chồng
[t͡ɕəwŋ͡m˨˩]
The Vietnamese word for husband is chồng.
chồng is the most common and widely used term for a husband in Vietnamese. While it identifies the male partner in a marriage, there are several other ways to refer to a husband depending on the social context and level of affection.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Which one should you use?
While chồng is the standard noun, the phrase vợ chồng combines the words for wife (vợ) and husband (chồng) to refer to a married couple or the concept of husband and wife. Other terms like ông xã and nhà tôi are used specifically to refer to one's own husband in conversation.
When do people say it?
The way a woman refers to her husband can change based on her desire to express intimacy or modesty. For instance, using nhà tôi (literally 'my house/home') can be a way for a woman to speak about her spouse with a sense of modesty or closeness.
Did you know?
- Beyond marriage, the word chồng is used as a verb or noun to describe things that are stacked or piled up in a heap.
- The word chồng is a cognate of the word for 'father' in the Mlabri language and the word for 'man' in Khmu.
Examples in context
- Tôi là chồng tôi.I am my husband.This sentence shows how to use chồng to identify oneself as a husband.Tatoeba #13565088 by leucammieuvu, translation #13565085 by leucammieuvu
- Tôi không có chồng.I don't have a husband.This sentence demonstrates how to use chồng in a negative statement about possession.Tatoeba #9007671 by dotheduyet1999, translation #6666737 by CK
- Chúng ta là vợ chồng.We are husband and wife.This sentence shows how the phrase vợ chồng is used to describe a married couple.Tatoeba #13726692 by leucammieuvu, translation #263263 by CK
- Đây là chồng tôi.This is my husband.
- Xin phép ông xã, tôi đi làm một chút.Excuse me, husband, I'm going to work for a bit.
- Anh ơi, em rất yêu anh.Darling, I love you very much.
- Chồng em đang nấu cơm.My husband is cooking rice.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting at a coffee shop.
- NamChồng Lan khỏe không?Is your husband healthy, Lan?
- LanChồng tôi vẫn khỏe, cảm ơn Nam.My husband is still healthy, thank you Nam.
- NamAnh ấy đi làm chưa?Has he gone to work yet?
- LanRồi, anh ấy đi từ sớm.Yes, he left early.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries chồng, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chồng, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
