hươu cao cổ
[hiəw˧˧ kaːw˧˧ ko˧˩]
The Vietnamese word for giraffe is hươu cao cổ.
hươu cao cổ is the way to refer to the mammal known as a giraffe.
Meaning: mammal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hươu cao cổ literally translates to "tall necked deer", composed of the words hươu (deer), cao (tall) and cổ (neck).
Did you know?
- While cao means 'tall' in this phrase, the same sound is also used as a Sino-Vietnamese word for 'fat' or 'grease'.
- The word cổ has a double identity in Vietnamese, as it can also be a Sino-Vietnamese reading for the character meaning 'ancient' or 'old'.
Examples in context
- Hôm nay tôi đã thấy một con linh dương cổ dài ở sở thú.Today, I saw a giraffe at the zoo.
- Con hươu cao cổ khá thú vị và đáng yêu.The giraffe is quite interesting and adorable.
- Tôi muốn xem hươu cao cổ.I want to see a giraffe.
- Con hươu cao cổ đang ăn lá cây.The giraffe is eating tree leaves.
- Tôi thích xem hươu cao cổ ở vườn thú.I like watching giraffes at the zoo.
- Hươu cao cổ có cái cổ rất dài.A giraffe has a very long neck.
Example conversation
Chi and Minh are looking at a picture book about animals.
- ChiMinh ơi, con hươu cao cổ này thật là đẹp!Minh, this giraffe is so beautiful!
- MinhĐúng vậy, nó có những đốm rất lạ.That's right, it has very strange spots.
- ChiEm muốn đi xem hươu cao cổ thật ở sở thú.I want to go see a real giraffe at the zoo.
- MinhĐược thôi, cuối tuần này chúng ta đi nhé.Okay, let's go this weekend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “giraffe” translations and entries hươu cao cổ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cao, cổ, hươu cao cổ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
