or by after a consonant and written as y. However, “eye” is used when it starts a syllable. This is to avoid confusion with the hard y used as a consonant as in yes or yellow.
We use hyphens to connect the component vowels in other combinations not mentioned above. Readers should attempt to glide the vowels together to produce a single syllable.
Consonants
b (similar to the b in book) is represented by b.
c (like the k in scan) and k (like the k in skin) are both represented by k. Please note that it is not aspirated, unlike in the English word kin.
d and gi (pronounced like z as in zoo) are both represented by z.
đ (like d in dog) is represented by d.
g and gh (like g in amigo in Spanish) is represented by g.
h (like h in house) is represented by h.
l (like l in light) is represented by l.
m (like m in mouse or sum) is represented by m.
n (like n in not or ton) is represented by n.
p (like p in spin) is represented by p. Notice that it is not aspirated, unlike pin.
r (is represented by zr to suggest that you pronounce z with your tongue curled. It is as if you are pronouncing z and r at the same time.
s (is represented by shr to suggest that you pronounce sh with your tongue curled. It is as if you are pronouncing sh and r at the same time.
t (like t in sting) is represented by t. Please note that this is not aspirated, unlike in the English word ton or tin.
v (like v in vase) is represented by v.
x (like s in sun) is represented by s.
ch does not have a counterpart in English, but sounds most similar to ch and j. We chose to represent it by ch.
tr does not have a counterpart in English, but sounds like ch and j with the tongue curled. Therefore, we chose to represent it by jr.
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kh (like ch in German buch) is the sound you make at the end of ugh, when a puff of air is released and vibration is felt near the back of the mouth. You can also imagine pronouncing k, but allowing more air to flow through. We chose to represent this sound by kh.
ng or ngh (like ng in king or singer) is represented by ng.
nh (like ny in piñata) is represented by n-y before a vowel, and as nh at the end of a word.
ph (like f in fish) is represented by f.
qu (like kw in square) is represented by k-w. Please note this sound is not aspirated.
th (like t in tin) is represented by t.
w (like w in watch) is used instead of oo in certain words, if it is followed by other vowels.
For example thuốc → twáwk (t-w is pronounced as in twitter)
muốn → m-wún (m-w is pronounced as in mwah)
y (like y in yes) is used instead of i or ee in certain words, if it is followed by other vowels. It is also used to remind readers of the y sound in nh.
The use of hyphens
Besides linking vowels, hyphens are also used to assist in reading and to avoid confusions in the phonetic pronunciations. For example, w and y are separated from preceding consonants with hyphens for clarity, and also to avoid y being mistaken as a vowel.
How to use this picture dictionary
This dictionary is accompanied by a set of audio recordings made by native speakers from Hanoi. You can look up any topic which is of interest to you, listen to each word and repeat it after the speaker. Afterwards, you move to the phrases and sentences doing the same. When you are sure that you know the meanings of the words, phrases and sentences, you may want to listen to them again without looking at the book and try writing them down. Then check the book to see if you wrote them correctly.
The English-Vietnamese Index at the end of the dictionary will help y ou find words you have learned, but which you may have forgotten.
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The free online audio files for pronunciation practice may be downloaded as follows:
To download the audio recordings for this book,
type the following URL into your web browser:
www.tuttlepublishing.com/Vietnamese-Picture-Dictionary
For support, email us at [email protected]
1
Rất vui được gặp bạn!
Zrút v-wee dou-ụk gạp bạn!
So nice to meet you!
Chào bạn, bạn có khỏe
không?
Chòw bạn, bạn kó kh-wẻh khawngm? Hello, how are you?
Tôi rất khỏe, cảm ơn bạn.
Toy zrút kh-wẻh, kảm un bạn. I am fine, thank you.
Đây là chị Mai, còn đây là anh Nam.
Day làh chị My, kòn day làh eye-nh Nam. This is Ms Mai, and this is Mr Nam.
Chào anh!
Chòw eye-nh! Hello!
Rất vui được gặp chị.
Zrút v-wee dou-ụk gạp chị. Pleased to meet you!
10
11
Chào chị! Tên tôi là Smith, còn chị tên là gì?
Chòw chị! Ten toy làh “Smith,” kòn chị ten làh zèe? Hi, my name is Smith. What’s your name?
Tôi họ Nguyễn, tên là Thanh Mai. Đây là danh thiếp của tôi.
Toy họ Ngoo-yẽn, ten làh Tynh My. Day làh zynh t-yúp kỏo-aw toy. My family name is Nguyễn, and my given name is Thanh Mai. This is my namecard.
Hẹn gặp lại!
Hẹn gạp lỵ! Goodbye! See you!
