Vietnamese Kinship Terms & Pronouns Chart: Anh, Chị, Cô, Chú

Why Are Pronouns So Important in Vietnamese?

Vietnamese people place great importance on "how you address others." Within families, generation, birth order, and gender all affect the term used. In daily life, even strangers are addressed using "kinship-style terms" rather than names or generic titles like "sir" or "miss."

In English, we have simple pronouns like "you" and "I," but Vietnamese has one of the world's most complex pronoun systems. This reflects the Vietnamese emphasis on interpersonal relationships and social hierarchy.

Vietnamese pronouns chart

Vietnamese uses kinship words as "you" and "I". anh = older brother / you (to a slightly older man), chị = older sister / you (to a slightly older woman), em = younger sibling / you (to someone younger), or "I" when talking to someone older. The chart below shows what to call the person you're talking to, what to call yourself, and an example for each. (Say them with the right tone: see the pronunciation guide.) Several of these words are among the most common in Vietnamese: ông, anh, tôi and cô all rank in the top 100 of our Vietnamese frequency list.

For someone older, senior, or a client, use their title or a generation term (anh / chị / cô / chú / bác, as fits), or follow how they address you.

With a child: if you're from the child's parents' generation, you call yourself cô / chú / bác and call them cháu. A young adult talking to a child still uses anh / chị + em (e.g. a 20-year-old talking to a 12-year-old).

How to choose:

1. Guess the person's age relative to you.
2. Then their gender.
3. When unsure, go one level more respectful.

Some terms differ by region, e.g. mẹ (standard) vs má (common in the South) for "mom". See Northern vs Southern Vietnamese for more regional differences. The ơi and ạ in the examples are particles, explained in our Vietnamese particles guide; in chat, anh / em / chị are often shortened to a / e / c (see Vietnamese abbreviations).

Basic Family Terms

Immediate Family

Extended Family

Common Social Pronoun System

In Vietnam, whether you're talking to friends, colleagues, or strangers, people use different terms based on age, gender, and context. This system makes Vietnamese sound very friendly, but it can confuse learners.

Age & Gender-Based Terms

Professional & Identity Terms

How to Use Pronouns in Daily Life

Practical Scenario Examples

Vietnamese Pronoun Grammar Rules

1. Word Order

• Title + first name: Anh Minh, Chị Lan
• Title + last name: Ông Nguyễn, Bà Trần
• Title + profession: Thầy giáo (Teacher), Cô bán hàng (Saleswoman)

2. Plural Forms

• Multiple elders: 「Các ông/các bà」 (Ladies and gentlemen)
• Multiple young people: 「Các anh/các chị」 (Brothers and sisters)

3. Formal Usage

• Very respectful: 「Ông bà」 (Grandparents)
• General respect: 「Thưa」 + title (Used in formal situations)

Comparing with English

Key Differences

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learning Tips

Practical Dialogue Examples

Conclusion

---