đen
[ʔɗɛn˧˧]
The English word "black" is translated into Vietnamese as đen. If unsure, use đen. Wiktionary also lists đen thui.
Meaning: absorbing all light (adj)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| đen | [ʔɗɛn˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɛŋ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| đen thui | [ʔɗɛn˧˧ tʰuj˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɛŋ˧˧ tʰuj˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
The primary use of đen is as an adjective to describe something that is absorbing all light. It can also function as a noun to refer to the color itself. In colloquial Vietnamese, đen is used to mean "unlucky" or "having bad luck". For example, one might say they have bad luck by using the word in a sentence like "Số tôi đen quá". When referring to a dark-skinned person, the phrase người da đen is used.
Which one should you use?
While đen is the standard term for the color, đen thui is used to emphasize an intense, deep or pitch-black color.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using đen as a noun to refer specifically to the color black, it is common to precede it with the word màu (color), forming the phrase màu đen.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese culture, wearing màu đen to a wedding is generally avoided as it is associated with mourning and funerals.
- The word đen shares a linguistic ancestor with the Muong word ten, which means 'to dye black'. This links the concept of the color directly to the historical process of dyeing fabrics.
- While đen describes the color, the word thui refers to the process of singeing or roasting something over a fire.
Examples in context
- Của tôi màu đen.Mine is black.This sentence is useful for identifying the color of an object using the form đen.Tatoeba #13599302 by leucammieuvu, translation #5342176 by Amittai
- Tôi thích đen hơn.I prefer black.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for the color using the form đen.Tatoeba #13599306 by leucammieuvu, translation #5222698 by AlanF_US
- Cây bút có mực màu đen.The pen has black ink.This sentence is useful for describing the color of an item like ink using the form đen.Tatoeba #11402359 by chaule3, translation #11402357 by chaule3
- Vật đenBlack object
- Màu đenBlack color
- Tôi thích màu đen.I like black color.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minh and Mai are shopping for a new bag.
- MinhChiếc túi màu đen này đẹp quá.This black bag is so beautiful.
- MaiNhưng tôi thích màu đỏ hơn.But I prefer red.
- MinhMàu đen dễ phối đồ hơn mà.Black is easier to match with clothes, though.
- MaiĐúng vậy, tôi sẽ lấy cái màu đen.That's true, I will take the black one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black” translations and entries đen, đen thui, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries thui, đen, đen thui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
