màu tím
[maw˨˩ tim˧˦]word by word
The English word purple is màu tím in Vietnamese. Wiktionary also lists đỏ tía.
Meaning: colour (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| màu tím | [maw˨˩ tim˧˦] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
| đỏ tía | [ʔɗɔ˧˩ tiə˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɔ˧˨ tiə˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
The term is used to refer to the color purple. While màu tím is the standard way to name the color as a noun, the word can also function as an adjective.
What does it mean word for word?
The word tím means purple. When you want to specify the noun 'purple', the word for colour, màu, is placed before the color name.
Which one should you use?
màu tím is the standard term for purple, whereas đỏ tía refers specifically to a purplish-red or magenta hue.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To use purple as a noun, place màu before tím. When using the word as an adjective to describe a noun, you can often omit the word màu and simply use tím.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese pop culture and poetry, màu tím is often used as a symbol for loyalty, faithfulness and a bittersweet, longing kind of love.
- In some regional dialects, the word tía can also be used to refer to a father, showing how the same sound can have completely unrelated meanings.
- The word tím can be intensified by repeating it as tím tím, which changes the shade to a light or subtle purple.
Examples in context
- Quyển sách có màu tím.The book is purple.This sentence shows how to state that an object has the color màu tím.Tatoeba #13581134 by leucammieuvu, translation #13578875 by HAGNi
- Chiếc quần tây màu tím dễ thương này bao nhiêu tiền?How much are those lovely purple trousers?This sentence uses màu tím to describe the color of trousers.Tatoeba #11277799 by chaule3, translation #11277798 by chaule3
- Chiếc áo này có màu tía rất đẹp, cậu thích không?This shirt has a beautiful purple color. Do you like it?
- Cô ấy thích màu tím.She likes the color purple.
Example conversation
Tuấn and Hương are looking at flowers in a garden.
- TuấnHương xem bông hoa này, nó có màu tím.Hương, look at this flower, it is purple.
- HươngĐẹp quá, em cũng thích màu tím.It's so beautiful, I like purple too.
- TuấnAnh sẽ mua một bó cho em nhé.I will buy a bouquet for you, okay?
- HươngVâng, em cảm ơn Tuấn.Yes, thank you, Tuấn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purple” translations and entries đỏ tía, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (màu, tím) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
