Vietnamese Pronoun Practice
New to Vietnamese pronouns? Review before you start:
The relationship between the two speakers determines which pronouns to use. Master this first.
If you are... | You say "I" | You call them "You" | When they are... |
---|---|---|---|
Speaking neutrally/formally | tôi | bạn | Your peer (same age) |
Younger | em | anh | An older brother / slightly older man |
chị | An older sister / slightly older woman | ||
Older (male) | anh | em | A younger person (male or female) |
Older (female) | chị | em | A younger person (male or female) |
Speaking to elders | con | ông | An elderly man (grandfather's age) |
bà | An elderly woman (grandmother's age) | ||
chú | A man your father's age | ||
cô | A woman your mother's age |
This table helps you talk about groups. The most common way to make a pronoun plural is by adding các before it, or by using specific plural words.
English | Vietnamese | When to Use |
---|---|---|
We (including the listener) | chúng ta | "Let's go!" (You and I are going together) |
We (excluding the listener) | chúng tôi | "We are going to the store." (My group is going, but you are not) |
You (plural, polite) | các bạn | Addressing a group of friends or peers. |
You (plural, specific) | các anh / các chị / các em | Addressing a group where everyone fits one category (e.g., "all you older sisters"). |
They (neutral/polite) | họ | A general, safe way to refer to a group of people. |
They (specific) | các ông / các bà / các anh | Referring to a specific group you've already identified (e.g., "those men"). |
If you are... | You say "I" | And you call them "You" | And you call them "They" |
---|---|---|---|
Close friends | tao | mày | chúng nó |
Close friends (Southern) | tui | bạn | tụi nó |
Referring to a group of friends | tụi mình | tụi bây | tụi nó |