Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| bóng đá | [ʔɓawŋ͡m˧˦ ʔɗaː˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓawŋ͡m˦˧˥ ʔɗaː˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| bóng tròn | [ʔɓawŋ͡m˧˦ t͡ɕɔn˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓawŋ͡m˦˧˥ ʈɔŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| đá banh | [ʔɗaː˧˦ ʔɓajŋ̟˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗaː˨˩˦ ʔɓɛɲ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| túc cầu | [tʊwk͡p̚˧˦ kəw˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tʊwk͡p̚˦˧˥ kəw˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
The term for soccer in Vietnamese can vary depending on the context. Bóng đá is the most common and standard way to refer to the game. If you wish to refer to soccer specifically as a sport, you can use the phrase môn bóng đá.
What does it mean word for word?
The standard term bóng đá is composed of bóng, meaning ball and đá, meaning to kick.
Which one should you use?
Bóng đá is the standard term used in most contexts. Bóng tròn, which literally means round ball, is a slightly more poetic or old-fashioned way to refer to the sport. Đá banh is a colloquial way to signify soccer, and túc cầu is a more specialized, formal term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bóng đá is the standard term suitable for both formal and everyday use. Đá banh is an informal and colloquial expression. Túc cầu is a highly formal or literary term often used in official titles or news headlines.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Đá banh is particularly common in Southern Vietnamese dialects.
Did you know?
- In ancient Vietnamese, the word bóng was used to refer to a female occultist, shamaness or sorceress.
Examples in context
- Tom thích bóng đá.Tom liked soccer.This sentence shows how to express liking the sport using bóng đá.Tatoeba #13339836 by leucammieuvu, translation #11047485 by CK
- Hôm qua tôi chơi bóng đá.Yesterday I played soccer.This sentence illustrates the action of playing soccer using bóng đá.Tatoeba #13599552 by leucammieuvu, translation #10745473 by megamanenm
- Bạn có chơi bóng đá không?Do you play soccer?This sentence is useful for asking a question about playing soccer using bóng đá.Tatoeba #9034110 by dotheduyet1999, translation #70050 by CK
- Tôi yêu bóng đá.I love soccer.
- Học sinh đang chơi môn bóng đá.The students are playing soccer.
- Chúng tôi thường đá banh vào buổi chiều.We often play soccer in the afternoon.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Mai are talking about their hobbies at a cafe.
- HùngEm có thích bóng đá không?Do you like soccer?
- MaiEm không thích, em thích cầu lông hơn.I don't, I like badminton more.
- HùngAnh thì rất mê bóng đá.As for me, I am very into soccer.
- MaiVậy anh thường xem bóng đá một mình à?So, do you usually watch soccer alone?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soccer” translations and entries bóng đá, bóng tròn, đá banh, túc cầu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bóng, bóng tròn, bóng đá, đá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
