Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| xe hơi | [sɛ˧˧ həːj˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [sɛ˧˧ həːj˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| ô tô | [ʔo˧˧ to˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔow˧˧ tow˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| xe ô tô | [sɛ˧˧ ʔo˧˧ to˧˧] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
| xe | [sɛ˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [sɛ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
The term for an automobile or a vehicle steered by a driver can be expressed in several ways depending on the context and desired level of specificity.
What does it mean word for word?
The term xe hơi literally translates to "steam vehicle", where hơi means steam or vapor, though it is the standard term used for a modern automobile.
Which one should you use?
While xe hơi is the standard term, you may also see ô tô, which is a loanword from the French word auto and is used interchangeably to mean automobile. The most general form is xe, which is often used as shorthand for car when the context is clear.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hà Nội, people often use the term ô tô instead of xe hơi.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase say xe (literally "drunk vehicle") is used to describe being car sick or experiencing motion sickness while traveling in a car or other vehicle.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese, the word say in the phrase say xe for motion sickness is the same word used to describe being 'drunk' from alcohol.
- The word xe is so versatile that it describes almost anything with wheels, including bicycles and motorbikes.
- While ô tô is a loanword from the French 'auto', the word ô also exists in Vietnamese as a Sino-Vietnamese word meaning 'crow' or 'black'.
Examples in context
- Đó là xe thuê.It's a rental car.This sentence shows how to use xe to describe a rental car.Tatoeba #13271064 by leucammieuvu, translation #10147444 by ddnktr
- Tôi bị say xe.I'm car sick.This sentence uses xe to describe being car sick.Tatoeba #14028717 by leucammieuvu, translation #8975750 by Analu_Kalaka
- Tôi bán xe rồi.I have already sold my car.This sentence uses xe to indicate the sale of a car.Tatoeba #10257726 by hothuyhien, translation #10256251 by HAGNi
- Tôi muốn mua một chiếc ô tô mới.I want to buy a new car.
- Liệu ô tô có phải là một phương tiện tiện lợi không?Is a car a convenient means of transportation?
- Chiếc xe của mình đã hỏng rồi.My car is broken.
- Anh đi xe hơi hay xe máy đi làm?Do you go to work by car or motorbike?
- 141 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minh and Lan are talking about transportation.
- MinhBạn có xe hơi không?Do you have a car?
- LanTôi không có xe hơi.I don't have a car.
- MinhTôi sẽ lái xe hơi đi.I will drive the car.
- LanCảm ơn Minh nhiều nhé.Thank you very much, Minh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations and entries xe hơi, ô tô, xe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (xe, ô, tô) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hơi, xe, xe hơi, ô, ô tô, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
