bánh quế
[ʔɓajŋ̟˧˦ kwe˧˦]word by word
The Vietnamese word for the English phrase waffle is bánh quế.
The term refers to a flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern.
Meaning: flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern (noun)
Did you know?
- The word quế in bánh quế actually means 'cinnamon'. While English speakers see a grid pattern, a Vietnamese speaker literally sees a 'cinnamon cake'.
- While some believe bánh comes from the French word 'pain' for bread, the term appears in Vietnamese texts from the 12th century, long before French contact.
- In Vietnamese, bánh is a broad category that covers everything from cakes and cookies to savory steamed rolls and crackers.
Example conversation
Chi and Minh are at a breakfast cafe.
- ChiMinh, anh muốn ăn gì cho bữa sáng?Minh, what do you want to eat for breakfast?
- MinhAnh muốn một chiếc bánh quế với mật ong.I want a waffle with honey.
- ChiEm cũng sẽ gọi bánh quế.I will order a waffle too.
- MinhVậy chúng ta cùng gọi hai chiếc nhé.Then let's order two of them together.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bánh, quế) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bánh, quế, CC BY-SA 4.0.
