Good Morning Vietnam-ese Crash Course

Xin chào (Seen chow - Neutral, flat tone)

Hello

Cảm ơn (Gahm uhhn - Neutral, flat tone)

Thank you

Xin lỗi (Seen loy-ee - Rising tone with a slight catch or break in the middle)

Excuse me / Sorry

Dạ / Không (Yah - Dropping tone / Khong - Flat, like 'comb' but without the 'm')

Yes / No

Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? (Nyah vay sin uhh dau? - uhh is a questioning, dropping-then-rising tone)

Where is the restroom?

Bao nhiêu tiền? (Bao nyew tyen? - tyen has a low, dropping tone)

How much money/does it cost?

Bạn khỏe không? (Bahn kway khon)

How are you?

Tôi khỏe. Cảm ơn bạn.

I’m well. Thank you.

Tính tiền (Ting tyen - Ting is high and rising; tyen is low and dropping)

The bill, please (used in restaurants)

Làm ơn (Lahm uhhn - Lahm is low and dropping; uhhn is flat)

Please

Bạn nói tiếng Anh không? (Bahn noy tyeng Ahn khong? - noy and tyeng are high/rising)

Do you speak English?

Tôi không hiểu (Toy khong hyew - hyew has a questioning, dipping-then-rising tone)

I don't understand

Giúp tôi với! (Yoop toy voy! - Yoop and voy are sharp, high, and rising)

Help me!

Một (Moat - Heavy, short dropping tone)

1

Hai (High - Neutral, flat tone)

2

Ba (Bah - Neutral, flat tone)

3

Bốn (Bone - Sharp, high rising tone)

4

Năm (Nahm - Neutral, flat tone)

5

Sáu (Sow - Sharp, high rising tone—rhymes with 'cow')

6

Bảy (By - Dipping-then-rising questioning tone—rhymes with 'by')

7

Tám (Tahm - Sharp, high rising tone)

8

Chín (Cheen - Sharp, high rising tone)

9

Mười (Mway - Low, dragging tone)

10

Em ơi! (Ehm oy! - Neutral, flat tone)

Excuse me! / Waiter! (To get attention)

Cho tôi một cái này (Chaw toy moat kai ny-ee - kai is high/rising; ny-ee is low/dropping)

Give me one of this (pointing at a menu)

Cho tôi một bia (Chaw toy moat bee-ah - moat is a heavy, short dropping tone)

Give me one beer

Một, Hai, Ba, Dô! (Moat, High, Bah, Yo! - Yo is yelled out loudly)

1, 2, 3, Cheers! (The standard drinking toast)

Ngon quá! (Ngawn kwah! - kwah is a sharp, high rising tone)

Delicious!

Thêm một cái nữa (Tame moat kai nuh-ah - nuh-ah is a high, rising tone with a slight catch or break)

One more, please

Hai muoi (hai muay)

20

tram

Hundred

Ngin

Thousand

Hai tram nam muoi

250

Ten toi la Alex

My name is Alex.