Pronunciation: Diphthong (Compound vowels) with Examples

– There are 11 simple vowels and main 3 diphthongs in the Vietnamese language. The vowels are presented in the following chart:

1. The vowels: (base on each column) have the similar (position of the tongue) and the different thing (the shape of your mouth)

*Please note this we skipped ă, â and q in this audio. We read from left to right, every letter twice.

The first column: the position of tongue is close to lips and opening up from i to e

(Find picture below for each letter)

I/y :

I and Y sounds similar – “ee” in English.

Example (in Vietnamese word): ly– glass

Ê:

Ê sounds like “eh” in English

Example (in Vietnamese) : lê – pear

E:

E sounds similar with “air” but soften “r”

Example: mẹ – mother

The second column: the position of tongue is in between and opening up from ư to a

(Find picture below for each letter)

Ư

Ư sounds similar with “er” but shorten sound

Example: từ từ – slow down

Ơ

Ơ sounds similar with “er” but soften “r”

Example: chợ – market

A

A sounds like “ah” in English

Example (in Vietnamese): Ba – three/ father (in Souther Vietnamese)

• The third column: is the only rounded one, the position of tongue is back of throat and opening up from u to o

U

U sounds like “oo” in English

Example (in Vietnamese): chú – uncle

Ô

Ô sounds like “oh” in English

Example (in Vietnamese): Cô – Aunt/Miss (Formal pronoun)

O

O sounds like “aw” in English

Example (in Vietnamese): có – (to) have

2. Diphthong (Compound vowels)

– Diphthongs iê-/yê-

Iê- and Yê- sounds similar “Ia” but if you are willing to combine “Yê-“ with Initial consonant, using middle vowel “u” is a must

Tiền : Money

bao nhiêu: how much

-> Bao nhiêu tiền?

(How much money?)

Example:

-> In sentence:

Một ly cà phê BAO NHIÊU TIỀN?

(A glass of coffee how much ?)

*NOTE: ______________ bao nhiêu tiền?

nhiều: alot/ many

chiều: afternoon

triệu: millions

hiểu : understand

biết : know

tiếng Việt : Vietnamese language

Tiếng Anh : English

…………………

Others: nói :speak

Exp: Tôi biết nói Tiếng Anh

(I know how to speak English)

Đặt câu: Make sentence

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Yêu : (to) Love (or relationship/country/family)

Exp:

Tôi yêu mẹ : I love mom

Thích:(to) like

Mê : be passionate about

Note: If you are willing to combine “yê-” with Initial consonant, using middle vowel “u” is a must

Exp:

Nguyễn : Vietnamese Surname

Khuyên: (to) advise

Iê- / Ia have both similar sounds “Ia” but Iê– must be combined followed by Final Consonant or Vowel. Meanwhile Ia can stand by itself or combine with one more Initial Consonant

Diphthongs –ia/-ya

Bia : Beer

Mía : Sugar cane

Kia : There – nothern word

Thìa : Spoon – northern word

Nĩa : Fork

Dĩa : Plate

Đặt câu: Make sentence

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Similar with “yê-“ , If you are willing to combine “-ya” with Initial consonant, using middle vowel “u” is a must

Khuya : Midnight

Other:

Sáng: Morning

Trưa: Noon

Chiều: Afternoon

Tối: Night

– Diphthongs ươ-/ưa

*Ươ-/Ưa have both similar sounds “Ưa” but Ươ– must be combined followed by Final Consonant or Vowel. Meanwhile Ưa can stand by itself or combine with one more Initial Consonant.

Mười : 10

Lười : lazy

(Làm biếng – more common for “lazy”)

Cười : smile

Đường : Sugar or Street

Phường: ward

Hướng: direction

Sườn : ribs

-> Cơm sườn: Cooked rice with ribs

Lương : Salary

Thường : usually

Trường : school

Người : people

-> Tôi là người Việt

( I’m Vietnamese )

[ Là : Am/is/are, being used in front of Noun (Definition: name, identity,…)]

Nước: Water (main meaning)

Example:

(1) nước hoa : Liquid flower -> Perfume

nước mía : Sugar cane juice

(2) nước Anh : England (Country)

Example:

Tôi là Michael

Tôi là người Anh

Tôi biết nói tiếng Anh và tiếng Việt chút chút.

(I’m Michael. I’m British. I know how to speak English and Vietnamese a little bit)

NOTE:

Tôi là __________.

Tôi là người _________.

Tôi biết nói tiếng _________ và tiếng _________ chút chút.

Đặt câu: Make sentence

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Mưa (rain)

-> Trời mưa : It rains

Hứa (promise)

Trưa : afternoon

-> ăn trưa : have lunch

ăn sáng: have breakfast

ăn tối: have dinner

Bữa ăn : meal

-> Bữa sáng: The breakfast

Lừa : fool/ donkey

Lửa: fire

Dừa : coconut

Sửa : fix

-> Sửa xe: Fix motorbike

Sữa : milk

Chưa: not yet

-> Em ăn trưa chưa?

( Have you had lunch yet? – pronoun as you for younger people)

Tôi ăn trưa rồi (I have had lunch already)

Tôi chưa ăn trưa (I have not had lunch yet)

Rửa

Exp:

(1)rửa tay : wash hands

(2)rửa xe : wash vehicle

(3)rửa ly : wash glasses

Đặt câu: Make sentence

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Diphthongs uô-/ua

*Uô-/Ua have both similar sounds “Ua” but Uô– must be combined followed by Final Consonant or Vowel. Meanwhile Ua can stand by itself or combine with one more Initial Consonant.