Vietnamese is a tonal language, meaning the pitch or tone you use changes the meaning of a word. There are 6 tones in Northern Vietnamese (Hanoi accent) and 5 in Southern Vietnamese (Ho Chi Minh City accent). Each tone can completely change the meaning even if the pronunciation of the letters is the same.
For example:
ma (no tone) means “ghost”
má (acute tone) means “mother”
mà (grave tone) means “but”
mã (tilde tone) means “code” or “horse”
mả (hook above tone) means “grave”
mạ (dot below tone) means “rice seedling”
The key is to listen carefully to native speakers and practice tones separately. Vietnamese tones are essential for clear communication.
📝 Tip:
Practice with tone drills and mimic native speakers. Using the wrong tone can change your meaning completely, so don’t be afraid to ask for feedback!