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mẹ
/mɛ̄ˀ/
mother
Mẹ tôi là giáo viên.
My mother is a teacher.
neutral
A female parent.
Mẹ cô ấy mất năm cô ấy mười tuổi.
Her mother passed away when she was ten.
Cô ấy là mẹ của hai đứa trẻ.
She is the mother of two children.
Used to address or refer to one's own mother or another woman in a maternal role.
informal
A term of respect for an older woman, similar to 'madam' or 'auntie'.
Chào mẹ!
Hello, ma'am!
Mẹ cho cháu mượn tiền nhé?
Auntie, could you lend me some money?
Commonly used in rural areas or among older generations.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Regional Variations
In Southern Vietnam, 'má' is often used instead of 'mẹ'. For example, 'Má ơi!' is a common way to address one's mother.
Gold Rule
Respectful Address
Use 'mẹ' when addressing or referring to someone's mother in formal or general contexts. In informal settings, especially among close family, regional terms like 'má', 'u', or 'bầm' may be used.
Word Origin
From Proto-Vietic *meːʔ, from Proto-Mon-Khmer *mɛɛʔ (cf. Muong *mẹ*, Khmer ម៉ែ /mae/).
Usage Notes
In Northern Vietnam, 'mẹ' is the standard term, while in Southern Vietnam, 'má' is more common. 'Mẹ' is also used in formal contexts, whereas 'u' or 'bầm' are affectionate or regional variants.
Word Breakdown
mẹ
mother
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh