đầu
[ʔɗəw˨˩]
The English word 'head' is translated as đầu in Vietnamese.
đầu refers to the anatomical part of the body. In Vietnamese, when referring to one's own body parts, you often omit the possessive pronoun if the context is clear, whereas English requires 'my head' or 'his head'. This word is also used in many compound words, such as đầu bếp (chef, literally 'head of the kitchen').
Meaning: part of the body (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word đầu can mean both the anatomical 'head' and the 'beginning' or 'end' of something depending on context.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese culture, the đầu is traditionally considered the most sacred part of the body. Touching a child's head without permission can be seen as disrespectful or unlucky in some traditional contexts.
- The word đầu appears in the term đầu hàng, which means 'to surrender'. It literally translates to 'handing over the head'.
- While đầu means 'head', it is used in the term đầu gối to mean 'knee'. Literally, the knee is viewed as the 'head' of the leg.
Examples in context
- Cô ấy gãi đầu.She scratched her head.This sentence is useful for seeing how to say she scratched her head using đầu.Tatoeba #9015874 by dotheduyet1999, translation #1996927 by Spamster
- Giấu đầu hở đuôi.Hiding the head, will still show the ass.This sentence illustrates an idiom using đầu.Tatoeba #8990261 by dotheduyet1999, translation #2301181 by wENNVaT
- Đầu bạn vẫn còn đau à?Does your head still hurt?This sentence is useful for asking if someone's head still hurts using đầu.Tatoeba #10713920 by quoctrong018, translation #6887033 by Hybrid
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chi and Tuấn are at home and Chi is feeling unwell.
- ChiTuấn ơi, em bị đau đầu quá.Tuấn, I have a terrible headache.
- Tuấn TuanEm có bị sốt không, Chi?Do you have a fever, Chi?
- ChiEm không sốt, nhưng đầu em hơi choáng.I don't have a fever, but my head feels a bit dizzy.
- Tuấn TuanHãy nằm nghỉ cho thoải mái đi.Go lie down and relax.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “head” translations and entries đầu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
