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à
/aː˧˧/
ah / oh
À, anh ấy đến rồi!
Ah, he's arrived!
informal
Used to express mild surprise, realization, or to call attention.
À, tôi quên mất!
Oh, I forgot!
À, đây là chỗ của tôi.
Ah, this is my seat.
Often used in casual speech to soften a statement or react to a situation.
informal
Used to introduce a question or to seek confirmation.
À, anh có đi không?
So, are you going?
Similar to 'well' or 'so' in English.
Pro Tip
Tone and context
The meaning of 'à' depends heavily on tone and context. A rising tone (à?) can sound like a question, while a flat tone (à) often expresses realization.
Word Origin
From Proto-Vietic *ʔaː, related to Proto-Mon-Khmer *ʔaː.
Usage Notes
Common in Northern Vietnamese speech. Often combined with other particles like 'à' + 'ơi' (à ơi) for a softer tone.
Từ Điển Việt Anh