mì sợi nhỏ
The English phrase vermicelli is translated into Vietnamese as mì sợi nhỏ. Wiktionary also lists bún sợi nhỏ.
Meaning: long, slender pasta (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| mì sợi nhỏ | |
| bún sợi nhỏ | [ʔɓun˧˦ səːj˧˨ʔ ɲɔ˧˩] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
This phrase refers to long, slender pasta.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the terms based on the ingredients used. The term mì typically implies noodles made from wheat, while bún implies noodles made from rice. Therefore, while mì sợi nhỏ is a generic term for small noodles, bún specifically refers to the rice-based vermicelli commonly used in Vietnamese dishes like bún chả.
Did you know?
- The word mì is actually a loanword from Teochew or Hokkien Chinese, reflecting the historical influence of Southern Chinese immigrants on Vietnamese cuisine.
Examples in context
- Bún riêuVermicelli with crab paste soup
- Bún chảVermicelli with grilled pork
- Bún thịt nướngVermicelli with grilled meat
- Mì sợi xàoStir-fried vermicelli
- Mì sợi trộnMixed vermicelli salad
- Tôi thích ăn mì sợi nhỏ với rau.I like eating thin vermicelli with vegetables.
- Bạn có muốn thêm mì sợi nhỏ không?Do you want to add more thin vermicelli?
Example conversation
Hương and Tuấn are shopping for ingredients at a grocery store.
- HươngTuấn, chúng ta cần mua mì sợi nhỏ.Tuấn, we need to buy some vermicelli.
- TuấnMì sợi nhỏ nằm ở đâu vậy?Where is the vermicelli located?
- HươngNó ở kệ bên trái kia.It is on that shelf to the left.
- TuấnĐược rồi, tôi sẽ lấy nó.Alright, I will get it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vermicelli” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bún, sợi, nhỏ) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bún, mì, nhỏ, sợi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
