sữa
[sɨə˦ˀ˥]
The Vietnamese word for milk is sữa.
The noun sữa refers to the liquid. When you need to describe the action of milking an animal, such as a cow or a goat, use the verb phrase vắt sữa.
Meaning: liquid (noun)
Which one should you use?
While sữa is the general term for milk, it is often specified by type: sữa tươi is used for fresh milk, sữa đặc refers to condensed milk and sữa bột refers to powdered milk.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun sữa is an uncountable noun and does not change its form in the plural.
When do people say it?
In Vietnam, sữa đặc (condensed milk) is a staple in the local coffee culture. The verb phrase vắt sữa is used for the physical act of milking an animal.
Did you know?
- Historically, the word sữa was written using complex characters like 𫶷 and 𱜗 before the modern Latin-based alphabet became standard.
- While English speakers might say 'to milk a cow', Vietnamese speakers use the specific verb phrase vắt sữa, which literally translates to 'squeeze milk'.
- In Vietnamese culinary contexts, sữa can refer to various non-dairy alternatives, such as sữa đậu nành for soy milk, using the same general noun.
Examples in context
- Vắt sữa bò đi.Milk the cow.This sentence demonstrates the use of the verb phrase involving sữa to milk a cow.Tatoeba #13437733 by leucammieuvu, translation #7932263 by CK
- Tôi đã mua sữa.I bought milk.This sentence shows sữa used as the object of a purchase.Tatoeba #13437690 by leucammieuvu, translation #13111301 by Lumi
- Cô ấy uống sữa.She drank milk.This sentence shows sữa being used as the object of the verb to drink.Tatoeba #13437761 by leucammieuvu, translation #2876760 by Amastan
- Tôi muốn một ly sữa.I would like a glass of milk.
- Bạn có bán sữa bò không?Do you sell cow's milk?
- Có sữa hạt không?Do you have nut milk?
- Mình uống nước đậu nành. Bạn thử không?I'm drinking soy milk. Would you like to try?
- Mình cần mua sữa chua, không phải sữa bình thường.I need to buy yogurt, not regular milk.
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mai and Hùng are in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
- MaiHùng ơi, nhà mình hết sữa rồi.Hùng, we are out of milk.
- HùngVậy để anh đi mua sữa nhé.Then I will go buy some milk.
- MaiAnh mua sữa tươi không đường nhé.Please buy unsweetened fresh milk.
- HùngĐược rồi, anh đi ngay đây.Alright, I am going now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “milk” translations and entries sữa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sữa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
