Vietnamese Reference Terms

chú

Uncle/male, younger than your father (GENERAL TERM FOR MALES YOUNGER THAN YOUR PARENTS)

cô

Aunt on father’s side/female, younger than father (GENERAL TERM FOR ALL FEMALES YOUNGER THAN YOUR PARENTS)

cậu

Uncle on mother’s side (younger than your mother)

dì

Aunt on mother’s side (younger than your mother)

cháu

Niece, nephew, grandchild, cousin, child

bác

Uncle/aunt/male/female older than your parents (GENERAL TERM FOR ALL SIGNIFICANTLY OLDER THAN YOUR PARENTS)

thím

Father’s younger brother’s wife

mợ

Mother’s brother’s wife

dượng

Uncle in law (Parent’s younger sister’s husband)

cha

Father/also means Priest

For an aunt on father’s side, the big sister of your dad, southerners would call her ___ while northerners would call her ___

cô (Southerners), bác (Northerners)

For an uncle on father’s side, the older brother of your mom, southerners would call her ___ while northerners would call her ___

cậu (Southerners), bác (Northerners)