Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| mẹ | [mɛ˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [mɛ˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| má | [maː˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [maː˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| mợ | [məː˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [məː˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| u | [ʔu˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔʊw˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| mạ | [maː˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [maː˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| nạ | [naː˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [naː˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| bầm | [ʔɓəm˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓəm˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| mệ | [me˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [mej˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| đẻ | [ʔɗɛ˧˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɛ˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
| cái | [kaːj˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kaːj˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
The term mẹ is used as a noun to refer to a mother and also serves as a pronoun when a child addresses their mother directly. If you wish to express the action of treating someone as a mother would be expected to, you can use the verbs chăm sóc, nuôi or nuôi nấng.
Which one should you use?
Be careful with the word mợ. While it sounds similar to mẹ, it actually refers to the wife of one's maternal uncle (aunt) in many contexts, rather than one's own mother. Other forms in the language include má, mợ, u, mạ, nạ, bầm, mệ, đẻ and cái.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mẹ is the most common and standard way to say "mother" in Vietnamese. Other forms like u are more archaic or rural.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Vietnam, má is a common way to say "mother". In Northern Vietnam, u is an older, more rural term for "mother".
Related words
Did you know?
- The rural term u for 'mother' may share a root with the word for the 'hump of a zebu' ox.
Examples in context
- Họ là mẹ con.They're mother and daughter.This sentence shows how to use mẹ to describe a mother-daughter relationship.Tatoeba #13603241 by leucammieuvu, translation #13602232 by sfgdh
- Bố tôi yêu mẹ tôi.My father loves my mother.This sentence uses mẹ to refer to one's own mother.Tatoeba #13472323 by leucammieuvu, translation #319344 by CK
- Mẹ bạn làm ở đây à?Is this where your mother works?This sentence uses mẹ to ask about someone else's mother.Tatoeba #5754904 by yippe, translation #1474214 by CK
- Xin chào, mẹ!Hello, mother!
- 116 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Mai are talking about their families.
- HùngMẹ của Mai khỏe không?Is your mother healthy, Mai?
- MaiMẹ tôi rất khỏe, cảm ơn bạn.My mother is very healthy, thank you.
- HùngMẹ bạn có đang ở nhà không?Is your mother at home right now?
- MaiMẹ tôi đang đi chợ.My mother is going to the market.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries mẹ, má, mợ, u, mạ, nạ, bầm, mệ, đẻ, cái, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries má, mẹ, mợ, u, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
