The Art of Language: Navigating the Nuances of Object Nomenclature and Pronouns Across Vietnam

Vietnamese is indeed a “rich” and “beautiful” language with its regional variations. Why do people from the North, Central, and South of Vietnam have different names for the same objects? The answer lies in the diversity of geography and history spanning thousands of years.

If you remember the lesson on local pronunciation from the 6th-grade Vietnamese textbook, you will surely know this. A common example to ponder: people from Thanh Hoa to the South find it difficult to pronounce “con dia” (with a questioning tone) and “cai dia” (with a declarative tone) correctly – it’s a challenge to “catch a leech and put it on a plate”!

Not only in pronunciation, but regional languages also differ in vocabulary and grammar. Northern Vietnamese say “con nho”, “em be”, while Southerners say “con nit”, “tre nit”. Northerners say “qua dua”, while Southerners say “trai thom”…

This article will provide you with names of objects and forms of address between the three regions of the North, Central, and South.

The information about names of objects and forms of address between the North and the South will help you have enjoyable exchanges without misunderstandings or unfortunate incidents! A culinary dictionary of the three regions of Vietnam: Stretching across the S-shaped country, each region has its own unique dishes. However, sometimes there are similar dishes with almost indistinguishable flavors but different names depending on the region. Below is a list of names for dishes, trees, and fruits that vary across the three regions. Feel free to contribute additional dishes at the end of the article to make this culinary dictionary more comprehensive.