bơ
[ʔɓəː˧˧]
The Vietnamese word for butter is bơ.
bơ is a noun used to refer to the soft foodstuff made from milk. If you wish to describe the action of spreading butter on something, you can use the phrase (vào) quẹt bơ.
Meaning: soft foodstuff made from milk (noun)
Related words
Did you know?
- While bơ means butter, it is also used as a slang verb meaning to ignore someone intentionally. If you are bị bơ, it means you have been 'ghosted' or given the cold shoulder.
- When ordering an avocado shake, a Vietnamese person asks for sinh tố bơ. To a learner, this sounds like they are ordering a 'butter smoothie'.
- The word bơ is a loanword from the French word 'beurre'. This reflects the historical influence of French culinary culture on Vietnamese cuisine.
Examples in context
- Cho xin thêm bơ.I'd like some more butter.This sentence is useful for requesting more bơ.Tatoeba #1549251 by trieuho, translation #35195 by CK
- Chúng ta đã hết bơ.We're out of butter.This sentence is useful for stating that you have run out of bơ.Tatoeba #3468187 by tucm, translation #2548020 by CK
- Bạn dùng hết bơ rồi à?You've run through all the butter?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has used up all the bơ.Tatoeba #9734565 by dotheduyet1999, translation #35193 by AlanF_US
- Anh ơi, cho em xin chút bơ để bôi lên bánh.Hey, can you give me some butter to spread on the bread?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minh and Hương are making breakfast in their kitchen.
- MinhEm có thấy bơ ở đâu không?Do you see the butter anywhere?
- HươngCó, nó ở trong tủ lạnh kìa.Yes, it is in the fridge.
- MinhAnh muốn ăn bánh mì với bơ.I want to eat bread with butter.
- HươngĐể em lấy cho anh nhé.Let me get it for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butter” translations and entries bơ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bơ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
