Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| đái tháo đường | [ʔɗaːj˧˦ tʰaːw˧˦ ʔɗɨəŋ˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗaːj˨˩˦ tʰaːw˨˩˦ ʔɗɨəŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| tiểu đường | [tiəw˧˩ ʔɗɨəŋ˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tiw˧˨ ʔɗɨəŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
The term refers to a group of metabolic diseases.
What does it mean word for word?
The term đái tháo đường is composed of đái (urinate), tháo (to discharge/release) and đường (sugar), which literally means the discharge of sugar through urine.
Which one should you use?
Tiểu đường is a more common, colloquial way to say diabetes compared to the more formal medical term đái tháo đường.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Đái tháo đường is the formal medical term used in clinical settings and official documents. Tiểu đường is the everyday term used by most people in casual conversation. For a formal way to refer to the disease, you can also use Bệnh tiểu đường.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone 'has' or 'suffers from' diabetes, use the verb bị before the term, as bị is used for negative conditions or illnesses.
Did you know?
- The term đái tháo đường contains the word đái, which is a blunt and somewhat vulgar way to say 'to urinate' in Vietnamese.
- The formal term đái tháo đường uses the word tháo, which relates to the Chinese character 敨, meaning 'to untie'.
- While đường means 'sugar' in the context of diabetes, it is also the word used for 'road' or 'way' in other contexts.
Examples in context
- Tom bị tiểu đường.Tom has diabetes.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tiểu đường to say someone has the condition.Tatoeba #13598573 by leucammieuvu, translation #6736107 by Hybrid
- Tôi bị bệnh tiểu đường.I have diabetes.
- Bệnh đái tháo đường rất nguy hiểm.Diabetes is very dangerous.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mai and Minh are talking about a family member's health.
- MaiBác trai bị sao vậy, Minh?What happened to your uncle, Minh?
- MinhBác ấy mới bị chẩn đoán mắc bệnh đái tháo đường.He was just diagnosed with diabetes.
- MaiÔng ấy có cần kiêng đường không?Does he need to avoid sugar?
- MinhCó, bác sĩ yêu cầu kiêng đường hoàn toàn.Yes, the doctor requested he avoid sugar completely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diabetes” translations and entries đái tháo đường, tiểu đường, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tháo, tiểu, tiểu đường, đái, đái tháo đường, đường, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
