gì
[zi˨˩]
In Vietnamese, the English phrase "what" is primarily expressed as gì. Wiktionary also lists 之.
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| gì | [zi˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [jɪj˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| 之 |
The word gì is an interrogative pronoun used to ask "what". It can also function as an expression of surprise.
Which one should you use?
Adding cơ after it to create Gì cơ? is a common colloquial way to express surprise or to ask someone to repeat what they just said.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Vietnam, people might use the phrase cái gì hả? to say "what?"
Related words
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly place gì at the beginning of a sentence like in English, whereas in Vietnamese it typically follows the verb or the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- The word gì is a cognate of the Muong word chi. This shows a deep linguistic connection between Vietnamese and the Muong language.
- While you might learn gì as the standard word for 'what', speakers in Central Vietnam often use chi instead. This regional variation can make the language sound quite different depending on whether you are in the North or the Center.
Examples in context
- Về cái gì cơ?About what?This sentence shows how to use gì when asking about a topic.Tatoeba #13339797 by leucammieuvu, translation #434158 by lukaszpp
- Bạn tên là gì?What is your name?This sentence demonstrates how to use gì when asking for a name.Tatoeba #9555190 by Alex_do, translation #70623 by frpzzd
- Em muốn ăn gì?What do you want to eat?This sentence illustrates the use of gì when asking about food preferences.Tatoeba #11751622 by quoctrong018, translation #372015 by saeb
- Xin lỗi, bạn có thể nói lại được không?Excuse me, could you please repeat?
- 482 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Chi are looking at a mysterious box on the table.
- HùngTrong hộp có gì vậy Chi?What is in the box, Chi?
- ChiEm không biết nữa.I don't know.
- HùngAnh nghĩ là một món quà.I think it is a gift.
- ChiThật là bất ngờ quá!That is such a surprise!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what” translations and entries gì, 之, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gì, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
