bách hợp
[ʔɓajk̟̚˧˦ həːp̚˧˨ʔ]
The English word 'lily' can be translated into Vietnamese as bách hợp or loa kèn.
Meaning: flower in the genus Lilium (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| bách hợp | [ʔɓajk̟̚˧˦ həːp̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓat̚˦˧˥ həːp̚˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| loa kèn | [lwaː˧˧ kɛn˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [lwaː˧˧ kɛŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
Vietnamese uses different terms depending on whether you are speaking botanically or referring to specific flowers found in daily life.
What does it mean word for word?
The term loa kèn literally means 'trumpet horn', which describes the physical shape of the flower.
Which one should you use?
bách hợp is the term used for the general genus or in more formal, poetic and botanical contexts. In contrast, loa kèn specifically refers to the trumpet lily and is the common name used in daily conversation.
When do people say it?
In Vietnam, loa kèn is the specific name used for the white lilies that are commonly sold during the Lunar New Year.
Did you know?
- In modern internet culture, the term bách hợp is used as a genre label for stories about romantic relationships between women.
- The loa part of loa kèn originates from a Sino-Vietnamese word meaning 'spiral shell'.
Examples in context
- Hoa bách hợp rất thơm.The lily flower is very fragrant.
Example conversation
Hung and Mai are at a flower shop.
- HùngMai, em thích hoa bách hợp không?Mai, do you like lilies?
- MaiCó, em rất thích loài hoa này.Yes, I like this flower very much.
- HùngVậy anh sẽ mua bách hợp cho em.Then I will buy lilies for you.
- MaiCảm ơn anh, Hùng thật tâm lý.Thank you, Hung, you are so thoughtful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lily” translations and entries bách hợp, loa kèn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bách, bách hợp, hợp, kèn, loa, loa kèn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
