Vietnamese

Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam, spoken by an estimated 86 million people.

The Vietnamese language uses the Latin alphabet with additional diacritical marks to represent its unique sounds, such as the acute accent (á), the grave accent (à), the hook above (ả), the tilde (ã), and the dot below (ạ). This writing system, known as the Vietnamese alphabet or "quốc ngữ," was introduced by Catholic missionaries in the 17th century and has been the official writing system since the early 20th century.

Vietnamese is a tonal language, which means that the meaning of a word can change based on the pitch contour used when pronouncing it. There are six tones in Vietnamese, and each syllable can have one of these tones, which adds complexity to the pronunciation.

The grammar of Vietnamese is characterized by its use of particles and classifiers, as well as a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, similar to English. Vietnamese does not have grammatical gender, noun cases, or verb conjugation, which can make learning the language easier for speakers of non-gendered languages.

How hard is it to learn Vietnamese?

Learning Vietnamese can be challenging due to its unique grammar features, such as classifiers and elaborate kinship terms used as personal pronouns, which are not commonly found in other languages. Pronunciation can also be difficult, as the phonology of the language, including tones, vowels, and consonants, can be difficult to master. Mispronunciations are often a source of amusement for native speakers, and even when you think you have a word right, it can be hard for others to understand you due to the phonological gap between Vietnamese and other Western languages.

Vietnamese has a complex grammar and is written in the Latin alphabet, which may be familiar to English speakers. However, there are some differences between English and Vietnamese, such as the use of diacritic marks to indicate tones and the use of a separate set of letters for certain sounds.

Vietnamese is considered a moderately difficult language to learn for English speakers. It is estimated that it may take an English speaker about 44 weeks of study, to reach proficiency in Vietnamese.

Why should I learn Vietnamese?

Ditch the tourist phrases, embrace the culture: Learning Vietnamese isn't just about ordering spring rolls or navigating bustling markets. It's a key that unlocks a hidden world of rich history, vibrant traditions, and captivating stories. Unveil the beauty of intricate poems by Nguyễn Du, delve into the heroic tales of the Trung Sisters, or savor the humor of a witty proverb shared by a local elder.