베트남어
beteunameo[pe̞tʰɯna̠mʌ̹]
The Korean word for the Vietnamese language is 베트남어 (beteunameo).
베트남어 is used specifically to name the language itself. If you want to refer to a person from Vietnam, you would use 베트남인 or 베트남 사람.
Meaning: language (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 베트남, meaning Vietnam and the suffix 어, meaning language or speech.
Which one should you use?
베트남어 refers specifically to the language, whereas 베트남의 is used to describe things or people that belong to or originate from Vietnam.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix -어 (語) is used to transform a country name into its corresponding language name.
How do you pronounce it?
beteunameo
Did you know?
- Korean learners of 베트남어 often find the grammar surprisingly familiar because both languages share a similar use of Chinese-derived vocabulary, known as Sino-Korean and Sino-Vietnamese words.
- Because the suffix -어 is so productive, you can create words for fictional languages, such as 엘프어 for 'Elvish', using the same logic as 베트남어.
- The word 어 is used for most national languages, but for English, Koreans use 영어. The 영 does not mean 'England' but refers to 'England' specifically via a historical Chinese transcription.
Examples in context
- 저는 베트남말을 배우고 있습니다.I am learning Vietnamese.
- 나 베트남어 좀 공부해봤어.I've studied a bit of Vietnamese.
- 그녀는 베트남어를 잘해요.geunyeoneun beteunameoreul jalhaeyo.She speaks Vietnamese well.
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are talking about their hobbies.
- 민준 Min-jun서연 씨는 외국어를 공부해요?Seoyeon ssineun oegugeoreul gongbuhaeyo?Seoyeon, do you study a foreign language?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 요즘 베트남어 공부해요.Ne, yojeum Beteunameo gongbuhaeyo.Yes, I am studying Vietnamese these days.
- 민준 Min-jun정말요? 아주 멋지네요.Jeongmalyo? Aju meotjineyo.Really? That is very cool.
- 서연 Seo-yeon고마워요, 민준 씨.Gomawoyo, Minjun ssi.Thank you, Minjun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vietnamese” translations and entries 베트남어, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
