nghìn
[ŋin˨˩]
In Vietnamese, the word for thousand is nghìn. Wiktionary also lists ngàn.
Meaning: cardinal number 1000 (num)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| nghìn | [ŋin˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ŋin˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| ngàn | [ŋaːn˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ŋaːŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
The word is a cardinal number used to denote the value 1,000. When writing numbers in Vietnamese, a dot is used to separate thousands and a comma is used as the decimal marker. For example, 1,500,000 Vietnamese dong is written as 1.500.000 đồng. The form ngàn is also used figuratively in common expressions to mean 'countless' or 'many', such as in the phrase cả ngàn lần (a thousand times or countless times).
Which one should you use?
The forms nghìn and ngàn both mean thousand. nghìn is the form most commonly used in Northern Vietnam, while ngàn is more common in Southern Vietnam.
Did you know?
- Vietnamese has a separate word for thousand, thiên, borrowed from Chinese, which is used primarily in formal or Sino-Vietnamese compounds.
- The word nghìn has roots that may be traced back to ancient linguistic connections involving Proto-Hlai languages.
Examples in context
- Một triệu là một nghìn mũ hai.One million is one thousand squared.This sentence uses nghìn to explain a mathematical concept of one thousand squared.Tatoeba #13563871 by leucammieuvu, translation #13563081 by araneo
- Tôi đã ở đó ba nghìn năm trước.I was there three thousand years ago.This sentence uses nghìn to express a period of three thousand years ago.Tatoeba #13740779 by leucammieuvu, translation #13739090 by rul
- Ziri đã làm việc đó cả ngàn lần rồi.Ziri has done it a thousand times already.This sentence uses ngàn to show how the word can mean 'countless' in a figurative expression.Tatoeba #12054392 by dotheduyet1999, translation #11239448 by Amastan
- Vé concert giá mười ngàn đồng.Concert tickets cost ten thousand Vietnamese dong.
- Khoảng cách giữa Hà Nội và Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh là hơn một nghìn kilômét.The distance between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is over one thousand kilometers.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Lan are at a small street food stall.
- NamMón này bao nhiêu tiền vậy Lan?How much is this dish, Lan?
- LanChỉ có mười nghìn đồng thôi anh Nam.It's only ten thousand dong, Nam.
- NamRẻ quá, tôi sẽ mua một phần.So cheap, I will buy one portion.
- LanĐể tôi lấy cho anh nhé.Let me get that for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thousand” translations and entries nghìn, ngàn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nghìn, ngàn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
