in-tơ-nét
The English word 'internet' can be translated into Vietnamese as in-tơ-nét. Wiktionary also lists mạng toàn cầu and liên mạng.
Meaning: specific internet consisting of the global network of computers (name)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| in-tơ-nét | |
| mạng toàn cầu | |
| liên mạng | |
| mạng | [maːŋ˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [maːŋ˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
The term refers to the specific global network of computers. In daily conversation, Vietnamese speakers almost always shorten the term to just mạng, which means 'the net' or 'the internet'. To say you want to 'access the internet' or 'go online', you can use the phrase truy cập mạng. If your connection has dropped or failed, the common way to express this is rớt mạng.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mạng toàn cầu is a literal translation of 'global network'.
Which one should you use?
While in-tơ-nét is a phonetic transliteration of the English word, mạng is the much more common way to refer to the internet in casual speech.
Did you know?
- While mạng means 'net' in the context of the internet, the same word cầu can mean 'bridge' or 'latrine' in other contexts.
- The word mạng is a homograph with a second, completely different meaning: 'life' or 'destiny', derived from a different Chinese character.
- The word mạng used for 'net' or 'internet' comes from a Chinese character meaning 'web' or 'net', but it is a non-Sino-Vietnamese reading.
Examples in context
- Abraham Lincoln từng nói rằng, "Đừng tin mọi thứ bạn từng đọc trên mạng."Abraham Lincoln once said, "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet."This sentence shows a quote about not believing everything read on the mạng.Tatoeba #13620593 by leucammieuvu, translation #13620158 by Babelball
- Tôi không thể kết nối vào mạng.I can't connect to the Internet.This sentence is useful for stating an inability to connect to the mạng.Tatoeba #3228486 by monday0rsunday, translation #680571 by Source_VOA
- Rớt mạng rồi.The Internet connection is currently disrupted.This sentence is used to say that the internet connection is currently disrupted using the word mạng.
Example conversation
Chi and Hung are discussing their homework in a cafe.
- ChiHùng ơi, ở đây có in-tơ-nét không?Hung, is there internet here?
- HùngCó, mật khẩu ở trên bàn kìa Chi.Yes, the password is on the table, Chi.
- ChiCảm ơn Hùng, mình cần tìm tài liệu.Thanks Hung, I need to look for documents.
- HùngỪ, cứ dùng in-tơ-nét thoải mái đi.Yeah, feel free to use the internet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “internet” translations and entries mạng, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cầu, liên, mạng, toàn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
