bánh kếp
[ʔɓajŋ̟˧˦ kep̚˧˦]
The English phrase pancake is translated into Vietnamese as bánh kếp. Wiktionary also lists bánh nướng chảo.
Meaning: thin batter cake (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| bánh kếp | [ʔɓajŋ̟˧˦ kep̚˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓɛɲ˦˧˥ kep̚˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
| bánh nướng chảo | [ʔɓajŋ̟˧˦ nɨəŋ˧˦ t͡ɕaːw˧˩] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
Both terms refer to a thin batter cake.
What does it mean word for word?
In the term bánh kếp, the word kép literally means 'double' or 'twofold', likely referring to the way the batter is cooked or layered.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The dish Bánh xèo is a popular savory pancake found throughout Vietnam, especially in the south.
Did you know?
- The famous savory Bánh xèo gets its name from the sizzling sound the batter makes when it hits the hot pan, which is what xèo mimics.
- In Vietnam, savory pancakes like Bánh xèo are traditionally eaten by wrapping pieces of the cake in lettuce leaves with fresh herbs and dipping them in sauce.
- The word bánh kếp is actually a loanword from the French 'crêpe'.
Examples in context
- Tôi muốn ăn bánh xèo, xin hỏi đây có phục vụ không?I would like to eat bánh xèo, may I ask if it is served here?
- Tôi muốn ăn bánh kếp.I want to eat a pancake.
- Bánh kếp này rất ngon.This pancake is very delicious.
- Bạn có muốn thêm mật ong lên bánh kếp không?Do you want to add honey to the pancake?
Example conversation
Hương and Tuấn are deciding what to eat at a cafe.
- HươngTuấn ơi, anh muốn ăn gì?Tuấn, what do you want to eat?
- TuấnAnh muốn thử bánh kếp của quán này.I want to try the pancakes at this shop.
- HươngEm cũng thích ăn bánh kếp.I like eating pancakes too.
- TuấnVậy chúng ta gọi hai phần nhé.Then let's order two servings.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pancake” translations and entries bánh kếp, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bánh, nướng, chảo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bánh, bánh kếp, nướng, CC BY-SA 4.0.
