We have the famous saying in Vietnam, “Struggling with storms is nothing compared to mastering Vietnamese grammar.” However, once you’ve overcome this language barrier, endless fun awaits exploration. One of the fastest ways to get close to the language and, of course, to the locals is to learn some fun and valuable Vietnamese slang or reach out to professionals at writepaper for more language advice. Here is our take on Vietnamese slang and some common fun phrases to remember!
What to Know about Vietnamese Slangs
- Vietnamese slang is extraordinarily rich. There are different regions and ethnic groups, and each province has its dialects.
- Vietnamese slangs are widely used within the community (mainly via social networks). You can easily see its appearance on TV Shows, in movies, on the streets, or even at the doorstep of your hotel.
- Vietnamese slang is up-to-date because it is created daily from ordinary life. However, it does not have the best “life expectancy” since slang can be replaced quickly.
- The main users of slang are the young generation.
Why You Should Learn Vietnamese Slangs
- Learning Vietnamese slang is the most exciting way to learn more about Vietnamese culture since it is used every day by various classes of people.
- Using slang can make you sound more natural since Vietnamese slang is genuinely expressive.
- Proper use of Vietnamese slang brings humor to your conversation and makes you less alienated.
You can also look at The History of the Vietnamese Alphabet
Some Fun and Useful Vietnamese Slangs to Learn
Slangs to Express Emotions
- “Đỉnh”: excellent
- “Bó tay”: get stuck, “I have no solution” or “I’m speechless”
- “Quắc cần câu”: wasted drunk
Example: “Anh ấy say quắc cần câu” = He is wasted.
- “GATO” or “Ghen ăn tức ở”: jealous
- “Kết”: have an interest in something or somebody
Example: “Tôi kết chiếc áo này” = “I like this shirt”
- “Phết”: (modifying adverb) pretty, fairly
Example: “Món ăn này ngon phết” = “This food is pretty good”
- “Gắt”: (modifying adverb) very, hard
Slangs to Show Actions
- “Thả thính” or “Cưa”: flirt with somebody
Example: “Anh ta đang thả thính với tôi” = “He is trying to flirt with me”
- “Đổ”: fall in love (“đổ” literally means “to fall hard”)
- “Dìm hàng”: defame somebody or you just took a bad picture of somebody
Example: “Tấm ảnh ngày hôm qua dìm hàng tôi quá” = “I look bad on the photos from yesterday”
- “Quẩy”: party, go clubbing, and have fun
Example: “Tối nay đi quẩy không?” = “Do you want to hang out tonight?”
- “Đu đưa”/ “Đi đu đưa đi”: Let’s hang out!/ Let’s go clubbing!
- “Leo cây”: get stood up
Slangs to Indicate Characteristics
- “Trẻ trâu”: youngsters that always tend to do crazy things
- “Bánh bèo”: a girl who is overly girly, bland, (usually) weak, and dependent
- “Công tử bột”: an over-protected man who comes from a decent family and is (often) weak-looking; might be equivalent to “mama’s boy”
- “Đào mỏ: a gold-digger
- “Bà xã”: wife
- “Ông xã”: husband
Tips for Applying Vietnamese Slangs to Our Lives
- Try to get the true meaning of Vietnamese slang from a local since slang is often metaphorical and can be easily misinterpreted.
- Only use slang once you have fully understood the appropriate context.
- Never try to use slang in business meetings in Vietnam as you might appear unprofessional.
- If you are not a master of Vietnamese slang, don’t worry! Pay attention to the speaker’s non-verbal communication and remember some common Vietnamese phrases.
- English in Vietnam is the second most popular language so you can still use a few familiar English words to communicate.
Our Take on Vietnamese Slangs
Vietnamese slangs are very fun to learn and use in our daily lives. Thanks to their extension of expression, we can indicate our feelings clearly and connect. So, why not start picking up this slang and having fun? If you know other useful Vietnamese slangs, share it with our readers in the comment section down below!