In Vietnamese you can't say "hello", or even "I" and "you", without first deciding how you're related to the person you're talking to. This chapter teaches that system, then how to greet people, introduce yourself, and be polite.
6.1 Saying hello
The everyday word is chào. It means both "hello" and "goodbye". You almost always say who you're greeting, using the word for that person (see 6.2):
| Vietnamese | When |
|---|---|
| Hi! (to a man a bit older than you) | |
| Hi! (to a woman a bit older than you) | |
| Hi! (to someone younger) | |
| Hi! (to someone your age) | |
| Hello! (formal: to a group, a stranger, or on a sign) |
Xin chào is the textbook "hello", but in everyday life it sounds stiff. A plain chào plus the person is much more natural.
Being extra polite
To someone older, or someone you want to show respect to, put yourself first and add ạ at the end:
Hello (from a younger person, politely).
Hello (to a woman about your parents' age).
Saying goodbye
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Bye! (nha makes it warm and friendly, very Southern) | |
| Goodbye. | |
| See you again! |
6.2 Who's who: words for "I" and "you"
Vietnamese uses family words for "I" and "you". You choose them by comparing your age (and the other person's gender). Calling a stranger "older brother" isn't strange at all: it's how everyone talks.
| Call them… | It means | Use it for | And call yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| older brother | a man a bit older than you | ||
| older sister | a woman a bit older than you | ||
| younger sibling | anyone younger than you | or | |
| aunt | a woman about your parents' age; a female teacher | ||
| uncle | a man about your parents' age | ||
| grandmother | an older woman | ||
| grandfather | an older man | ||
| friend | someone your age; anyone, in neutral settings | , , |
A few more things to know:
- is the neutral "I", polite with strangers. is the relaxed Southern version, and is friendly "I" among friends.
- (child) is what Southerners call themselves when talking to anyone their parents' age or older, from a shopkeeper to a friend's mother.
- For "you all", add các: , , .
Not sure? For an adult who isn't elderly, use for a man and for a woman, and call yourself . It's polite, slightly flattering, and almost never wrong.
He and she
Add ấy ("that") for he or she: (he, a young man), (she, a young woman), (he, an older man).
In the South, these often shrink into one word with the hỏi tone: (anh ấy), (chị ấy), (ông ấy), (bà ấy), (cô ấy). You'll hear this all the time in Saigon.
6.3 Introducing yourself
Two patterns cover most introductions.
Name: Tôi tên là ___, "I name is ___". In relaxed speech you can drop là.
My name is Lan.
I'm Minh. (to someone older, relaxed)
Who you are: A là B links two things: "A is B".
I'm American. (người = person, Mỹ = America)
This is Minh. (đây = this, here)
Some countries: (America), (Britain), (Australia), (France), (Vietnam). Put người in front for the people: (an Australian).
là only links two things. "I am happy" doesn't use là at all. Chapter 8 covers that.
Then finish with Nice to meet you. (Swap anh for whoever you're talking to.)
6.4 Asking someone's name
In a Vietnamese question, gì ("what") sits where the answer goes, at the end:
What's your name? (literally "you name what?")
What's your name? (to someone younger)
Where are they from? nước = country, nào = which:
Where are you from? (literally "you are a person of which country?")
And you? Turn the question around with còn:
And you?
6.5 Polite words
| Vietnamese | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| yes (polite) | The Southern polite yes. Also how you answer when someone calls you. | |
| (respect) | Added at the end of a sentence to someone older. | |
| thank you | Add the person: Often said cám ơn in the South. | |
| you're welcome | Literally "it's nothing". | |
| sorry; excuse me | ||
| it's okay, no problem | ||
| (friendly) | Southern softener at the end: |
Southerners say a lot: to say yes, to show they're listening, and to answer when called. In the North you'll hear vâng instead.
6.6 Dialogues
At a café. Lan (25) meets Mark (30), an American.
- Lan: Hello!
- Mark: Hi! What's your name?
- Lan: I'm Lan. And you?
- Mark: I'm Mark. I'm American.
- Lan: Nice to meet you!
- Mark: Same here. Thanks!
- Lan: You're welcome. Bye!
Lan is younger, so she calls herself em and calls Mark anh. Mark does the reverse.
At a market stall. Mark greets the owner, a woman about his mother's age.
- Mark: Hello!
- Cô: Hi! What's your name?
- Mark: I'm Mark.
- Cô: Where are you from?
- Mark: I'm American.
Now Mark is the younger one, so he becomes con and calls her cô.
6.7 Practice
Decide what to call each person, and what to call yourself.
A man a few years older than you
anh, and you're em:
A woman about your mother's age
cô, and you're con:
A new classmate your own age
bạn, and you're tôi, tui or mình:
A child
em, and you're anh (if you're a man) or chị (if you're a woman):
Say: "Thank you" to a woman a bit older than you
Say: "My name is …, I'm Australian."
Tôi tên là …, tôi là người Úc. For example:
Vocabulary
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| hello; goodbye | |
| hello (formal) | |
| goodbye | |
| older brother; you (to a man a bit older) | |
| older sister; you (to a woman a bit older) | |
| younger sibling; you (to someone younger) | |
| aunt; you (to a woman your parents' age) | |
| uncle; you (to a man your parents' age) | |
| child; I (to someone your parents' age or older) | |
| friend; you (to someone your age) | |
| I (friendly) | |
| name | |
| this; here | |
| country | |
| which | |
| yes (polite, Southern) | |
| thank you | |
| you're welcome | |
| sorry; excuse me | |
| it's okay |
Flashcards
Study Vietnamese (Southern) › 06 Greetings and introductions in the Anki deck.