Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mặc | [mak̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [mak̚˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
|
| đi | [ʔɗi˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɪj˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
|
| mang | [maːŋ˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [maːŋ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
|
| đeo | [ʔɗɛw˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɛw˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
usually |
In Vietnamese, you do not use a single verb for all things you wear. Instead, you must choose a verb that matches the specific type of object. Use mặc for clothing worn on the body, đeo for accessories, đi for footwear and mang for items that are carried or worn in a way that implies carrying, such as a hat or a bag.
Which one should you use?
The different forms are distinguished by what is being worn: mặc is used specifically for clothing like shirts, pants or dresses. đeo is used for accessories attached to the body, such as jewelry, watches, glasses or masks. đi is used specifically for footwear like shoes, sandals or socks. mang is used for items that are carried or worn in a way that implies carrying, such as a bag or a hat and it can also be used more broadly than the other specific verbs.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the central regions of Vietnam, the word mang is used instead of mặc to mean wear.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use mặc for all types of wearing. In Vietnamese, you must switch verbs based on the item, such as using đi for shoes instead of mặc.
Did you know?
- The verb đi is used for wearing footwear because it literally means 'to go' or 'to walk'.
- Depending on the context, mang may have separate historical origins relating to a fish's 'gill'.
Examples in context
- Tôi đeo đồng hồI wear a watch.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of đeo with a watch.Tatoeba #10670161 by quoctrong018, translation #8845789 by CK
- Tôi mặc quần đùiI wear boxers.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of mặc with boxers.Tatoeba #10669778 by quoctrong018, translation #2247568 by CK
- Cô ấy thích mặc váy.She likes to wear skirts.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of mặc with skirts.Tatoeba #11303217 by chaule3, translation #11303216 by chaule3
- Tôi thích mặc áo đen.I like to wear black clothes.
- Cô ấy mặc một chiếc váy đẹp.She is wearing a beautiful dress.
- Anh ấy đội nón bảo hiểm khi đi xe đạp.He wears a helmet when riding a bicycle.
- Hãy đội mũ vào ngày nắng.Wear a hat on sunny days.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lan and Nam are preparing to go out in the cold.
- LanNam ơi, anh có mặc áo khoác chưa?Nam, are you wearing a jacket yet?
- NamAnh mặc rồi, trời lạnh quá.I'm wearing it, it's so cold.
- LanEm cũng phải mặc thêm áo len.I also need to wear an extra sweater.
- NamỪ, em mặc ấm vào nhé.Yes, make sure you wear warm clothes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wear” translations and entries mặc, đi, mang, đeo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mang, mặc, đi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
