Common Vietnamese wordsMost common first, with meanings (part 1)
The 1,852 basic words to learn first. Choose a word for its dictionary page with pronunciation and examples.
VietnameseMeaning
- làto be / then (inevitably)
- aiwho / whoever or anyone
- khôngnot
- ngườiperson
- họthey or them / family name / family
- đâyhere / this / now
- cóto have
- chúng tawe (inclusive)
- nhàhouse / immediate family or household
- tôiI or me
- nướcwater / country
- côfemale teacher / paternal aunt / you (young adult woman)
- đóover there / that thing
- mộtone / only; sole
- đito go
- đấythere / I tell you; you know
- anhelder brother / I (older male) / you (young man)
- mìnhoneself / I/me / we/us
- tốtgood
- đồngfield / dong
- haitwo
- nóit / he or she
- ônggrandfather / you (middle-aged man) / man
- nămfive / year
- conchild; offspring / classifier for animals
- bàiclassifier for compositions
- câyplant or mushroom / tree or woody plant / classifier for plants
- họcstudy; learn
- gìwhat / anything
- tênname / given name
- yêulove
- đếnto arrive / to
- bathree / father
- mẹmother
- ngàyday / daytime / date
- lạiagain / to come / back
- đẹpbeautiful
- nghehear / listen / obey
- bạnfriend
- đúngcorrect
- bàa grandmother / you (mature woman)
- cáfish
- muốnto want
- đểin order to / to place or set / to let or leave
- thành phốcity
- thángmonth
- quảpiece of fruit / classifier for round objects / really or truly
- chúng tôiwe, us
- sáchbook
- đại họcuniversity
- bánh mìbread, baguette
- thầyteacher / male teacher
- phòngroom / to prevent
- xewheeled vehicle
- máy bayairplane
- ănto eat / to celebrate / to consume
- thíchlike
- uốngdrink
- ngôiclassifier for houses, temples, stars
- thứrank or category / thing / weekday
- xanhblue or green / unripe
- giờhour
- đọcto read
- ngủto sleep
- thời giantime / period of time
- thìas for / then
- kiathat (over there)
- bốfather / I (father to child) / he (one's father)
- cửadoor or window
- cácplural marker
- vàngyellow / gold
- cái gìwhat? / something
- mưarain
- thườngoften / common; frequent
- loworry
- vợwife
- saiwrong
- đêmnight
- mèocat
- hátto sing
- con gáigirl
- rồialready / then / OK
- thấyto perceive
- màucolor or colour
- con traiboy
- nhiềumany; much; a lot
- bàntable / discuss
- phimfilm; movie
- gầnnear or close
- đườngroad / sugar
- lớpa class / a layer
- giâysecond
- tiềnmoney
- nhạcmusic
- tiếnglanguage / sound / hour
- bệnh việnhospital
- chồnghusband
- cầnto need; to require
- chạyrun / operate normally / flee; run away
- sángmorning / bright
The order combines how often a word is used with dictionary and textbook sources.