giáo viên
[zaːw˧˦ viən˧˧]
The English word teacher is translated into Vietnamese as giáo viên. Wiktionary also lists cô giáo.
Meaning: person who teaches (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| giáo viên | [zaːw˧˦ viən˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [jaːw˨˩˦ viəŋ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
|
| cô giáo | [ko˧˧ zaːw˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kow˧˧ jaːw˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
feminine |
The term giáo viên is a neutral, professional way to refer to the occupation of a teacher. When addressing or referring to a teacher in a social or classroom context, you would instead use terms based on gender: cô giáo for a female teacher and thầy giáo for a male teacher.
Which one should you use?
giáo viên is a neutral term for the profession itself. In contrast, cô giáo is specifically used for female teachers and thầy giáo is used for male teachers. When students address their teachers directly in a classroom, they often shorten these terms to simply cô for a woman or thầy for a man.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese culture, the teacher-student relationship is often treated with a level of respect similar to that of a parent and child, which is why kinship terms like cô and thầy are used instead of professional titles.
- The word giáo in giáo viên shares its roots with words meaning 'religion', because the act of teaching and the act of spreading a faith were historically linked.
- The term cô giáo for a female teacher is modeled after the male counterpart, reflecting a history where teaching roles were traditionally held by men in Confucian society.
Examples in context
- Cô giáo tên gì?What’s the teacher’s name?This sentence is useful for asking for the name of a teacher using cô giáo.Tatoeba #14028725 by leucammieuvu, translation #8975828 by Analu_Kalaka
- Xin chào, cô giáo.Hello, teacher.This sentence is useful for greeting a teacher using cô giáo.Tatoeba #14032827 by nhuttan2004, translation #13547310 by LeviHighway
- Mẹ tôi là giáo viên.My mother is a teacher.This sentence is useful for stating someone's profession using giáo viên.Tatoeba #13249716 by leucammieuvu, translation #456443 by lukaszpp
- Cô có thể giải thích bài này được không?Can you explain this lesson, teacher?
- 72 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tuan and Mai are talking about their new school classes.
- TuấnMai, giáo viên mới của bạn thế nào?Mai, how is your new teacher?
- MaiGiáo viên này rất tận tâm và vui tính.This teacher is very dedicated and funny.
- TuấnTôi cũng muốn gặp giáo viên đó.I want to meet that teacher too.
- MaiNgày mai Tuấn sẽ gặp thầy ấy.Tomorrow Tuan will meet him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teacher” translations and entries giáo viên, cô giáo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cô, cô giáo, giáo, giáo viên, viên, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
