em bé
[ʔɛm˧˧ ʔɓɛ˧˦]
In Vietnamese, 'baby' is translated as em bé. Wiktionary also lists bé.
Meaning: very young human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| em bé | [ʔɛm˧˧ ʔɓɛ˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɛm˧˧ ʔɓɛ˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| bé | [ʔɓɛ˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓɛ˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
The term refers to a very young human being. In casual spoken Vietnamese, people often shorten the phrase to just bé when referring to a baby.
What does it mean word for word?
The term em bé is composed of em, a pronoun for a younger person or sibling and bé, meaning small or little.
Which one should you use?
While em bé specifically means 'baby', the word bé on its own primarily means 'small' or 'little' when used as an adjective. If you wish to refer to a newborn specifically in a formal context, you should use Trẻ sơ sinh.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a specific baby as a noun phrase, the classifier đứa is often added before bé to form đứa bé.
Did you know?
- Because em describes anyone younger, Vietnamese speakers often use the same word for a baby and a romantic partner.
- In some Vietnamese traditions, parents stop calling each other by their names and instead use phrases like thầy em and đẻ em, meaning 'father of the baby' and 'mother of the baby'.
- When speaking to a baby, Vietnamese adults often refer to themselves as ba or mẹ in the third person rather than using 'I'.
Examples in context
- Tom chăm sóc đứa bé.Tom looked after the baby.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form bé when referring to an object of care.Tatoeba #3681124 by tucm, translation #3419791 by CK
- Em bé đang học cách đi.The baby is learning how to walk.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form bé to describe an action a baby is performing.Tatoeba #11326957 by chaule3, translation #11326955 by chaule3
- Im lặng. Em bé đang ngủ.Keep quiet. The baby is sleeping.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form bé in a context regarding a baby's sleep.Tatoeba #1552470 by trieuho, translation #1546313 by CK
- Xin lỗi, bạn có thể cung cấp ngày sinh của em bé không?Excuse me, can you please provide the birthdate of the baby?
- Là một bác sĩ, tôi chuyên về trẻ sơ sinh.As a doctor, I specialize in newborn babies.
- Nhìn bé ấy! Dễ thương quá đi!Look at the baby! So adorable!
- Con, đêm qua ngủ ngon chứ?Con, did you sleep well last night?
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Hương are looking at a photo in a baby album.
- HùngEm bé trong ảnh là ai vậy?Who is the baby in the photo?
- HươngĐó là con trai của chị ấy.That is her son.
- HùngEm bé trông rất kháu khỉnh.The baby looks very handsome.
- HươngCảm ơn Hùng nhé.Thanks, Hung.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries em bé, bé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bé, em, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
