinolaria diphos and Sanguinolaria planculata.
phi (Φ)
concubines, mistresses, ladies of a monarch.
wives, consorts of a junior monarch such as a prince.

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 妃
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 痱
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 不
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 霏
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 髬
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 腓
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 斐
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 丕
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 蜚
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 披
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 騑
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 鯡
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 扉
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 緋
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 飛
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 非
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 紕
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 菲
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 呸

phò

phò
noun

(derogatory) a whore; a prostitute

verb

(dated, literary) to help, to assist (a royalty)

phù du

phù du
noun

a mayfly

adj

(literary) ephemeral

phượng

phượng
noun

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

phượng hoàng

phượng hoàng
noun

(Chinese mythology) a fenghuang
(by extension, mythology) a phoenix

phụ nữ

phụ nữ
noun

a woman

phụng hoàng

phụng hoàng
noun

(uncommon) Alternative form of phượng hoàng

quan hệ

quan hệ
noun

a relation or relationship

quái

quái
noun

freak, monster

adj

(informal) strange; odd; weird; bizarre, freakish
mischievous, sly

adv

(not) at all

intj

used to express surprise

quái thú

quái thú
noun

monster; beast; kaiju

quái vật

quái vật
noun

monster

quân tử

quân tử
noun

(archaic, endearing, women's speech) my darling man; my dear husband
a superior person (usually morally; though in some contexts also socially)

quạ

quạ
noun

a crow
a raven

quản lí

quản lí
verb

to manage, to administer

noun

manager

ruồi

ruồi
noun

a fly (insect of the order Diptera)

rái

rái
noun

otter

rái cá

rái cá
noun

otter

rít

rít
verb

to shriek, to screech
to smoke (through a pipe, most notably a điếu cày)

adj

frictious

rùa

rùa
noun

turtle; tortoise

rươi

rươi
noun

ragworm, clam worm

rầy

rầy
verb

to chide, to rebuke, to scold

adj

(North Central Vietnam) ashamed, embarrassed

noun

certain small insects

rận

rận
noun

body louse (Pediculus humanus)

rắn

rắn
noun

a non-constricting snake, as opposed to a trăn (“constricting snake”)

adj

hard; firm; rigid
(physics) solid

rắn cạp nia

rắn cạp nia
noun

a Bungarus candidus (Malayan krait)

rắn cạp nia biển

rắn cạp nia biển
noun

a yellow-lipped sea krait

rắn cạp nong

rắn cạp nong
noun

a banded krait

rắn hổ

rắn hổ
noun

an elapid

rắn hổ mang

rắn hổ mang
noun

a cobra (venomous snake)

rắn lục

rắn lục
noun

a green viper

rắn mối

rắn mối
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) skink

rắn đuôi chuông

rắn đuôi chuông
noun

a rattlesnake

rết

rết
noun

a centipede

rồng

rồng
noun

dragon

rồng rồng

rồng rồng
noun

(zoology) baby snakehead

rổi

rổi
noun

fishing boat

sa giông

sa giông
noun

newt

sam

sam
noun

a horseshoe crab
common purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

sao biển

sao biển
noun

a starfish (various echinoderms)

sao la

sao la
noun

a saola

se sẻ

se sẻ
noun

(zoology) sparrow

sen

sen
noun

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

so
verb

(transitive) To compare.
(transitive) To pair up.
(intransitive) To straighten one's shoulders, as if to compare one's height to another's.

adj

firstborn

noun

Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, mangrove horseshoe crab

suối

suối
noun

stream

sán

sán
noun

(zoology) a parasitic flatworm (of the phylum Platyhelminthes)

verb

to physically approach; to come near

sán dây

sán dây
noun

(zoology) a tapeworm; cestode (a flatworm of the class Cestoda)

sán lá

sán lá
noun

(zoology) a fluke; trematode (a flatworm of the class Trematoda)

sán xơ mít

sán xơ mít
noun

(zoology) a kind of tapeworm (of the genus Taenia)

sáo

sáo
noun

blackbird
starling
myna
bamboo flute
bamboo screen

adj

clichéd; tired

sâm cầm

sâm cầm
noun

(zoology) Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)

sâu

sâu
adj

deep (having its bottom far down)
(of a tooth) with a cavity

adv

deeply

noun

a caterpillar (larva of a butterfly)

sên

sên
noun

slug
chain (of a vehicle)

sò

sò
noun

ark clam

sò huyết

sò huyết
noun

blood cockle; blood clam (Tegillarca granosa)

sóc

sóc
noun

a squirrel (rodent)
a small Khmer village

verb

(only in compounds) to take care of, to look after

sóc chuột

sóc chuột
noun

chipmunk

sói

sói
noun

a wolf (animal)
Siamese jackal (Canis aureus cruesemanni) (See Sói rừng - Vietnamese Wikipedia.)

adj

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) Synonym of hói

sóng

sóng
noun

wave

verb

to shake out even

sông

sông
noun

river (large stream which drains a landmass)

sông băng

sông băng
noun

glacier

sĩ

sĩ
noun

(obsolete or only in compounds) person of letters; intellectual; scholar; fighter; officer; official
(xiangqi) advisor, a piece labeled with the characters 士 (black) and 仕 (sĩ, red)

adj

(archaic) intelligent; wise; well educated

verb

(colloquial) Short for sĩ diện (“to be egoistic, to be snobbish”).

sơn ca

sơn ca
noun

(zoology) Oriental skylark (Alauda gulgula)

sư hổ

sư hổ
noun

liger

sư tử

sư tử
noun

lion

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.

sẻ

sẻ
noun

(zoology) sparrow

verb

to divide, to share

sếu

sếu
noun

crane (bird)

số

số
noun

(mathematics, grammar) number
size
amount; count
destiny; fate; lot
issue (a single edition of a newspaper or other periodical publication)
(automotive) gear

adj

digital
(slang) gangstalike; with attitude

sốc

sốc
adj

shocking
shocked

verb

to shock (usually in an unpleasing kind of way)

noun

(medicine) shock

sứa

sứa
noun

jellyfish

tem

tem
noun

(postage) a postage stamp
Short for tem bảo hành (“warranty sticker”).

thiên nga

thiên nga
noun

(archaic) wild goose
swan

thiêu thân

thiêu thân
noun

Synonym of phù du (“mayfly”)

thiếu nữ

thiếu nữ
noun

(often literary) a young girl

thoi

thoi
noun

(weaving) a shuttle

thuyền

thuyền
noun

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

thuyền độc mộc

thuyền độc mộc
noun

(nautical) a dugout; logboat

thuồng luồng

thuồng luồng
noun

(mythology) an aquatic serpent-like monster (see Leviathan, Jörmungandr and Hydra).
(archaic) a crocodile

thuỷ tức

thuỷ tức
noun

a hydra (any of several small freshwater polyps of the genus Hydra and related genera)

thác

thác
noun

fall, waterfall

verb

(literary, poetic) to die.

thòi lòi

thòi lòi
noun

mudskipper

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

thù

thù
noun

a feud

verb

to detest

thú

thú
noun

a hobby
(dated or literary) a beast
(chiefly zoology) a mammal
an animal

adj

(literary) interesting; intriguing

verb

to confess; to admit; to own to
(colloquial) Short for đầu thú (“to surrender oneself”).

thú có túi

thú có túi
noun

a marsupial

thú lông nhím

thú lông nhím
noun

echidna

thú mỏ vịt

thú mỏ vịt
noun

platypus

thú vật

thú vật
noun

animal, usually four-legged

thương binh

thương binh
noun

a handicapped war veteran

thạch sùng

thạch sùng
noun

(Northern Vietnam, North Central Vietnam) a common house gecko

thằn lằn

thằn lằn
noun

a lizard
(Southern Vietnam) common house gecko
(by extension) certain kinds of prehistoric reptile

thằn lằn bóng

thằn lằn bóng
noun

(Northern Vietnam) skink

thỏ

thỏ
noun

a rabbit
(by extension) a leporid
(informal) telex typing of Thor (Marvel character)

tim

tim
noun

(anatomy, cardiology) a heart

tinh tinh

tinh tinh
noun

a chimpanzee

tinh trùng

tinh trùng
noun

(cytology) a sperm cell

trai

trai
noun

(collective) boys and men
oyster

adj

(only in fixed expressions, of people) male

triết

triết
noun

certain species of weasel

tru

tru
verb

(of an animal) to howl
(only in compounds) to eliminate

trâu

trâu
noun

(zoology) a water buffalo; Asiatic buffalo (a bovid of the species Bubalus bubalis)
(zoology, by extension) any buffalo of the genus Bubalus or the subtribe subtribe

adj

(slang, video games) enduring; tough; hard

trùn

trùn
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) a worm (more specifically an earthworm)

trút

trút
verb

to unload
to dump
to pour

noun

pangolin

trăn

trăn
noun

a non-venomous constricting snake, as opposed to a rắn (“non-constricting snake”); a python, a boa, an anaconda, etc.

trĩ

trĩ
noun

(zoology) certain species of pheasants
(medicine) haemorrhoids

trạnh

trạnh
noun

large tortoise or turtle

tu hú

tu hú
noun

koel (genus Eudynamys), especially the Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)

tuần lộc

tuần lộc
noun

reindeer

tàu

tàu
noun

one of several types of vehicle or craft, usually large, designed for navigation in or on water, in air, on rails, or through outer space
a large leaf

adj

Alternative letter-case form of Tàu (“Chinese”)

tàu tuần dương

tàu tuần dương
noun

a cruiser (class of warships)

tép

tép
noun

a small shrimp

tép riu

tép riu
noun

Caridina flavilineata, a species of small shrimp
(by extension, colloquial) an unimportant thing; a trivial thing
(by extension, colloquial, derogatory) a weakling; a nobody

tê

tê
adj

numb

pron

(Central Vietnam) that; there; those

noun

The name of the Latin-script letter T.
(obsolete) rhinoceros

tê giác

tê giác
noun

(archaic) a rhinoceros horn
a rhinoceros

tê tê

tê tê
noun

pangolin

tình

tình
noun

the ability to feel affection or compassion
(literary) romantic love
a romantic relationship

tít

tít
noun

(informal, of a news article) title
(North Central Vietnam) centipede

adj

hermetically closed

adv

(colloquial) far away

tò he

tò he
noun

a kind of toy made from glutinous rice powder

tò vò

tò vò
noun

a wasp

tôm

tôm
noun

shrimp, prawn

tôm hùm

tôm hùm
noun

lobster

tôm tít

tôm tít
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) mantis shrimp

tù nhân lương tâm

tù nhân lương tâm
noun

a prisoner of conscience

tườu

tườu
noun

(vulgar, as an insult) monkey

tượng

tượng
noun

statue
(rare, usually humorous) elephant
(xiangqi) elephant, a piece labeled with the characters 象 (black) and 相 (tướng, red)
(by extension, chess) bishop

tắc kè

tắc kè
noun

a gecko

tắc kè hoa

tắc kè hoa
noun

a chameleon

tằm

tằm
noun

silkworm

tốt

tốt
adj

good, as in high-quality, well-made, well executed, good-natured or ethical; compare hay (“good as in inventive, brilliant or entertaining”) and giỏi (“good as in skilled or competent”)
(of head hair or facial hair) very dense or long, more so than it should be

noun

(xiangqi) soldier, a piece labeled with the characters 卒 (black) and 兵 (binh, red)
(by extension, chess) pawn
(figuratively) pawn

uyên ương

uyên ương
noun

(zoology) a mandarin duck (a perching duck of the species Aix galericulata)
(zoology) a duck of the genus Aix (generally)
(figuratively) a lovebird; member of a romantic couple

ve
noun

cicada
tick
small bottle or jar
glass (substance) (only in the compound bi ve (“glass marble”))

verb

(chiefly in compounds) to flirt

ve sầu

ve sầu
noun

(animals) cicada

voi

voi
noun

an elephant (mammal)

voi biển

voi biển
noun

walrus

voi ma-mút

voi ma-mút
noun

(zoology) mammoth

voọc

voọc
noun

(Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh) a monkey (primate)
a langur

vích

vích
noun

an olive ridley sea turtle

vít

vít
noun

screw

verb

to pull down, to wrest down

vượn

vượn
noun

a gibbon
(loosely) an ape (animal)

vượn cáo

vượn cáo
noun

a lemur (strepsirrhine primate of the infraorder Lemuriformes, superfamily Lemuroidea)

vạc

vạc
noun

cauldron
black-crowned night heron

vật cưng

vật cưng
noun

a pet

vắt

vắt
verb

to rest something on something
to wring (clothes)
to squeeze (a piece of fruit to get juice out of it)

noun

a land-leech

vẹm

vẹm
noun

certain bivalve molluscs

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.

vịt

vịt
noun

a duck (aquatic bird of the family Anatidae)

vịt giời

vịt giời
noun

(Northern Vietnam, humorous or disapproving) a daughter, whom a family may be disappointed to have because of patriarchy (that favors boys to take care of their immediate families and extended families, and to maintain their family names), or who may possess disapproved stereotypically feminine qualities such as talkativeness, whining and nagging that's likened to a duck's or goose's quacking

vịt trời

vịt trời
noun

a wigeon

vịt xiêm

vịt xiêm
noun

(Southern Vietnam) Muscovy duck

vụ

vụ
noun

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

verb

(literary) to seek

xe
noun

wheeled vehicle (except for airplanes)
(xiangqi) chariot, a piece labeled with the characters 車 (xa, black) and 俥 (red)
(by extension, chess) rook

adj

(obsolete) many

xe đạp

xe đạp
noun

bicycle

xuyên sơn

xuyên sơn
noun

(rare) pangolin

xuồng

xuồng
noun

canoe

xén tóc

xén tóc
noun

longhorn beetle

yêu quái

yêu quái
noun

a monster or wicked spirit

yêu tinh

yêu tinh
noun

(mythology, fiction) evil spirit

yến

yến
noun

a swift (bird)
(loosely) Synonym of én (“swallow”) (bird)
(archaic) a banquet
a unit of weight, equal to 10 kilograms

yểng

yểng
noun

common hill myna (Gracula religiosa)

ác

ác
adj

cruel; evil; inhumane; merciless
(informal, of a remark, joke or prank) savage

noun

(literary) evil
(North Central Vietnam) crow

ác là

ác là
noun

Eurasian magpie

ác thú

ác thú
noun

(literary) wild beast; behemoth

én

én
noun

a swallow (bird)
(loosely) Synonym of yến (“swift”) (bird)

ó
noun

buzzard, hawk

ăn mày

ăn mày
noun

(colloquial) beggar

verb

(colloquial, of a beggar) to beg for money

ăn xin

ăn xin
verb

to beg (for money etc.)

noun

(colloquial) beggar

đa đa

đa đa
noun

a Chinese francolin (Francolinus pintadeanus)

đam

đam
noun

(North Central Vietnam) field crab; freshwater crab

đi-ốt

đi-ốt
noun

a diode

điệp

điệp
noun

(archaic, literary) butterfly
(dialectal) fenghuang
scallop (bivalve mollusc)
scallop powder (used in papermaking)
(archaic, literary, figuratively) sleep
(archaic, historical) official message; official letter

verb

to repeat; to reduplicate
(in compounds) to spy

đom đóm

đom đóm
noun

a firefly

đuông

đuông
noun

a beetle's grub that live in a coconut trunk

đà điểu

đà điểu
noun

long-legged ratite

đàn bà

đàn bà
noun

a woman

đàn ông

đàn ông
noun

a man

đèo

đèo
noun

mountain pass

verb

to carry (on one's back)
to carry (on one's vehicle); to transport

đê

đê
noun

(geology) dike
The name of the Latin-script letter Đ.
The name of the Latin-script letter D.

particle

(colloquial) Alternative form of đi (imperative sentence-ending particle)

đò

đò
noun

a boat for travel on rivers, especially for sightseeing or getting across to the other bank

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