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THE VIETNAMESE TONES

There are no tones in English, so it’s very difficult to learn a Vietnamese word by hearing it and then repeating it later. Fortunately, I’ve found a simple way to pronounce the words, which allows you to learn more easily.

Tones explained simply and visually

Board on the pronunciation of the tones

Tone going down

Name of the tonePronunciationExample
Dấu huyềnLike when we are disappointed
« Aaah» 		Mà = Relative pronoun

Tone going up

Name of the tonePronunciationExample
Dấu sắcContinually rising « aaah » soundMá = Mom (in southern Vietnam)

Without tone

Name of the tonePrononciationExample
Không có dấuLike the musical note « Ah »
long and flat		Ma = Ghost

« No tone » is itself a tone!

Question mark tone

Name of the tonePronunciationExample
Dấu hỏiMà+á = MảMả = Tomb

The point

Name of the tonePronunciationExample
Dấu nặngHeavyMạ = Mother (in the center)

The wave

Name of the tonePronunciationExample
Dấu ngãMạ+á = MãMã = horse

Be careful not to confuse the tones

Frequent mix-ups:

  • « Má » and « ma »
    They can be confused because one tone rises while the other is flat.
    –
  • « Mà » and « mạ »
    They can be confused because one tone descends while the other is flat.
    –
  • « Mả » and « mã »
    They can be confused because both tones descend and then rise, but one has a sharp descension.
    –
  • « Mà, » « mả » and « má »
    They can be confused because mả descends and rises while the other two either descend or rise.

Exercise

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The pronunciation of tones

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