nô lệ
[no˧˧ le˧˨ʔ]
The English word "slave" is translated into Vietnamese as nô lệ.
nô lệ refers to a person owned by another. It can be used to describe someone in historical bondage or metaphorically to describe someone controlled by a specific habit or emotion, such as being a nô lệ của tình yêu (slave to love).
Meaning: person owned by another (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
nô lệ is a noun that does not change its form to indicate number. To specify the plural slaves, you must add a quantifier or classifier such as những or các before the word.
Did you know?
- In historical Vietnamese literature, the term nô was sometimes used as a humble way for a servant to refer to themselves when speaking to a master.
- The word nô lệ is often used in Vietnamese political rhetoric to describe colonialism, specifically referring to 'colonial slavery' rather than chattel slavery.
- The syllable lệ in nô lệ can also be pronounced or used in different contexts to mean 'rule' or 'custom', as seen in the word quy lệ (regulation).
Examples in context
- Lịch sử ghi lại về nạn nô lệ thời cổ đại.History records the ancient slavery.
- Người nô lệ đã tìm cách trốn thoát.The slave tried to find a way to escape.
- Họ đối xử với nô lệ rất tàn nhẫn.They treat slaves very cruelly.
Example conversation
Tuan and Mai are discussing a history lesson.
- TuấnMai, em có đọc về nô lệ không?Mai, did you read about slaves?
- MaiEm có, chuyện đó thật đáng buồn.I did, that story is very sad.
- TuấnĐúng vậy, cuộc sống nô lệ rất vất vả.Exactly, the life of a slave was very hard.
- MaiEm đồng ý với anh, Tuấn.I agree with you, Tuan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slave” translations and entries nô lệ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
