bạn gái
[ʔɓaːn˧˨ʔ ɣaːj˧˦]
The English word "girlfriend" is translated into Vietnamese as bạn gái. Wiktionary also lists người yêu.
Meaning: a female partner in a romantic relationship (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bạn gái | [ʔɓaːn˧˨ʔ ɣaːj˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓaːŋ˨˩ʔ ɣaːj˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
|
| người yêu | [ŋɨəj˨˩ ʔiəw˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ŋɨj˦˩ ʔiw˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
gender neutral |
The term bạn gái refers to a female partner in a romantic relationship. You can also use the term người yêu to refer to a romantic partner or significant other regardless of their gender.
What does it mean word for word?
The term bạn gái is composed of bạn, meaning friend and gái, meaning female or girl.
Which one should you use?
While bạn gái specifically refers to a female partner, người yêu is a gender-neutral term used for a lover or significant other. Additionally, người yêu is a more romantic and intimate term, whereas bạn gái can sometimes be interpreted as just a female friend depending on the context.
Did you know?
- If you use the word người to describe a partner, you are using a word that shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the Vietnamese word for the pupil of an eye.
Examples in context
- Tao đang đợi bạn gái.I'm waiting for my girlfriend.This sentence shows how to use bạn gái when saying you are waiting for someone.Tatoeba #1552450 by trieuho, translation #1549228 by CK
- Anh ấy bị bạn gái đá.He was dumped by his girlfriend.This sentence uses bạn gái in the context of being dumped.Tatoeba #13472372 by leucammieuvu, translation #289515 by CK
- Tom hỏi tôi có bạn gái chưa.Tom asked me if I had a girlfriend.This sentence uses bạn gái to ask if someone has a girlfriend.Tatoeba #9713047 by dotheduyet1999, translation #6257248 by CK
- Anh yêu, đây là bạn gái của tôi.Sweetheart, this is my girlfriend.
- Em là người yêu lý tưởng của anh.You are my ideal girlfriend.
- Cục cưng của anh luôn là nguồn động lực lớn nhất.You are always my biggest motivation, sweetheart.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Chi are chatting about their weekend plans.
- NamCuối tuần này bạn đi chơi với bạn gái à?Are you going out with your girlfriend this weekend?
- ChiĐúng rồi, mình sẽ đi xem phim.That's right, we are going to see a movie.
- NamBạn gái bạn có thích phim hành động không?Does your girlfriend like action movies?
- ChiCô ấy thích phim tình cảm hơn.She prefers romantic movies.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girlfriend” translations and entries bạn gái, người yêu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bạn, bạn gái, gái, người, người yêu, yêu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
