'''Vietnamese''' is one of the most-spoken languages in the world, with around 90 millions native speakers. It is the official language in Vietnam and also widely spoken in places where the Vietnamese have immigrated such as the United States and Australia. Vietnamese grammar is very simple: nouns and adjectives don't have genders, and verbs aren't conjugated. Vietnamese is a tonal language; the meaning of a word depends on how high or low your voice is. Vietnamese is not related to Chinese, though it contains many loan words from Chinese due to centuries of Chinese rule in Vietnam, and even used Chinese-like characters as its writing system until Vietnam was colonised by the French.
Pronunciation guide
Vietnamese spelling is more or less phonetic, and generally similar to Portuguese (which it is based on). Once you figure out how to pronounce each letter and tone, you have a pretty good idea of how to pronounce Vietnamese, which has very few exceptions compared to English.
Unless otherwise indicated, pronunciation throughout this phrasebook is for Southern (Saigon) Vietnamese, which is quite different from Northern (Hanoi), North Central (Vinh) or Central (Hue) Vietnamese.
Vowels
;a
:like 'a' in "f'''a'''ther": ''b'''a'''''.
;?
:like 'a' in "f'''a'''ther", except said very quickly: ''ch'''?'''n''.
;a
:like 'u' in "h'''u'''t", except shorter: ''s'''a'''n''.
;e
:like 'eah' in "y'''eah'''": ''ch'''e'''''.
;e
:like the Canadian English "eh": ''ca ph'''e'''''.
;i
:like 'ee' in "s'''ee'''" or "d'''ee'''d": ''p'''i'''n''.
;o
:like "awwwww...", but not ''quite'' as long: ''ly d'''o'''''.
;o
:like the first component of the diphthong 'ow' in "l'''o'''w": ''a-lo''.
;?
:like ''a'', except longer: ''b?''.
;u
:like 'oo' in "hoop": ''Na '''U'''y''.
;?
:like 'oo' in "b'''oo'''k", with a hint of the 'i' in "l'''i'''ck": ''th'''?'''''.
Consonants
; b : like 'b' in "'''b'''ed". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; c : like 'c' in "'''c'''at", with a hint of the 'g' in "'''g'''one".
; d : in the South (Ho Chi Minh City), like 'y' in "'''y'''es"; in the North (Hanoi), like 'z' in "'''z'''ip". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; ? : like 'd' in "'''d'''og". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; g : like 'g' in "'''g'''o".
; h : like 'h' in "'''h'''elp".
; k : like 'c' in "'''c'''at", with a hint of the 'g' in "'''g'''one". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; l : like 'l' in "'''l'''ove". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; m : like 'm' in "'''m'''other".
; n : like 'n' in "'''n'''ice".
; p : like 'p' in "'''p'''ig".
; r : like 'r' in "row", or like 'tt' in "bu'''tt'''er" (when said quickly in the American accent). Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; s : like 'ss' in "hi'''ss'''". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; t : like 't' in "'''t'''ime", with a hint of the 'd' in "'''d'''og".
; v : like 'v' in "'''v'''ictory". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; x : like 's' in "kick'''s'''". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; y : like 'y' in "'''y'''es".
; ch : at the beginning of a syllable, like 'ch' in "tou'''ch'''"; at the end, like 'ck' in "si'''ck'''" (but it is never enunciated).
; gh : like 'g' in "'''g'''o". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; kh : somewhat like 'c' in "'''c'''at" (enunciated). Identical to the "ach-Laut" sound in German. Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; ng, ngh : like 'ng' in "si'''ng'''-along": '''''Ng'''a''.
; ph : like 'ph' in "'''ph'''one".
; th : like 'th' in "'''th'''ink". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; tr : like 'tr' in "'''tr'''ee". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; ch : like 'ch' in "'''ch'''at". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
Other combinations
; gi : like 'z' in "'''z'''ip". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; qu : like 'qu' in "'''qu'''est". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
; uy : like 'wi' in "'''wi'''n".
Tones
In Vietnamese, syllables can have six different tones, with five of them indicated by tone marks applied to the syllable's main vowel. Tone marks can be combined with the other diacritics.
; a : flat
; a : high rising; example: ''??y'', like saying "day?"
; a : low
; a : creaky
; ? : falling, then rising
; ? : a low "a'ah"
Grammar
One important difference between Vietnamese and Western languages is that Vietnamese has no equivalent of the second-person pronoun, "you." Strange as it might sound, conversational Vietnamese takes place almost entirely in the third person. To Western ears, talking in the third person sounds stilted and pretentious, though to Vietnamese ears, it is natural. Vietnamese has a word for "I", ''toi'', but Vietnamese would use it only in abstract or formal situations (such as public speaking, addressing a television camera, or writing in a book.) Only foreigners use ''toi'' in conversation, which sounds stilted to Vietnamese, but they understand why it is done and come to expect it.
In conversational Vietnamese, the proper way to refer to yourself and others depends on a hierarchy of age and sex. Many of the terms have a literal meaning of family relationships, though they are used for all people on all occasions. Options include:
''Con'' (child, pronounced "kon", and – parents will be amused – also means animal)
''Em'' (younger sibling, male or female – refers to anyone younger than you but older than a child; also to a woman of the same age or your girlfriend if you are a man)
''Anh'' (older brother – man older than you by up to 20 years or so, or man of the same age or your boyfriend if you are a woman)<BR>
''Ch?'' (older sister – woman older than you by up to 20 years or so)
''Chu'' (uncle, father's younger brother – man older than you by more than 20 years)
''Co'' (aunt – woman older than you by more than 20 years, or a female teacher)
''Bac'' (aunt or uncle, father's older sibling – refers to an elderly person, 60+ years old, who is not the oldest person on the scene)
''Ong'' (grandfather – refers to an elderly man, 60+ years old)
''Ba'' (grandmother – refers to an elderly woman, 60+ years old)
Choose one from the list to represent yourself, and one to represent the person you are talking to, depending on sex and relative age. For example, to get the attention of a waiter or waitress in a restaurant, say ''em/anh/chi oi'' (oi being the ubiquitous Vietnamese term for "hey"). If you listen closely, when people address you or talk about you in Vietnamese, they will be using these terms. They will be very impressed if you can master this! The one time it gets awkward is when speaking to someone of the same sex and, as far as you can tell, about the same age.
For simplicity, however, many phrases below are are translated without the relevant terms for you and/or your listener: For example, "How are you" is literally translated as "Healthy or not?" It is generally impolite to speak to a person without directly addressing them unless they're a subordinate, but Vietnamese usually don't take offense when foreigners omit this. Wherever you see ''toi'' below, you can substitute one of the words above according to the circumstance.
Phrase list
The following are very commonly-used phrases. They are listed in a general order of importance:
Basics
; Hello. : Chao. (''jow'')
; Hello. (''on the phone'') : A-lo. (''AH-loh'')
; How are you? (Are you healthy?) : Kh?e khong? (''kweah kohng?'')
; Fine, thank you. (I am healthy, thank you.) : Kho?, c?m ?n. (''kweah, gam uhhn'')
; What is your name? (''formal, to an older man'') : Ong ten la gi? (''ohng theyn la yi'')
; What is your name? (''formal, to an older woman'') : Ba ten la gi? (''ba theyn la yi'')
; What is your name? (''very informal, to a man'') : Anh ten la gi? (''ayng theyn la yi'')
; What is your name? (''very informal, to a woman'') : Co ten la gi? (''goh theyn la yi'')
; My name is ______ . : Toi ten la ______ . (''Thoye theyn la _____ .'')
<!-- ; Nice to meet you. : Nice to meet you. (''NIGHSS t' meet YOO'') -->
; Please. : Lam ?n. (''lam uhhn'')
; Thank you. : C?m ?n. (''gam uhhn'')
; You're welcome. : Khong sao ?au. (''kohng sao doh'')
; Yes. : Vang (affirmative). (''vuhng''); D? (affirmative, respectful) (''ya'a'') ; ?ung (correct) (''duhn'')
; No. : Khong. (''kohng'')
<!-- ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : Excuse me. (''ehkz-KYOOZ mee'')
; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : Excuse me. (''ehkz-KYOOZ mee'') -->
; I'm sorry. : Xin l?i. (''seen loh'EE'')
; Goodbye : Chao. (''jow''), Tambiet
; I can't speak Vietnamese [well]. : Toi khong bi?t noi ti?ng Vi?t [gi?i l?m]. (''thoy kohng bee-IT noh-Y thee-IHNG vee'it [yi-oh-i lahm]'')
; Do you speak English? : Bi?t noi ti?ng Anh khong? (''bee-IT noh-Y thee-IHNG ayng kohng'')
; Is there someone here who speaks English? : Co ai ?ay bi?t noi ti?ng Anh khong? (''GAW ai dey bee-IT noh-Y thee-IHNG ayng kohng'')
; Help! : C?u (toi) v?i! (''gih-OO (thoy) vuh-y!'') Thoi cang nguoi giup toi.
; Look out! : C?n th?n! (''guhn tuh'n!'')
<!-- ; Good morning. : Good morning. (''guhd MOAN-ing'')
; Good evening. : Good evening. (''guhd EEV-ning'')
; Good night. : Good night. (''guhd NIGHT'')
; Good night (''to sleep'') : Chuc ng? ngon. (''good NIGHT'') -->
; I don't understand. : Toi khong hi?u. (''thoy kohng hee-oh'')
; Where is the toilet? : C?u tieu ? ?au? (''goh thee-oh uh duh-oh'') (this phrase may be considered impolite)
; Be back soon : S? quay l?i s?m
Problems
; Leave me alone. : ??ng lam phi?n toi. (''DUHung LAHm fien Thoy'') (beware that "Thoi" with a fat and long sounding "T" translates to "enough!" in standard Vietnamese)
; Don't touch me! : ??ng ??ng toi! (''DUHung DUHooung Thoy'')
; I'll call the police. : Toi s? g?i c?nh sat./Toi s? g?i cong an. (''Thoy seEh GAWoy Kanh Sat/ Thoy seEH GAWoy Kong aanh'')
; Police! : Cong an!/C?nh sat! (''Kong aanh!/Kanh Sat'')
; Stop! Thief! : Ng?ng l?i! ?n tr?m! (''GNoong LAai! Anh Chom!'')
; I need your help. : C?n (second person pronoun) giup cho toi. (''Khan yip CHo Thoy'')
; It's an emergency. : Vi?c nay kh?n c?p. (''VAHech nuhay Khan gup'')
; I'm lost. : Toi b? l?c. (''Thoi bee lack'')
; I lost my bag. : Toi b? m?t cai gi?. (''Thoi bee mUHtt kai yah'')
; I lost my wallet. : Toi b? m?t cai vi. (''Thoi bee mUHtt kai veee'')
; I'm sick. : Toi b? b?nh. (''Thoi bee binh'')
; I've been injured. : Toi ?a b? th??ng. (''Thoi DAH bee Tahuung'')
; I need a doctor. : Toi c?n m?t bac s?. (''Thoi Khan moat back see'')
; Can I use your phone? : Toi dung ?i?n tho?i c?a (second person pronoun) ???c khong? (''Thoi young dean tahoaI KOOa DUHuc KHAong'')
Numbers
(Phonetic approximations are in italics, and English words that sound very similar are in quotes.)
When giving your age, it is common to say just the digits, e.g., "three-one" instead of "thirty-one".
; 0 : ce-ro (''seh roh'')/khong (''kumm, kowm, humm, or howm'' depending on the speaker and adjacent words)
; 1 : m?t (''mo'oht'', though most of the time comes out "moke" with a very slight swallowing of the final "k" sound)
; 2 : hai ("high")
; 3 : ba (''bah'')
; 4 : b?n ("bone")
; 5 : n?m ("nahm")
; 6 : sau (''sao'')
; 7 : b?y (''bai-ee'', almost like "buy" in English)
; 8 : tam (''tahm'')
; 9 : chin ("chean")
; 10 : m??i (''meui'')
; 11 : m??i m?t (''muh-uh-ee mo'oht'')
; 12 : m??i hai (''muh-uh-ee hai'')
; 13 : m??i ba (''muh-uh-ee bah'')
; 14 : m??i b?n (''muh-uh-ee bohn?'')
; 15 : m??i l?m (''muh-uh-ee lahm'')
; 16 : m??i sau (''muh-uh-ee sao?'')
; 17 : m??i b?y (''muh-uh-ee buh-ee'')
; 18 : m??i tam (''muh-uh-ee thahm?'')
; 19 : m??i chin (''muh-uh-ee jeen?'')
; 20 : hai m??i (''hai muh-uh-ee'')
; 21 : hai m??i m?t (''hai muh-uh-ee moht?'')
; 22 : hai m??i hai (''hai muh-uh-ee hai'')
; 23 : hai m??i ba (''hai muh-uh-ee bah'')
; 30 : ba m??i (''bah muh-uh-ee'')
; 40 : b?n m??i (''bohn? muh-uh-ee'')
; 50 : n?m m??i (''nahm muh-uh-ee'')
; 60 : sau m??i (''sao? muh-uh-ee'')
; 70 : b?y m??i (''buh-ee muh-uh-ee'')
; 80 : tam m??i (''thahm? muh-uh-ee'')
; 90 : chin m??i (''jeen? muh-uh-ee'')
; 100 : m?t tr?m (''moht cham'' or often just "cham")
; 200 : hai tr?m (''hai cham'')
; 300 : ba tr?m (''bah cham'')
; 1000 : m?t ngan/nghin (''mo'oht ngang/ngeen...'')
; 2000 : hai ngan/nghin (''hai ngang/ngeen...'')
; 1,000,000 : m?t tri?u (''mo'oht chee'ou'')
; 1,000,000,000 : m?t t?/t? (''mo'oht thee'ee?'')
; 1,000,000,000,000 : m?t ngan/nghin t?/t?
; number _____ (''train, bus, etc.'') : s? _____ ("so?")
; half : n?a (''neu-uh?'')
; less : it h?n (''eet huhhhn'')
; more : h?n (''huhhhn''), them (''tehm'')
Time
; now : bay gi? (''bee yuh...'')(northern dialect example: 'buy zaa')
; later : lat n?a (''laht? neu'uh?'')
; before : tr??c (''jyeuck?'')(northern dialect example: 'Tchuck')
; morning : sang (''sahng?'')
; afternoon : chi?u (''jee-oh'')(northern dialect example: hard 'ch', like TR down tone)
; evening, night : t?i (''thoh-ee''), ?em (''dehm'')
Clock time
; one o'clock AM : m?t gi? sang (''moht. yuh sahng?'')
; two o'clock AM : hai gi? sang (''hai yuh sahng?'')
; noon : tr?a (''jyeu-uh'')
; one o'clock PM : m?t gi? chi?u (''moht. yuh jee-oh'')
; two o'clock PM : hai gi? chi?u (''hai yuh jee-oh'')
; midnight : n?a ?em (''neu-uh dehm'')
Duration
; _____ minute(s) : _____ phut (''foodt'')
; _____ hour(s) : _____ ti?ng (''thee-uhng?'')
; _____ day(s) : _____ ngay (''ngai'')
; _____ week(s) : _____ tu?n (''thoo-uhn'')
; _____ month(s) : _____ thang (''tahng?'')
; _____ year(s) : _____ n?m (''nahm'')
Days
; today : hom nay ("home nye")
; yesterday : hom qua (''hohm gwah'')
; tomorrow : mai ("my")
; this week : tu?n nay (''thoo-uhn nai'')
; last week : tu?n qua (''thoo-uhn gwah'')
; next week : tu?n sau (''thoo-uhn sao'')
The days of the week are simply numbered, with the exception of Sunday:
; Sunday : ch? nh?t (''joo nyuht.'')
; Monday : th? hai (''teu? hai'')
; Tuesday : th? ba (''teu? ba'')
; Wednesday : th? t? (''teu? theu'')
; Thursday : th? n?m (''teu? nahm!'')
; Friday : th? sau (''teu? sao?!'')
; Saturday : th? b?y (''teu? buh-ee?'')
Months
Vietnamese does not have special names for each month. Instead, the months are simply numbered. Take the word ''thang'' and add the month's number (see #Numbers above). For example:
;March
:thang 3 / thang ba (''tahng? ba'')
Writing time and date
;Friday, December 17, 2004
:Th? sau, ngay 17 thang 12 n?m 2004
;12/17/2004
:17/12/2004
;<nowiki>2:36 AM</nowiki>
:Hai gi? 36 sang
;<nowiki>2:36 PM</nowiki>
:Hai gi? 36 chi?u
;Two in the morning
:Hai gi? sang
;Two in the afternoon
:Hai gi? chi?u
;Ten in the evening
:M??i gi? ?em
;Half past two
:Hai gi? r??i
;Noon
:Tr?a; 12 gi? tr?a
;Evening
:N?a ?em; 12 gi? ?em
Colors
When describing the color of an object etc., use the word below. When referring to the color itself, use ''mau'' or ''m?u'' followed by the word below.
; black : ?en ("Dan")
; white : tr?ng (''chahng?!'')
; gray : xam (''sahm?'')
; red : ?? (''daw... aw?'')
; blue : xanh n??c (''sahyng neu-uhk?'')
; yellow : vang (''vahng...'')
; green : xanh (la cay) (''sahyng lah? kay'')
; orange : cam (''kahm'')
; purple : tim ("just as it is written, ''tim' but long 'i'")
; brown : nau ("know")
Transportation
Bus and train
; How much is a ticket to _____? : M?t ve ??n _____ la bao nhieu? (''mo'oht veah? dehn? _____ lah... bao nyee-oh'')
; One ticket to _____, please. : Xin cho toi m?t ve ??n _____. (''seen jyaw thoh-ee mo'oht veah? dehn? _____'')
; Where does this train/bus go? : Tau/xe nay ?i ?au? (''thoe.../seah nay...! dee doh'')
; Where is the train/bus to _____? : Tau/xe ?i ??n _____ ? ?au? (''thoe.../seah dee dehn _____ uh...uh? doh'')
; Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Tau/xe nay co ng?ng t?i _____ khong? (''thoe.../seah nay...! goh? ngeung... thah'ee _____ kohng'')
; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : Tau/xe ?i _____ ch?y luc nao? (''thoe.../seah dee _____ jyah'ee loohk? nahh-oh...'')
; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Khi nao tau/xe nay x? ??n _____? (''kee nahh-oh thoe.../seah nay...! seah'uh? dehn? _____'')
Directions
; How do I get to _____ ? : Lam sao toi ??n _____ ? (''...'')
; ...the train station? : ...nha ga? (''...'')
; ...the bus station? : ...tr?m xe buyt? (''...'')
; ...the airport? : ...phi tr??ng (''fee cheu-uhng...''); ...san bay? (''...'')
; ...downtown? : ...thanh ph?? (''...'')
::Xu?ng ph? lam sao? (''Soo-uhng? foh? lahm... sao'')
; ...the youth hostel? : ...nha tr? cho khach du l?ch? (''...'')
; ...the _____ hotel? : ...khach s?n _____? (''...'')
; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...toa lanh s? M?/Canada/Australia/Anh? (''...'')
; Where are there a lot of... : N?i nao co nhi?u... (''...'')
; ...hotels? : ...khach s?n? (''...'')
; ...restaurants? : ...nha hang? (''...'')
; ...bars? : ...quan r??u? (''...'')
; ...sites to see? : ...th?ng c?nh? (''...'')
; Can you show me on the map? : Ch? tren b?n ?? cho toi ???c khong? (''...'')
; street : ???ng(''...'')
; Turn left. : Qu?o trai. (''...'')
; Turn right. : Qu?o ph?i. (''...'')
; left : trai(''...'')
; right : ph?i (''...'')
; straight ahead : tr??c m?t (''...'')
; towards the _____ : ti?n ??n _____ (''...'')
; past the _____ : qua _____ (''...'')
; before the _____ : tr??c _____ (''...'')
; Watch for the _____. : Canh ch?ng _____. (''...'')
; intersection : nga ba/t?/n?m/sau/b?y (3/4/5/6/7-way intersection) (''...'')
; north : b?c (''...'')
; south : nam (''...'')
; east : ?ong (''...'')
; west : tay (''...'')
; uphill : len d?c (''...'')
; downhill : xu?ng d?c (''...'')
Taxi
; Taxi! : Taxi! (''tha? see'')
; Take me to _____, please. : Take me to _____, please. (''...'')
; How much does it cost to get to _____? : How much does it cost to
get to _____? (''...'')
; Take me there, please. : Take me there, please. (''...'')
Lodging
; Do you have any rooms available? : Co con phong khong? (''...'')
; How much is a room for one person/two people? : Gia phong cho m?t/hai ng??i la bao nhieu? (''...'')
; Does the room come with... : Trong phong co ... khong? (''...'')
; ...bedsheets? : ...ga tr?i g??ng? (''...'')
; ...a bathroom? : ...phong v? sinh? (''...''); ...phong c?u tieu (''...'')
; ...a telephone? : ...phon ("phone"); ...?i?n tho?i? (''...'')
; ...a TV? : ...TV? (''thee vee'')
; May I see the room first? : Toi xem phong tr??c co ???c khong? (''...'')
; Do you have anything quieter? : Co phong nao yen t?nh h?n khong? (''...'')
; ...bigger? : ...l?n h?n khong? (''...'')
; ...cleaner? : ...s?ch h?n khong? (''...'')
; ...cheaper? : ...r? h?n khong? (''...'')
; OK, I'll take it. : OK, toi l?y phong nay. (''...'')
; I will stay for _____ night(s). : Toi s? ? _____ ?em. (''...'')
; Can you suggest another hotel? : Co th? gi?i thi?u cho toi m?t khach s?n khac ???c khong? (''...'')
; Do you have a safe? : Co ket an toan khong? (''...'')
; ...lockers? : ... t? g?i ??? (''...'')
; Is breakfast/supper included? : Co kem theo b?a sang/t?i khong? (''...'')
; What time is breakfast/supper? : ?n sang/t?i luc m?y gi?? (''...'')
; Please clean my room. : Xin hay d?n phong toi. (''...'')
; Can you wake me at _____? | Xin ?anh th?c toi d?y luc _____? (''...'')
; I want to check out. : Toi mu?n check out. (''...'')
Money
; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Co l?y ?o la M?/Uc/Canada khong? (''...'')
; Do you accept British pounds? : Co l?y b?ng Anh khong? (''...'')
; Do you accept credit cards? : Co nh?n th? tin d?ng khong? (''...'')
; Can you change money for me? : ??i ti?n cho toi ???c khong? (''...'')
; Where can I get money changed? : Toi co th? ?i ??i ti?n ? ?au? (''...'')
; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Co th? ??i sec du l?ch cho toi ???c khong? (''...'')
; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Toi co th? ??i sec du l?ch ? ?au? (''...'')
; What is the exchange rate? : T? gia la bao nhieu? (''...'')
; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : May rut ti?n (ATM) ? ?au? (''...'')
Eating
; A table for one person/two people, please. : Cho toi m?t ban cho m?t/hai ng??i. (''...'')
; Can I look at the menu, please? : Cho toi xem menu? (''...'')
; Can I look in the kitchen? : Cho toi xem nha b?p ???c khong? (''...'')
; Is there a house specialty? : Quan ?n nay co mon ??c s?n nao khong? (''...'')
; Is there a local specialty? : ? vung nay co mon ??c s?n nao khong? (''...'')
; I'm a vegetarian. : Toi ?n chay. (''...'')
; I don't eat pork. : Toi khong ?n th?t heo. (''...'')
; I don't eat beef. : Toi khong ?n th?t bo. (''...'')
; I eat only kosher food. : I eat only kosher food. (''...'')
; Can you make it "lite", please? (''less oil/butter/lard'') : Can you make it "lite", please? (''...'')
; fixed-price meal : fixed-price meal (''...'')
; a la carte : g?i theo mon (''...'')
; breakfast : b?a sang (''boo... ee? sahng?'')
; lunch : b?a tr?a (''boo... ee? cheu-uh'')
; tea (''meal'') : n??c tra (''...'')
; supper : b?a chi?u (''boo... ee? chee-oh...'')
; I want _____. : Xin _____. ("seen")
; I want a dish containing _____. : Xin m?t ??a co _____. (''...'')
; chicken : (th?t) ga (''teet. gah...'')
; beef : (th?t) bo (''teet. baw...'')
; fish : ca (''gah?'')
; ham : jambon (''zhahm bawn'')
; sausage : xuc xich (''sook? seek?'')
; cheese : pho mat (''faw? maht?'')
; eggs : tr?ng (''cheung?'')
; salad : xa lach (''sah... layk?'')
; (fresh) vegetables : rau (t??i) (''rao theu-uh-ee'')
; (fresh) fruit : trai cay (t??i) (''chai? gai'')
; bread : banh mi ("ba'in me...")
; toast : banh mi n??ng (''bain mee... neu-uhng?'')
; noodles : mi ("me...")
; rice (cooked; as a dish) : c?m (''guhm'')
; rice (uncooked) : g?o ("gah-ow.")
; beans (like mung beans) : ??u (''duh-oh.'')
; beans (like coffee beans) : h?t (''hoht.'')
; May I have a glass of _____? : Xin m?t ly _____? (''...'')
; May I have a cup of _____? : Xin m?t ly _____? (''...'')
; May I have a bottle of _____? : Xin m?t chai _____? (''...'')
; coffee : ca phe (''ga... fey'')
; tea (''drink'') : n??c tra (''neu-uk? chah...'')
; _____ juice : n??c _____ (''neu-uk?'')
; bubbly water : n??c ng?t (''neu-uk? ngawt.'')
; water : n??c (''neu-uk?'')
; beer : r??u (''rih-oh.''), bia (pronounce "beer" with a British accent)
; red/white wine : r??u ??/tr?ng (''rih-oh. daw... aw? / chahng?!'')
; May I have some _____? : Xin _____? ("seen")
; salt : mu?i (''moo-ee?'')
; black pepper : h?t tieu (''haht. thee-oh'')
; butter : b? (''buh'')
; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server''): Em ?i! Lam ?n... (''...'')
; I'm finished. : Xong r?i. (''sah-ohng roh-ee...'')
; It was delicious. : Ngon l?m. (''nong lum'')
; Please clear the plates. : Xin hay d?n ??a ?i. (''...'')
; The check, please. : Thanh toan ti?n. (''...'')
Bars
; Do you serve alcohol? : Co r??u ? ?ay khong? (''...'')
; Is there table service? : Is there table service? (''...'')
; A beer/two beers, please. : Xin m?t/hai ly r??u. (''...'')
; A glass of red/white wine, please. : Xin m?t ly r??u ??/tr?ng. (''...'')
; A pint, please. : A pint, please. (''...'')
; A bottle, please. : Xin m?t chai. (''...'')
; _____ (''hard liquor'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : _____ and _____, please. (''...'')
; whiskey : whiskey (''...'')
; vodka : vodka (''...'')
; rum : rum (''...'')
; water : n??c (''neu-uhck?'')
; soda pop : n??c ng?t (''neu-uhck? ngawt.'')
; club soda : club soda (''...'')
; tonic water : tonic water (''...'')
; orange juice : n??c cam (''neu-uhck? gam'')
; Coke (''soda'') : Coca-Cola (''koh-kah? koh-la'')
; Do you have any bar snacks? : Do you have any bar snacks? (''...'')
; One more, please. : Xin m?t ly/chai n?a. (''...'')
; Another round, please. : Another round, please. (''...'')
; When is closing time? : Bao gi? ?ong c?a? (''bow yuh... downg? geu-uh?'')
Shopping
; Do you have this in my size? : Do you have this in my size? (''...'')
; How much (money) is this? : Bao nhieu (ti?n)? (''bahw nyee-oh thee-uhn...'')
; That's too expensive. : ??t qua. (''daht?! kwahh?'')
; Would you take _____? : L?y _____ ???c khong? (''ley? _____ deu'uhk kohng'')
; expensive : ??t (''daht?!'')
; cheap : r? (''reah...uh?'')
; I can't afford it. : Toi khong co ?? ti?n mua. (''thoh-ee kohng kaw? doo...oo? thee-uhn... moo-uh'')
; I don't want it. : Toi khong mu?n. (''thoh-ee kohng moo-uhn?'')
; You're cheating me. : You're cheating me. (''...'')
; I'm not interested. : I'm not interested. (..)
; OK, I'll take it. : OK, I'll take it. (''...'')
; Can I have a bag? : Co bao khong? (''kaw? bahw kohng'')
; Do you ship (overseas)? : Co th? g?i ?? (ngoai n??c) khong? (''...'')
; I need... : Toi c?n... (''thoh-ee cuhn...'')
; ...toothpaste. : ...kem ?anh r?ng. (''keahm dayng? rahng'')
; ...a toothbrush. : ...ban ch?i ?anh r?ng. (''bahn... chah-ee? dayng? rahng'')
; ...tampons. : ...tampons. (''...'')
; ...soap. : ...xa bong. (''sah... bohng'')
; ...shampoo. : ...d?u g?i. (''...'')
; ...pain reliever. (''e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen'') : ...thu?c gi?m ?au. (''too-uhc? yah...ahm? dahw!'')
; ...cold medicine. : ...thu?c c?m. (''...'')
; ...stomach medicine. : ...thu?c ?au b?ng. (''...'')
; ...a razor. : ...dao c?o rau. (''yahw kah'oh ruh-oo'')
; ...an umbrella. : ...du. ("you...")
; ...sunblock lotion. : ...sunblock lotion. (''...'')
; ...a postcard. : ...b?u thi?p. (''...'')
; ...postage stamps. : ...tem. ("tham")
; ...batteries. : ...pin. ("bean")
; ...writing paper. : ...gi?y. ("yay?!")
; ...a pen. : ...but m?c. ("boot?!")
; ...a pencil. : ...but chi. ("boot?! chee...")
; ...English-language books. : ...sach Anh ng?. (''...'')
; ...English-language magazines. : ...t?p chi Anh ng?. (''thuh'p chee? ayng-eu'eu?'')
; ...an English-language newspaper. : ...bao Anh ng?. (''bahw? ayng-eu'eu?'')
; ...an English-English dictionary. : ...t? ?i?n Anh-Anh. (''theu... dee-n? ayng-ayng'')
Driving
; I want to rent a car. : Toi mu?n m??n xe. (''thoh-ee moo-uhn? meu'n seah'')
; Can I get insurance? : Co b?o hi?m cho toi khong? (''koh? bah...oo hee...m? chaw thoh-ee khohng'')
; stop (''on a street sign'') : ng?ng (''...'')
; one way : m?t chi?u (''...'')
; yield : yield (''...'')
; no parking : ??ng ??u xe (''...'')
; speed limit : speed limit (''...'')
; gas (''petrol'') station : cay x?ng (''keh-ee sahng!'')
; petrol : x?ng (''sahng!'')
; diesel : diesel (''...'')
Authority
; Justin. : Toi ch?a lam gi sai. (''thoh-ee cheu-uh lam zee sai?'')
; It was a misunderstanding. : Ch? la hi?u l?m thoi. (''chee...ee? lah... hee...oh? luhm... toh-ee'')
; Where are you taking me? : Ong ?ang d?n toi ?i ?au? (''ohng dahng yuh'n? thoh-ee dee duhw'')
;
; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : Toi la cong dan M?/Australia/Anh/Canada. (''toh-ee lah... kohng yuhn mee'ee? / australia / ayng / kah-nah-dah'')
; I want to talk to the (American/Australian/British/Canadian) (embassy/consulate). : Toi c?n ph?i noi chuy?n v?i (??i s? quan/lanh s?) (M?/Australia/Anh/Canada). (''thoh-ee kuhn... fah...ee? naw-ee? cheu-ee'n vuh-ee? (dah'i seu? kwahn?/lay'ng? seu'eu) (mee'ee?/australia/ayng/kah-nah-dah'')
; I want to talk to a lawyer. : Toi mu?n noi chuy?n v?i lu?t s?. (''...'')
; Can I just pay a fine now? : Toi ch? tr? ti?n ph?t thoi ???c khong? (''...'')
Learning more
Vietnamese textbook at Wikibooks