Decoding Vietnamese Text/Chat/SMS Abbreviations & Slang Words

In this lesson, I’m going to show you how you can text and understand the texts from the Vietnamese locals, by learning the most common text abbreviations.

Before we learn the specific text abbreviations, here are some general texting rules in Vietnamese that people like, and tend to use:

• write p - instead of b
• write k - instead of c
• write d - instead of gi
• write w - instead of qu
• write j or i - instead of y

CONTENTS

1. Text abbreviations about PEOPLE
2. Text abbreviations about RELATIONSHIP
3. Text abbreviations about TIME
4. Text Abbreviations that are VERBS
5. Text Abbreviations that are NOUNS/ADJECTIVES
6. Text Abbreviations that are Question Words
7. Other Common Text Abbreviations
8. Cursing Words in Vietnamese Texting
9. Text Reading Challenge!

Vietnamese text abbreviations about PEOPLE

Let's start with the most commonly used Vietnamese pronouns.

"a" stands for: anh meaning: I / You -- someone old enough to be your older brother

"c" stands for: chị meaning: I / You -- someone old enough to be your older sister

"e" stands for: em meaning: I / You -- someone young enough to be your younger brother/sister

"b" or "bn" stands for: bạn meaning: You -- refers to a same-age friend, or an unknown person on the internet

"t" stands for: tao meaning: I -- used when talking to a same-age close friend

"m" stands for: mày meaning: You -- used when talking to a same-age close friend

also stands for mình meaning: I -- used when talking to a same-age friend, or an unknown person on the internet

If you need to learn or review common personal pronouns in Vietnamese, here is a free lesson that you can read.

"ng" stands for: người meaning: people

"mn" stands for: mọi người meaning: everyone; everybody

Vietnamese text abbreviations about RELATIONSHIP

Here comes other common Vietnamese text slang couples use in their relationship.

"iu" stands for: yêu meaning: to love

"ct" stands for: chia tay meaning: to breakup

"ny" stands for: người yêu meaning: lover; boyfriend/girlfriend

"vk" stands for: vợ meaning: wife

"ck" stands for: chồng / chuyển khoản meaning: husband / to do bank transfer

"vc" stands for: vợ chồng meaning: wife and husband; married couple

"ox" stands for: ông xã meaning: hubby

"bx" stands for: bà xã meaning: wifey

Just so you know that the Vietnamese teens often call their boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife. That's why they use a lot of ck / vk / ox / bx in their texting.

RelatedMost Common Vietnamese Slang Words for Love and Relationship

Vietnamese text abbreviations about TIME

"h" or "g" stands for: giờ meaning: o'clock; hour

"ph" stands for: phút meaning: minutes

"bh" or "bjo" stands for: bây giờ meaning: now; nowadays

"hn" or "hnay" stands for: hôm nay meaning: today

"hqua" stands for: hôm qua meaning: yesterday

"htrc" stands for: hôm trước meaning: the other day; the previous day

Related40 Common Vietnamese Verbs That You Must Know (Part 1)

Text Abbreviations that are VERBS

"nt" stands for: nhắn tin meaning: to text

"nc" stands for: nói chuyện meaning: to talk, to speak (have a conversation)

"mún" stands for: muốn meaning: to want

"bit" or "bik" (cute) stands for: biết meaning: to know

"cb" stands for: chuẩn bị meaning: to prepare

"nch" stands for: nói chung meaning: generally speaking; generally

Text Abbreviations that are NOUNS / ADJECTIVES

"dt" or "đt" stands for: điện thoại meaning: phone; cellphone

"bth" stands for: bình thường meaning: normal; normally

Text Abbreviations that are Question Words

"j" stands for: gì meaning: what

"bn" / "bao nhiu" (cute) stands for: bao nhiêu meaning: how much; how many

"ntn" stands for: như thế nào meaning: how

RelatedWords that Sound like English - Vietnamese Loanwords

Other Common Vietnamese Text Abbreviations

k; ko; hok or hem stands for: không meaning: no; not (negation)

When people want to be a little cute towards close friends or family members, we would use the word hem for không.

“dc” or “đc” stands for: “được” meaning: can; able to; (passive voice)

"r" or "rùi" stands for: “rồi” meaning: already

"nhìu" stands for: nhiều / meaning: much; very much

"wá" stands for: quá meaning: too; sooo.. (exaggeration)

"cg" stands for: cũng meaning: also

"uk" or "uh" or ukm stands for: ừ meaning: yes; ok -- used when talking to a younger person or a same-age friend

"G9" stands for: ngủ ngon meaning: goodnight

"hic" stands for: crying sound meaning: crying

"vn" stands for: Việt Nam meaning: Vietnam (country)

Vietnamese Cursing Words in Texting?

"vl" / "vcc" / "vcl" stands for: vãi lồn / vãi cả chưởng / vãi cả lồn meaning: wtf (for when being surprized)

"clgt?" stands for: cái lồn gì thế? meaning: wtf? (for when being confused or frustrated)

"đcm" / "dcm" stands for: địt con mẹ / địt con mẹ mày meaning: motherfucker

"cmnr" stands for: chuẩn mẹ nó rồi meaning: fucking true (for exaggeration)

Text Reading Challenge!

We have learned quite a few text abbreviations and slang words in Vietnamese.

Now it's the time to test your understanding of Vietnamese texting. Can you read what these texts say?

Message 1

A: Ê m! Mai đi chơi với t ko? B: Hem đc! Mai t phải cb thi r

Message 2

A: E mới mua dt hả!? Bn tiền? B: Dạ e mới mua hqua! 20tr :)

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