Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| thư điện tử | [tʰɨ˧˧ ʔɗiən˧˨ʔ tɨ˧˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tʰɨ˧˧ ʔɗiəŋ˨˩ʔ tɨ˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
| thơ điện tử | |
| điện thư | [ʔɗiən˧˨ʔ tʰɨ˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗiəŋ˨˩ʔ tʰɨ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
The term refers to a message sent through email. In everyday conversation, Vietnamese speakers almost exclusively use the English loanword email. To express the action of sending an email, it is most natural to use the verb gửi followed by email, such as in the phrase gửi email.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term thư điện tử is a literal translation where thư means 'mail/letter' and điện tử means 'electronic'.
Which one should you use?
email is the common loanword used in daily life. thư điện tử is the formal Vietnamese term. điện thư is a rare form. thơ điện tử appears in some contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
email is the informal and most common choice for everyday conversation. thư điện tử is used in formal writing, official documents or technical contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
A regional variation of the term for email is bức thư điện tử.
Related words
When do people say it?
When writing a formal email, you can use the phrase Kính gửi at the beginning to mean "Respected". At the end of an email, you can use Xin chân thành cảm ơn to mean "Sincerely thank you".
Did you know?
- The formal word for 'electronic' in thư điện tử is điện tử, where tử originally means 'child'.
- Although thơ điện tử is listed as a form, thơ usually means 'poetry' in modern Vietnamese, which can create a humorous mental image of 'electronic poems'.
- Vietnamese often uses 'classifiers' for nouns, and when referring to a single email as a physical-like object, speakers may add bức to create bức thư điện tử.
Examples in context
- Tôi chỉ muốn kiếm tra email của tôiI just wanted to check my email.This sentence shows how to use the word email regarding checking messages.Tatoeba #12547613 by thanhcona40, translation #1488 by CK
- Anh ấy đã nhận được một email từ cô ấy.He got an email from her.This sentence demonstrates receiving an email from someone.Tatoeba #9076025 by dotheduyet1999, translation #8514344 by CH
- Địa chỉ email của tôi là hans@karlolo.net.My email address is hans@karlolo.net.This sentence provides an example of an email address.Tatoeba #9068765 by dotheduyet1999, translation #2761432 by Hybrid
- Tôi sẽ gửi thông tin đến bạn qua thư điện tử.I will send you the information via email.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Lan are at a coffee shop discussing work.
- HùngLan ơi, bạn có thấy email của tôi không?Lan, did you see my email?
- LanTôi vừa thấy email của anh rồi.I just saw your email.
- HùngNội dung email đó thế nào?How is the content of that email?
- LanMọi thứ đều rất ổn, anh đừng lo.Everything is fine, don't worry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “email” translations and entries thư điện tử, điện thư, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries thơ, thư, thư điện tử, tử, điện, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
