b

[b]

c,k
[k]

s
t
[S/s] [t]

d,gi
[j/z]
v
[v/j]

g,gh
[d] [g]
x
[s]

h
[h]

ch
[c]

kh
[x]

l
[l]

m
[m]

n
p
[n] [p]

ng,ngh nh
[N] []

ph
[f,]

q,qu
r
[kw] [r/z]
th
[th]

tr
[]

a. Ph t v ph m cui The final consonants

Of the 17 single letters and 11 compounds, only eight letters are finals: -c -ch -ng -nh -m -n p -t, which
produce eight single sounds and two compounds:
-c
-ch
-ng
-nh -m
-n
-p
-t
[k| c| kp|]

[c|]

[N| Nm n] []

[m]

[n]

[b|]

[t|]

The sign [|] means that final sounds in Vietnamese are unaspirated. In fact, they are pronounced implosively.
b. m mi ho Bilabialization
Most Vietnamese words beginning with [u] (u) or dyads containing (u) are bilabialized, strongly or
slightly: cau [kAw] areca nut u [dFw] where thiu [thi:w] stale hu [hw] pension, retire
The three back vowels o, and u strongly affect their surroundings progressively and regressively.
Progressively, final c [k] and ng [N] preceeded by these back vowels are always bilabialized: hc [hkp]
study lc lokp] tornado thc [thukp] urge; cong [k|Nm] curled, curly, cng [k|oNm] labor Dung
[juNm] (name of a person) khng [khoNm] no, not, null.
Regressively, unvoiced ph is bilabialized when followed by back vowels [u, o] or [] u, or o as in
phc admire, phng background, phng room.
Levels
Initial

strong
slight

[]
[kw]

Transliteration
b+most vowels
m+most vowels
uy
ph+o, or u
qu+some vowels

[Nm]

o, or u+ng

[kp]

o, or u + c

[b, m, u]

Final

strong

Symbols

slight

Examples

bu
mi
uy
ph
qu
cong
khng
chung
khc
dc
cc

Meanings
to cling to
eyelash
prestige
assistant
to kneel down
curved
no, not, null
together
to cry
slope
mums

Table 7: Tm tt v m mi ho A summary of bilabialization

B. Thanh Ging The Tones

Vietnamese vowels are implosive. It has six tones, five of which have marks, called diacritical marks or
tonal marks. The tones differ in pitch, length, and melody. Beginners should listen to a native speaker.
When needed, the mark is simply added above or under the vowel letter in the word, or the primary
vowel of a diphthong or a triphthong. The standard dictionary alphabetical sequence is as follows:
Unmarked tone, khng du, or level tone, has no mark, as in ba three
High rising, du sc, or acute accent, [ ], as in b cling to, hundred
Low falling, du huyn, or grave accent, [ $ ], as in b mrs., grandma
Low rising, du hi, or dipping rising, [ ], as in b, she is