Overview
Vietnamese tone contrasts
Course minimal pairs: the tone changes the word
| Form | First word | Contrasting word | First meaning | Contrasting meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.mà, ma | mà | ma | but | ghost |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.má, mạ | má | mạ | cheek | rice seedling |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.bà, ba | bà | ba | grandmother | three |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.gà, ga | gà | ga | chicken | station |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.mả, mã | mả | mã | grave | code |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.sữa, sửa | sữa | sửa | milk | to repair |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.nữa, nửa | nữa | nửa | more; again | half |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.bố, bộ | bố | bộ | father | set; ministry |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.mười | mười | mươi | ten | -ty (as in twenty, thirty) |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.một | mốt | một | one (after mươi: 21, 31 ...) | one |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.mà, ma | mà | ma | but; that | ghost |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.là, lá | là | lá | to be | leaf |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.chị, chỉ | chị | chỉ | older sister; you (to an older woman) | only |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.nghỉ, nghĩ | nghỉ | nghĩ | to rest | to think |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.sửa, sữa | sửa | sữa | to repair | milk |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.vẽ | vẻ | vẽ | appearance; vẻ | to draw |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.ga, gà | ga | gà | station | chicken |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.mét | mét | mẹt | metre | bamboo tray |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word. | ca | cà | song; singing role | eggplant (in compounds) |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.bàn, bạn | bàn | bạn | table | friend; you |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.tôi, tối | tôi | tối | I; me | evening |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.bến | bến | bên | terminal | side |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.sửa, sữa | sửa | sữa | to repair | milk |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.nghỉ, nghĩ | nghỉ | nghĩ | to rest | to think |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.tí | tỉ | tí | proportion (first syllable of tỉ số) | a tiny bit |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.tín | tin | tín | news | trust or credit |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.báo, bảo | báo | bảo | newspaper or report | to tell or protect |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.mà, má | mà | má | but | cheek |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.bà, ba | bà | ba | grandmother | three |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.trăng, trắng | trăng | trắng | moon | white |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.má, mả | má | mả | cheek | grave |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.bà, bá | bà | bá | grandmother | father's elder brother |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.sữa, sửa | sữa | sửa | milk | to repair |
| Hà Nội speakers keep {hỏi} (low, dipping) and {ngã} (rising, broken in the middle) apart; in the South they sound alike, but the spelling always differs.nữa, nửa | nữa | nửa | more; again | half |
| Same letters, different tone: the pitch movement is part of the word.mã, mạ | mã | mạ | code number | rice seedling |
Pairs and meanings are reproduced from course tonal minimal-pair exercises.
Forms checked: 140. Method: Exact course tonal minimal-pair checks.