🇻🇳 Vietnamese vocabulary

The 300 most common Vietnamese words

Learn these first: they make up a big share of everything you'll read. Ranked by frequency, with meanings and examples for the top 50.

Test your Vietnamese vocabulary Vietnamese phrases

#	Vietnamese	Meaning	Type
1	tôi Tôi là sinh viên. — I am a student.	I, me	pronoun
2	không Tôi không biết. — I don't know.	not, no; zero	adverb
3	là Đây là nhà tôi. — This is my house.	to be	verb
4	anh Anh khỏe không? — How are you?	you (to a young man); older brother; he	pronoun
5	có Tôi có hai con mèo. — I have two cats.	to have; there is; yes	verb
6	ta Ta đi thôi. — Let's go.	we, us; I (archaic)	pronoun
7	của Đây là sách của tôi. — This is my book.	of, belonging to	preposition
8	đi Tôi đi làm bằng xe máy. — I go to work by motorbike.	to go	verb
9	đã Tôi đã ăn rồi. — I've already eaten.	(past marker) already	adverb
10	đó Cái đó là gì? — What's that?	that; there	pronoun
11	sẽ Mai tôi sẽ gọi cho bạn. — I'll call you tomorrow.	will (future marker)	adverb
12	chúng ta Chúng ta là bạn. — We are friends.	we, us (inclusive)	pronoun
13	gì Bạn tên là gì? — What's your name?	what	pronoun
14	một Cho tôi một ly cà phê. — A coffee for me, please.	one; a	number
15	được Tôi vào được không? — May I come in?	can; to be allowed; to receive; OK	verb
16	và Tôi và em tôi. — My younger sibling and I.	and	conjunction
17	cô Cô ấy là giáo viên. — She is a teacher.	you (to a young woman); Miss; aunt; she	pronoun
18	làm Bạn đang làm gì? — What are you doing?	to do, to make; to work	verb
19	phải Tôi phải đi bây giờ. — I have to go now.	must, have to; right, correct	verb
20	rồi Xong rồi. — It's done.	already; then	adverb
21	người Anh ấy là người tốt. — He is a good person.	person, people	noun
22	này Cái áo này đẹp quá. — This shirt is really nice.	this	determiner
23	cho Cho tôi xem. — Let me see.	to give; for; to let	verb
24	em Em bao nhiêu tuổi? — How old are you?	you (to someone younger); younger sibling; I	pronoun
25	đây Lại đây! — Come here!	here; this	pronoun
26	con Con đói rồi. — I'm hungry. (child to parent)	child; (classifier for animals); I (to parents)	noun
27	sao Sao bạn buồn? — Why are you sad?	why; how; star	adverb
28	biết Bạn biết anh ấy không? — Do you know him?	to know	verb
29	ông Ông ấy là bác sĩ. — He is a doctor.	you (to an older man); Mr.; grandfather; he	pronoun
30	nói Bạn nói tiếng Anh không? — Do you speak English?	to say, to speak	verb
31	nó Nó đang ngủ. — He's sleeping.	it; he, she (casual)	pronoun
32	có thể Tôi có thể giúp bạn. — I can help you.	can, may; possible	verb
33	với Đi với tôi. — Come with me.	with; to	preposition
34	cậu Cậu đi đâu đấy? — Where are you going?	you (between friends); uncle	pronoun
35	thế Thế à? — Is that so?	so, like that	adverb
36	lại Nói lại đi. — Say it again.	again; to come over	adverb
37	ra Anh ấy ra ngoài rồi. — He went out.	to go out, to exit	verb
38	vậy Vậy thì đi thôi. — Then let's go.	so, like that	adverb
39	để Tôi học để đi du lịch. — I study in order to travel.	to, in order to; to let, to put	preposition
40	nào Bạn thích cái nào? — Which one do you like?	which; any	determiner
41	ấy Cô ấy rất đẹp. — She's very beautiful.	that (person); he, she (with anh/cô)	determiner
42	cái Cái này bao nhiêu tiền? — How much is this?	(classifier for things); thing	noun
43	đang Tôi đang ăn. — I'm eating.	(progressive marker) -ing	adverb
44	muốn Tôi muốn về nhà. — I want to go home.	to want	verb
45	trong Nó ở trong phòng. — It's in the room.	in, inside	preposition
46	mà Đắt mà không ngon. — It's expensive but not tasty.	but; that, which	conjunction
47	như Nó giống như mẹ. — She looks like her mother.	like, as	preposition
48	nhưng Tôi mệt nhưng vui. — I'm tired but happy.	but	conjunction
49	khi Khi còn nhỏ, tôi sống ở Huế. — When I was little, I lived in Hue.	when	conjunction
50	những Những người này là ai? — Who are these people?	(plural marker)	determiner
51	đến	to arrive, to come; to	verb
52	đâu	where; not at all	pronoun
53	chuyện	story, matter, affair	noun
54	chỉ	only; to point	adverb
55	cả	all, whole; even	determiner
56	về	about; to return	preposition
57	thì	then; as for	conjunction
58	họ	they; family name	pronoun
59	giờ	hour; time; now	noun
60	thôi	that's enough; just; let's	particle
61	thấy	to see; to feel	verb
62	còn	still; and (what about)	adverb
63	cũng	also, too	adverb
64	vào	to enter; into; at (time)	verb
65	các	(plural marker) the	determiner
66	bị	(adverse passive marker); to suffer	verb
67	nghĩ	to think	verb
68	đấy	there; (emphatic particle)	particle
69	ai	who; anyone	pronoun
70	thật	real, true; really	adjective
71	hắn	he (pejorative)	pronoun
72	nếu	if	conjunction
73	mình	oneself; I, we	pronoun
74	việc	work, job; matter	noun
75	nữa	more; again	adverb
76	rất	very	adverb
77	vì	because	conjunction
78	cần	to need	verb
79	chứ	of course; (emphatic particle)	particle
80	à	ah; (question particle)	particle
81	điều	thing, matter	noun
82	xin	to ask for, to beg; please	verb
83	thứ	thing; kind; (ordinal) -th	noun
84	chưa	not yet; yet?	adverb
85	nhà	house, home	noun
86	lên	to go up; up	verb
87	đúng	right, correct	adjective
88	từ	from; word	preposition
89	mẹ	mother	noun
90	nghe	to hear, to listen	verb
91	hơn	more, than	adverb
92	mọi	every, all	determiner
93	bạn	friend; you	noun
94	tớ	I (to friends)	pronoun
95	nên	should; so, therefore	verb
96	chết	to die; dead	verb
97	cảm ơn	thank you	verb
98	đầu	head; beginning	noun
99	đừng	don't	adverb
100	tìm	to look for, to find	verb
101	tốt	good	adjective
102	tin	to believe; news	verb
103	hãy	(imperative) let's, do	adverb
104	quá	too; very	adverb
105	nhiều	many, much, a lot	adjective
106	trước	before; in front	preposition
107	cảm thấy	to feel	verb
108	bà	grandmother; Mrs.; you (to an older woman)	noun
109	ý	idea, meaning	noun
110	hay	or; interesting, good; often	conjunction
111	nhất	most; first	adverb
112	bố	father, dad	noun
113	tất cả	all, everything	pronoun
114	bao giờ	when; ever	adverb
115	trên	on, above	preposition
116	tên	name	noun
117	xin lỗi	sorry, excuse me	verb
118	tại	at; because	preposition
119	sau	after, behind	preposition
120	cháu	grandchild; niece, nephew	noun
121	ngày	day	noun
122	khác	other, different	adjective
123	xem	to watch, to see	verb
124	theo	to follow; according to	verb
125	chắc	surely; probably	adverb
126	gặp	to meet	verb
127	bắt	to catch	verb
128	yêu	to love	verb
129	cứ	just, keep on	adverb
130	qua	to pass, to cross; past	verb
131	vẫn	still	adverb
132	cùng	together; same	adverb
133	ngay	right, immediately	adverb
134	thích	to like	verb
135	cách	way, method; distance from	noun
136	nhìn	to look at	verb
137	sống	to live; alive; raw	verb
138	lúc	moment, time; when	noun
139	giết	to kill	verb
140	mới	new; just; only then	adjective
141	chào	hello; to greet	interjection
142	đưa	to give, to hand; to take (someone)	verb
143	lắm	very, a lot	adverb
144	gọi	to call	verb
145	hết	finished, all gone; all	adjective
146	bảo	to tell, to say	verb
147	hai	two	number
148	rằng	that (+ clause)	conjunction
149	ăn	to eat	verb
150	giúp	to help	verb
151	hiểu	to understand	verb
152	lấy	to take, to get	verb
153	ngài	sir; you (very formal)	pronoun
154	tự	self, by oneself	adverb
155	lần	time (occurrence)	noun
156	tay	hand, arm	noun
157	bỏ	to leave, to abandon, to quit	verb
158	năm	year; five	noun
159	mất	to lose; to take (time)	verb
160	xe	vehicle, car, bike	noun
161	nhận	to receive	verb
162	cha	father	noun
163	khỏi	out of; to recover	preposition
164	nay	now; this (day, year)	noun
165	tiền	money	noun
166	thời gian	time	noun
167	nhé	okay? (friendly particle)	particle
168	trở	to return; to become (trở nên)	verb
169	bé	small; baby	adjective
170	mặt	face; side	noun
171	đường	road, street; sugar	noun
172	vâng	yes (polite)	interjection
173	gái	girl, female	noun
174	luôn	always; right away	adverb
175	mấy	how many; a few	determiner
176	nhau	each other	pronoun
177	lời	word, speech	noun
178	nơi	place	noun
179	chị	older sister; you (to a woman slightly older)	noun
180	xuống	to go down; down	verb
181	bây giờ	now	adverb
182	số	number	noun
183	đồ	thing, stuff	noun
184	ngoài	outside	preposition
185	thực	real, true	adjective
186	từng	ever; each	adverb
187	phòng	room	noun
188	thằng	guy, boy (casual, pejorative)	noun
189	kẻ	person (pejorative), guy	noun
190	bằng	by, with; equal	preposition
191	chẳng	not (at all)	adverb
192	chút	a little	noun
193	nhớ	to remember; to miss	verb
194	chú	uncle (father's younger brother); you (to a man)	noun
195	chỗ	place, spot	noun
196	học	to study, to learn	verb
197	nhanh	fast, quick	adjective
198	quay	to turn; to film	verb
199	cố	to try (hard)	verb
200	tuyệt	great, excellent	adjective
201	hỏi	to ask	verb
202	tiếp	to continue; next	verb
203	tình	love; feeling	noun
204	ơi	hey (calling someone)	interjection
205	bên	side	noun
206	vui	happy, fun	adjective
207	ổn	fine, okay	adjective
208	tâm	heart, mind	noun
209	cứu	to save, to rescue	verb
210	trả	to pay; to return	verb
211	đều	all, both; even	adverb
212	máy	machine	noun
213	vài	a few, several	determiner
214	nước	water; country	noun
215	giống	to resemble; similar	verb
216	đánh	to hit, to beat	verb
217	xảy ra	to happen	verb
218	chơi	to play	verb
219	con trai	boy, son	noun
220	tối	evening; dark	noun
221	câu	sentence; question	noun
222	kia	that (over there)	determiner
223	giữ	to keep, to hold	verb
224	vừa	just; fit; medium	adverb
225	tiếng	language; sound; hour	noun
226	tưởng	to think (mistakenly)	verb
227	chờ	to wait	verb
228	lo	to worry	verb
229	đẹp	beautiful	adjective
230	hôm nay	today	noun
231	đáng	worth, deserving	adjective
232	vấn đề	problem, issue	noun
233	quan trọng	important	adjective
234	bình thường	normal	adjective
235	đủ	enough	adjective
236	lớn	big; to grow up	adjective
237	sáng	morning; bright	noun
238	bác	uncle, aunt (older than parent)	noun
239	lâu	long (time)	adjective
240	sợ	to be afraid	verb
241	thường	usually; often	adverb
242	rõ	clear	adjective
243	cửa	door	noun
244	dùng	to use	verb
245	ôi	oh	interjection
246	ba	three; father (southern)	number
247	thêm	more, additional	adverb
248	đứa	(classifier for children)	noun
249	thay	to change, to replace	verb
250	mang	to carry, to bring	verb
251	ngủ	to sleep	verb
252	trời	sky; weather; God	noun
253	đổi	to change, to exchange	verb
254	nhỏ	small	adjective
255	dù	although; even if	conjunction
256	bay	to fly	verb
257	đêm	night	noun
258	trẻ	young	adjective
259	gần	near	adjective
260	trường	school	noun
261	đợi	to wait	verb
262	nhỉ	isn't it? (particle)	particle
263	đất	land, soil	noun
264	đứng	to stand	verb
265	ngồi	to sit	verb
266	xa	far	adjective
267	kể	to tell	verb
268	khó	difficult	adjective
269	chịu	to bear, to endure	verb
270	sắp	about to	adverb
271	xong	finished, done	adjective
272	mở	to open	verb
273	cao	tall, high	adjective
274	uống	to drink	verb
275	dừng	to stop	verb
276	ít	few, little	adjective
277	dưới	under, below	preposition
278	chọn	to choose	verb
279	mắt	eye	noun
280	mạnh	strong	adjective
281	thuốc	medicine; cigarette	noun
282	dễ	easy	adjective
283	vợ	wife	noun
284	phía	direction, side	noun
285	đau	to hurt; painful	adjective
286	sai	wrong	adjective
287	quên	to forget	verb
288	phút	minute	noun
289	mừng	glad, happy	adjective
290	chân	foot, leg	noun
291	tuần	week	noun
292	mua	to buy	verb
293	tháng	month	noun
294	mai	tomorrow	noun
295	mặc	to wear	verb
296	máu	blood	noun
297	tuổi	age, years old	noun
298	sách	book	noun
299	chó	dog	noun
300	ngon	delicious, tasty	adjective

Frequency ranking based on OpenSubtitles 2018 subtitles (hermitdave/FrequencyWords).

Questions

What are the most common Vietnamese words?

The top ten are tôi (I), không (not), là (to be), anh (you (to a young man); older brother; he), có (to have; there is; yes), ta (we), của (of), đi (to go), đã ((past marker) already), đó (that; there).

How many Vietnamese words do I need to know?

The few hundred most frequent words make up a large share of any everyday text, which is why they're the best place to start. To read graded stories comfortably you need roughly 1,000–2,000; for unadapted books, several thousand. Test yourself with the Vietnamese vocabulary size test.

Where does this list come from?

The ranking is based on OpenSubtitles 2018 subtitles (hermitdave/FrequencyWords), cleaned by hand to remove names, fragments and noise, with meanings added for learners.