gỉ mũi
In Vietnamese, the English word "booger" is expressed as gỉ mũi. If unsure, use gỉ mũi. Wiktionary also lists cứt mũi.
Meaning: a piece of solid or semi-solid mucus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| gỉ mũi | |
| cứt mũi | [kɨt̚˧˦ muj˦ˀ˥] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kɨk̚˦˧˥ muj˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
The term refers to a piece of solid or semi-solid mucus.
What does it mean word for word?
gỉ mũi is composed of gỉ (meaning rust, scale or crust) and mũi (meaning nose).
Which one should you use?
gỉ mũi is the standard term for a booger. In contrast, cứt mũi is a more vulgar and informal way to say it because cứt literally means "feces" or "dung". Additionally, the phrase Cục mũi is an informal expression used among friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cứt mũi is considered vulgar and informal. Cục mũi is also used informally among friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase gỉ mũi functions as a noun and does not change its form for pluralization.
Did you know?
- While mũi means 'nose' in the context of a booger, it is also the Vietnamese word for a 'cape' or headland of land jutting into the sea.
- The word cứt is one of only three known words in the entire Vietnamese language where a starting consonant sound developed in a way that differs from its related Austroasiatic sister languages.
Examples in context
- Có một ít gỉ mũi trên tay em.There is a little bit of booger on your hand.
- Anh ấy đang ngoáy gỉ mũi.He is picking his booger.
Example conversation
Tuấn and Mai are sitting in a living room.
- TuấnMai ơi, cậu có gỉ mũi kìa.Mai, you have a booger.
- MaiHả? Để mình lau đi.What? Let me wipe it off.
- TuấnCậu dùng khăn giấy này đi.Use this tissue.
- MaiCảm ơn Tuấn nhiều nhé.Thanks a lot, Tuan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “booger” translations and entries cứt mũi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cứt, cứt mũi, gỉ, mũi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
