How to Say “I Love Pho” in Vietnamese

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tôi yêu phở
[toj˧˧ ʔiəw˧˧ fəː˧˩]word by word
To say "I love pho" in Vietnamese, you use tôi yêu phở.
This phrase is used to express a strong liking for the Vietnamese noodle soup called pho. While yêu literally means "to love," Vietnamese speakers often use thích (to like) to express a strong preference for food in everyday conversation.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of tôi (I), yêu (to love) and phở (pho).

Which one should you use?

The phrase tôi yêu phở is a neutral, standard way to express this sentiment. Other variations exist depending on the level of intensity and social context, such as Mình thích phở lắm for saying "I really like pho" among friends or Mình yêu phở quá to convey a strong sense of passion for pho.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The form tôi yêu phở is neutral and standard. For a more formal and polite way to express fondness for the dish, you can use Tôi rất thích ăn phở (I really like to eat pho). Conversely, Mình thích phở lắm is an informal way to say "I really like pho" when speaking with friends and peers.

How does it change in a sentence?

Vietnamese uses different pronouns for "I" depending on the social relationship between the speaker and the listener. While tôi is neutral, you might use mình as a friendly, informal version of "I" when speaking to peers or friends. In a more casual or romantic context, a speaker might replace tôi with em if they are speaking to someone older or of higher status to say em yêu phở.

Did you know?

  • The pronoun tôi used for 'I' has a surprisingly humble history, likely originating from an ancient word meaning 'slave' or 'servant'.

Examples in context

  • Mình thích phở lắm.
    I really like pho.
  • Mình cũng rất thích phở. Chúng ta đi ăn phở nhé!
    I love pho too! Let's go eat pho!
  • Tôi rất thích ăn phở.
    I really like eating pho.
  • Phở thì tôi ấn tượng với hương vị truyền thống của nó.
    I'm impressed by the traditional flavors of pho.
  • Tôi yêu phở bò.
    I love beef pho.
  • Tôi yêu phở ở tiệm này.
    I love the pho at this shop.
  • Thật lòng là tôi yêu phở.
    Honestly, I love pho.

Example conversation

Lan and Nam are deciding what to eat for lunch.

  1. Lan

    Chúng ta ăn phở nhé?
    Shall we eat pho?
  2. Nam

    Được thôi, tôi cũng thích phở.
    Sure, I like pho too.
  3. Lan

    Còn tôi yêu phở!
    As for me, I love pho!
  4. Nam

    Vậy mình đi thôi, Lan.
    Then let's go, Lan.

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (tôi, yêu, phở) and can differ in connected speech.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries phở, tôi, yêu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Mollie Valerie
Mollie ValerieHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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