How to pronounce Vietnamese
Say it like vee-et-nah-MEES. Vietnamese has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (MEES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Vietnamese. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- vee
- et
- nah
- MEES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vietnamese pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- veeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- etGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- nahKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- MEESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Vietnamese
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
British respelling: vyet-nuh-MEEZ.
What does Vietnamese mean?
- a native or inhabitant of Vietnam
- the Mon-Khmer language spoken in Vietnam
- of or relating to or characteristic of Vietnam or its people or its language“the Vietnamese countryside”“the Vietnamese tones”
Words that rhyme with Vietnamese
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Vietnamese.
Questions about saying Vietnamese
How do you pronounce Vietnamese?
Say vee-et-nah-MEES. The American pronunciation is /viˌɛtnɑˈmis/. In British English it is /ˌvjɛtnəˈmiːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Vietnamese?
Vietnamese has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (MEES). Broken into parts: vee · et · nah · MEES.
Is Vietnamese pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /ˌvjɛtnəˈmiːz/ (vyet-nuh-MEEZ).