(trái) chuối
The English word banana is translated into Vietnamese as (trái) chuối. If unsure, use (trái) chuối. Wiktionary also lists (quả) chuối.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese |
|---|
| (trái) chuối |
| (quả) chuối |
The word refers to the banana fruit.
Which one should you use?
The forms (trái) chuối and (quả) chuối both include a classifier to indicate a single piece of fruit. In casual speech, these classifiers are often omitted and you can simply say chuối.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word chuối is often preceded by the classifier trái or quả to indicate a single piece of fruit.
Did you know?
- If you call someone củ chuối, you are literally calling them a 'banana root', but you are actually insulting them by saying they are 'corny' or 'clumsy'.
- The choice of classifier can reveal where a speaker is from, as quả is more common in the North and trái in the South.
- Written records of the word chuối appear in a 1651 dictionary titled the Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum.
Examples in context
- Tất nhiên, đây là quả chuối cho bạn!Certainly, here is a banana for you!
- Ở chợ có nhiều trái chuối tuyệt vời lắm đó!There are so many great bananas at the market!
- Thật sao? Tôi thích ăn trái chuối quá!Really? I love eating bananas!
- Mẹ tôi thích ăn (trái) chuối chín.My mother likes eating ripe bananas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “banana” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chuối, CC BY-SA 4.0.
