ngon
[ŋɔn˧˧]
The English phrase 'tasty' is translated to Vietnamese as ngon.
ngon is used broadly to describe food that tastes good. In certain contexts, it can also be used colloquially to describe something that is visually appealing or 'sweet'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say something is 'very tasty', you can add the word lắm after the word to create ngon lắm. To express the negative 'not tasty', place the word không before the word to create không ngon.
Did you know?
- Adding ngon to a description of a sleep, such as ngủ ngon, transforms 'tasty' into the English equivalent of 'soundly' or 'sweetly'.
- In certain Vietnamese slang contexts, describing a person as ngon can be a highly suggestive or objectifying way to say they are 'delicious' or 'sexy'.
- The word ngon can also be used to describe a 'good deal' or a 'profitable' opportunity in business contexts, much like saying a deal is 'tasty' in English.
Examples in context
- Cơm mẹ nấu ngon lắm đấy!Mom cooked some tasty food!This sentence is useful for describing food cooked by a mother using ngon.Tatoeba #409534 by monodioo, translation #7794359 by sharris123
- Cái bánh tôi ăn hôm qua không ngon như cái này.The cake I ate yesterday was not as tasty as this one.This sentence is useful for comparing the tastiness of two different cakes using ngon.Tatoeba #13634478 by leucammieuvu, translation #13634155 by mervert1
- Quả này thật ngon.This fruit is very tasty.
- Món này ăn ngon lành đấy.This dish is really delicious.
- Món phở này rất ngon.This pho is very tasty.
Example conversation
Hương and Minh are eating dinner together.
- HươngAnh thấy món này có ngon không?Do you think this dish is tasty?
- MinhNgon lắm, em nấu ăn giỏi thật.Very tasty, you really cook well.
- HươngEm cảm ơn anh, Minh.Thank you, Minh.
- MinhAnh muốn ăn thêm một chút nữa.I want to eat a bit more.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ngon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
