Vietnamese · A1 (Beginner)
Family in Vietnamese: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Vietnamese words for family are mẹ / má (mother (Northern/Southern)), bố / ba (father (Northern/Southern)) and chị gái (older sister). The full Vietnamese family phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Vietnamese vocabulary for family, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Vietnamese to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key family vocabulary
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| mẹ / má | mother (Northern/Southern) |
| bố / ba | father (Northern/Southern) |
| chị gái | older sister |
| anh trai | older brother |
| gia đình | family |
| bố mẹ | parents |
| con trai | son |
| con gái | daughter |
| chú / bác | uncle (younger/older than parent) |
| cô / dì | aunt (father's/mother's side) |
Example sentences
Mẹ tôi tên là Lan.
My mother's name is Lan.
Bố tôi làm việc ở Hà Nội.
My father works in Hanoi.
Tôi có một chị gái.
I have an older sister.
Anh trai tôi mười tuổi.
My older brother is ten years old.
Gia đình tôi sống ở Hà Nội.
My family lives in Hanoi.
Bố mẹ tôi từ Huế.
My parents are from Hue.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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