Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| có thai | [kɔ˧˦ tʰaːj˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kɔ˨˩˦ tʰaːj˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| có mang thai | |
| có chửa | [kɔ˧˦ t͡ɕɨə˧˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kɔ˨˩˦ t͡ɕɨə˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
| nghén | [ŋɛn˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ŋɛŋ˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
The term is used to describe the state of carrying developing offspring within the body. While có thai describes the state itself, the word nghén is used specifically to refer to the nausea or morning sickness associated with being pregnant.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase có thai is composed of có, meaning to have and thai, meaning a fetus or embryo.
Which one should you use?
Có thai is the standard and neutral way to state that someone is pregnant. In contrast, mang thai is a slightly more formal or literary expression of the same state. Có chửa is a more colloquial and sometimes blunt way to say someone is pregnant.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Có thai is the neutral, standard choice. Có bầu is an informal way to express being pregnant. Có chửa is a more colloquial and blunt option, while mang thai is more formal or literary.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase mang thai serves as a way to express the state of carrying a pregnancy.
Did you know?
- The informal phrase có bầu uses the word bầu, which literally means 'gourd'. This refers to the rounded shape of a pregnant woman's belly.
- The verb mang in mang thai is cognate with words for 'gill' in other Austroasiatic languages like Bahnar and Khmu.
- While nghén refers to morning sickness, it is often used as a clue to discover a pregnancy before a test is taken, as specific food cravings are highly emphasized in Vietnamese culture.
Examples in context
- Cô ấy có thai.She became pregnant.This sentence describes a woman becoming pregnant using có thai.Tatoeba #13249722 by leucammieuvu, translation #456675 by lukaszpp
- Cô ấy có chửa.She is pregnant.This sentence describes the state of being pregnant using có chửa.Tatoeba #13341106 by leucammieuvu, translation #3454068 by neron
- Lúc đó Tom không biết là Mary có thai.Tom didn't know that Mary was pregnant.This sentence shows a person being unaware that someone else was pregnant using có thai.Tatoeba #9066100 by dotheduyet1999, translation #8512239 by CK
- Chị đang mang bầu à?Are you pregnant?
- Vâng, em đang mang bầu một tháng rồi.Yes, I am one month pregnant.
- Có, em vừa biết tin mình có bầu hôm qua.Yes, I just found out that I am pregnant yesterday.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minh and Huong are talking at a cafe about Huong's friend.
- MinhLan có thai rồi à?Is Lan pregnant?
- HươngĐúng rồi, cô ấy mới có thai được hai tháng.That's right, she has only been pregnant for two months.
- MinhVậy thì cô ấy cần nghỉ ngơi nhiều nhé.Then she needs to rest a lot.
- HươngChắc chắn rồi, mình sẽ dặn cô ấy.Definitely, I will tell her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pregnant” translations and entries có thai, có chửa, nghén, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chửa, có, có chửa, có thai, mang, thai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
