cô
[ko˧˧]
The English phrase "aunty" is translated into Vietnamese as cô.
cô is used to refer to a paternal aunt (the sister of one's father) or to address a younger woman. It is also used to refer to an aunty who is a family friend or a close acquaintance.
Which one should you use?
While cô specifically refers to a paternal aunt, the term dì is used to refer to a maternal aunt (the sister of one's mother).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "she" when referring to an aunt, you add the pronoun ấy to the end of the title to form cô ấy.
Did you know?
- In a classroom setting, you might hear a student call their teacher cô rather than using a formal word for teacher.
- The word cô also shares a Sino-Vietnamese root with the character 孤, which means 'lonesome'.
- Using cô to address a stranger can make you sound much younger or more polite than using a different social title.
Examples in context
- Xin chào mợ, mợ có thể giúp tôi một chút được không ạ?Hello Aunty, can you help me with something?
- Cô ơi, có tin tức gì mới không?Hey Aunty, any news?
- Thím ơi, em có thể mượn chút tiền được không?Aunty, can I borrow some money, please?
- Tôi muốn gửi quà cho cô.I want to send a gift to my aunty.
Example conversation
Nam is greeting a family friend at home.
- NamChào cô, mời cô vào nhà.Hello aunty, please come inside.
- LanChào Nam, cô có quà cho con này.Hello Nam, I have a gift for you.
- NamCon cảm ơn cô ạ.Thank you, aunty.
- LanKhông có gì đâu con.You are very welcome.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cô, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cô, CC BY-SA 4.0.
