Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| hôi | [hoj˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [hoj˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| thối | [tʰoj˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tʰoj˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
To express that something is smelly, you can use several different phrases depending on how polite or specific you want to be. The most direct way to say 'a bad smell' as a noun phrase is mùi hôi, which combines the noun mùi (smell) with the adjective hôi. If you want to describe a smell that is specifically rotten or putrid, use mùi thối.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the two main forms. hôi is a general term for an unpleasant or bad smell, often used for things like body odor or stale air. In contrast, thối is a stronger term specifically used to describe the smell of decaying or rotting organic matter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Vietnam, the phrase bốc mùi is a common informal way to describe something as being smelly.
Did you know?
- Some of Vietnam's most prized delicacies, such as fermented shrimp paste mắm tôm, are described using words for 'smelly' as a mark of quality and authenticity.
- The phrase bốc mùi literally means 'to emit a smell', but it is often used as a slang term to imply that a secret or a lie has finally been exposed.
- The word thối has two completely different histories: one relates to the ancient Proto-Vietic word for 'rotten', while another version is actually a Sino-Vietnamese word meaning 'to retreat' or 'to withdraw'.
Examples in context
- Cái này hôi quá!This smells so bad!
- Tất của em hôi quá.My socks are so smelly.
- Cái áo này có mùi hôi.This shirt has a smelly odor.
- Tại sao phòng lại hôi thế?Why is the room so smelly?
Example conversation
A man and a woman are cleaning their shared apartment.
- MaiHùng ơi, cái thùng rác hôi quá.Hung, the trash can is so smelly.
- HùngĐể anh đi đổ nó ngay.Let me go empty it right away.
- MaiAnh nhớ rửa sạch thùng nhé.Remember to wash the bin, okay?
- HùngAnh biết rồi, Mai.I know, Mai.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smelly” translations and entries hôi, thối, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hôi, thối, CC BY-SA 4.0.
