Vietnamese Words for Family: Complete Vocabulary Guide
Understanding Vietnamese words for family is essential for any learner, as family plays a central role in Vietnamese culture. The Vietnamese kinship system is notably complex, with different terms depending on whether relatives are from the maternal or paternal side, and whether they are older or younger than your parents.
Essential Family Vocabulary
These core Vietnamese words for family members form the foundation of everyday conversations. Note that Vietnamese distinguishes between paternal and maternal relatives with different terms.
| Word | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| gia đình | zah ding | family | Gia đình tôi có năm người. (My family has five people.) |
| bố / ba | boh / bah | father | Bố tôi là bác sĩ. (My father is a doctor.) |
| mẹ / má | meh / mah | mother | Mẹ tôi nấu ăn rất ngon. (My mother cooks very well.) |
| anh | anh | older brother | Anh tôi đang học đại học. (My older brother is studying at university.) |
| chị | chee | older sister | Chị tôi sống ở Hà Nội. (My older sister lives in Hanoi.) |
| em trai | em chai | younger brother | Em trai tôi mười tuổi. (My younger brother is ten years old.) |
| em gái | em gai | younger sister | Em gái tôi rất thông minh. (My younger sister is very smart.) |
| ông nội | ohng noy | paternal grandfather | Ông nội tôi tám mươi tuổi. (My paternal grandfather is 80 years old.) |
| bà nội | bah noy | paternal grandmother | Bà nội kể chuyện cổ tích. (Grandmother tells fairy tales.) |
| ông ngoại | ohng ngwai | maternal grandfather | Ông ngoại thích đọc báo. (My maternal grandfather likes reading newspapers.) |
| bà ngoại | bah ngwai | maternal grandmother | Bà ngoại sống ở quê. (My maternal grandmother lives in the countryside.) |
| chồng | chohng | husband | Chồng tôi là kỹ sư. (My husband is an engineer.) |
| vợ | vuh | wife | Vợ anh ấy rất đẹp. (His wife is very beautiful.) |
| con trai | kon chai | son | Con trai tôi học lớp ba. (My son is in third grade.) |
| con gái | kon gai | daughter | Con gái tôi thích vẽ. (My daughter likes drawing.) |
| cháu | chow | grandchild / niece / nephew | Tôi có ba cháu. (I have three grandchildren.) |
| cô | koh | paternal aunt (father's sister) | Cô tôi là giáo viên. (My aunt is a teacher.) |
| chú | choo | paternal uncle (father's younger brother) | Chú tôi sống ở Sài Gòn. (My uncle lives in Saigon.) |
| bác | bahk | uncle/aunt (older than parent) | Bác gái nấu phở rất ngon. (Auntie makes very delicious pho.) |
| dì | zee | maternal aunt (mother's sister) | Dì tôi có hai con. (My aunt has two children.) |
| cậu | koh-oo | maternal uncle (mother's brother) | Cậu tôi rất vui tính. (My uncle is very cheerful.) |
Common Phrases
These everyday expressions will help you discuss family topics naturally in Vietnamese conversations.
- Gia đình bạn có mấy người? (Zah ding ban koh may nguh-ee?) — How many people are in your family?
- Bạn có anh chị em không? (Ban koh anh chee em kohng?) — Do you have siblings?
- Bố mẹ bạn làm nghề gì? (Boh meh ban lahm ngeh zee?) — What do your parents do for work?
- Tôi là con một. (Toy lah kon moht.) — I am an only child.
- Tôi là con cả. (Toy lah kon kah.) — I am the eldest child.
- Tôi là con út. (Toy lah kon oot.) — I am the youngest child.
- Chúng tôi là anh em ruột. (Choong toy lah anh em roo-oht.) — We are blood siblings.
- Gia đình tôi rất đông. (Zah ding toy ruht dohng.) — My family is very large.
- Bạn đã lập gia đình chưa? (Ban dah luhp zah ding chuh-ah?) — Are you married yet?
- Tôi chưa có gia đình. (Toy chuh-ah koh zah ding.) — I'm not married yet.
Usage Notes
Vietnamese words for family reflect deep cultural values and social hierarchies. Understanding these nuances is crucial for proper communication.
- Maternal vs. Paternal Distinction: Vietnamese strictly distinguishes between relatives from your mother's side (ngoại) and father's side (nội). This reflects the traditional importance of lineage.
- Age-Based Terms: Words like anh (older brother) and em (younger sibling) are also used as pronouns in everyday speech, even with non-relatives. Calling someone anh or chị shows respect.
- Regional Variations: Northern Vietnamese typically uses bố/mẹ for parents, while Southern Vietnamese prefers ba/má. Both are understood throughout the country.
- The Word "Cháu": This versatile term can mean grandchild, niece, or nephew. It's also used by young people to refer to themselves when speaking to elders.
- Extended Family Culture: In Vietnam, it's common for multiple generations to live together. Terms for extended family members are used frequently and carry significant social meaning.
- Respectful Address: When addressing older family members, always use their family title rather than their name. Calling an aunt by her name alone would be considered disrespectful.
Practice Sentences
Use these example sentences to practice Vietnamese words for family in context. Try reading them aloud to improve your pronunciation.
- Gia đình tôi có bốn người: bố, mẹ, anh trai và tôi.
My family has four people: father, mother, older brother, and me. - Ông bà nội tôi sống ở Đà Nẵng.
My paternal grandparents live in Da Nang. - Chị gái tôi mới kết hôn năm ngoái.
My older sister just got married last year. - Cháu trai của tôi rất nghịch ngợm.
My nephew is very mischievous. - Dì và cậu tôi thường đến thăm vào cuối tuần.
My aunt and uncle often visit on weekends. - Bố mẹ tôi rất yêu thương con cái.
My parents love their children very much. - Em gái tôi giống mẹ, còn tôi giống bố.
My younger sister looks like mom, while I look like dad. - Gia đình chúng tôi thường ăn tối cùng nhau.
Our family usually has dinner together. - Con gái út của tôi năm nay lên năm tuổi.
My youngest daughter turns five years old this year. - Anh họ tôi làm việc ở nước ngoài.
My cousin works abroad.