Each generation of teenagers has its own language conventions, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to figure out what they’re saying. Slang words are often seen as a language that teenagers use, but the funny thing is that even adults have been adopting slang terms these days in order to stay trendy. 

Teen slang words can be puzzling to those who aren’t familiar with them. The good news is that most of them are harmless. Teenagers can use slang to express their personality, assert their independence, or simply to sound cool. They can also bond with their peers by using slang easily.

One of the most fascinating aspects of slang—which also happens to be one of the most frustrating things for language learners—is that it’s always evolving. Slang words change their meanings over time to reflect the culture’s beliefs and attitudes, and these terms are sometimes used to give conventional words new meanings. Thus, while attempting to keep up with their children, parents are probably already behind even after they think they’ve nailed a few terms.

One of the fastest ways to learn a language is to hang out with locals and discover first-hand how to use language conventions like slang. Slang is frequently used to appear friendly to show that you belong to a specific group of people or to demonstrate that you’re familiar with popular culture. Therefore, when learning Vietnamese, you should absolutely know and remember these most common modern Vietnamese text slang terms for 2022.

Table of Contents

1. The Origin of Vietnamese Slang
2. Is Slang Good or Bad?
3. Most Common Slang Words Used by Young Vietnamese People
4. Vietnamese Internet Slang
5. Text Slang Expressions

1. The Origin of Vietnamese Slang

There are two kinds of Vietnamese slang words that are commonly used on the internet or for texting: Từ thuần Việt and Từ mượn.

A- Từ thuần Việt

These slang words are of purely Vietnamese origin. This class of words is considered simple and easy to understand, and it’s most often used in the media (especially journals). When a pure Vietnamese word becomes slang, it will inevitably be assigned a different meaning from its original meaning.

Example:

• Gà means “chicken,” but in Vietnamese slang, it refers to promising talent under the management of a company. In this case, gà is understood as a “pure” Vietnamese slang word, and it’s very common on the internet. 

B- Từ mượn 

This class of words comprises those that are borrowed from other languages. Essentially, the words are adopted by speakers of one language from a different language (French, Chinese, Russian…). 

Example:

• Phi công (“Pilot”): A man who is in a relationship with an older woman
• Vệ tinh (“Satellite”): A man who is attracted to a woman
• Cấm vận (“Embargo”): To prohibit your partner from having sex with you

2. Is Slang Good or Bad?

Slang is often used within a specific social group. This means that each group will have its own set of slang terms that only the members of that group can understand. When forming a social group, the existence, and development of slang is almost inevitable. For example, the online community uses a separate system of slang, while students have their own slang system.

When this kind of language first appeared, people often thought it was bad and that the teenagers who used them were naughty. However, in the Vietnamese language today, slang is used much more widely. Thanks to slang, everyday stories have even become funnier and wittier. That’s why people sometimes prefer to use these types of words more often. 

3. Most Common Slang Words Used by Young Vietnamese People

You’ll be surprised by how creative and imaginative Vietnamese teenagers are when it comes to creating slang words. 

• Gấu (“Bear”): Boyfriend/girlfriend. Calling someone gấu means you’re in a relationship, and it’s very warm to hug each other in winter (like hugging a bear). Funny, isn’t it?

• Thả thính (“To drop fishing bait”): To flirt around. In the past, thả thính referred literally to fishing; now, it refers to a person intentionally attracting or seducing one or more people even though there’s no affection (as if they were dropping bait to catch fish).

• Quẩy (“Bagel twists”): To dance or to go party. While dancing, your legs usually look twisted the same way that a bagel does.

• Trẻ trâu (“Young buffaloes”): In the past, buffaloes were called calves. Today, “young buffalo” or “ox children” refers to a class of young, energetic, extravagant teenagers who like to show off and often act impulsively.


• Cá sấu (“Crocodile”): Ugly people. Sấu has a similar pronunciation to xấu, which means “ugly,” and cá is “fish.”  So: cá sấu = ugly “fish”/people.


• Bánh bèo (a kind of street food in Hue) is used to refer to girls who are redheaded and who appear weak and dependable.


• GATO – Ghen Ăn Tức Ở: To be jealous. GATO also means “birthday cake,” which has nothing to do with what the slang phrase means. When you see that a Vietnamese person is GATO, you’d better not point it out; otherwise, they may get mad. 


• Đào mộ (“Tomb digging”): In the current sense, this is the activity of finding and renewing old images or information that mistakenly attracts attention.


• Đi bão (“To go storm”): If “storm” was previously used as a noun, it has now become a verb referring to the gathering of vehicles to celebrate a victory or racing event (mostly in football).


• Gà (“Chicken”): When used as an adjective, this word refers to someone who doesn’t play well, does well in games, etc. 


• Anh hùng bàn phím (“Hero keyboard”): Used with sarcasm to mock people who “hide their faces” behind computer screens.


• Sống ảo (“Virtual living”): People who often show off or brag about what they don’t have.


• Bóc phốt: To reveal faults or scandals.


• Manh chiếu mới  (“A new mat”): Newbies or innocent people.

Now, let’s move on to the next part to learn some popular Vietnamese slang words and phrases used on the internet. 

4. Vietnamese Internet Slang

Most internet slang terms are adopted from spoken Vietnamese, and they quickly go viral due to the explosion of social media platforms such as Facebook, Tiktok, and Instagram. When learning Vietnamese, you will probably see these online slang expressions while browsing the internet: 

• ACC: Account. 
  When talking about an account, Vietnamese people sometimes forget how to spell the word correctly, which is why they just write ACC instead.

• AC (Anh/chị): Brother or sister.
  Simply means “you.” Don’t mix it up with the one above.

• Ad: Administrator or admin.
  Again, it’s hard for Vietnamese people to remember the spelling of certain words in English. Forgive us. 🙂

• ATSM (Ảo tưởng sức mạnh): Power illusion.
  Those who are overconfident and under the illusion that they are the center of the universe. These young Vietnamese are not often liked by others.

(- Ê mày ơi, con An B nó ATSM nhờ.
– Ừ công nhận)

• Ava: Avatar.
  Profile picture.

• Ox/Bx (Ông xã/Bà xã): Husband/Wife.

• Bae: Before anyone else, babe, or baby. 
  Used to describe a romantic partner or good friend.

• Blah blah blah: 
  When someone talks a lot and others don’t want to listen, they appear as if they’re babbling. Hence, “blah blah blah.” If you want to describe someone who is talkative, you can say:
  Anh ấy cứ blah blah blah mãi về lương của mình.
  He just “blah blah blahs” all the time about his salary.

• COCC (Con ông cháu cha): Rich kids.
  Refers to the descendants of powerful people.

(- Nghe nói Hải Đức là COCC đấy
– Là sao??
– Con ông cháu cha ý
– Ồ ra vậy)

• G9: Goodnight.

• Ib/PM: Inbox or DM.
  To send someone private messages on their social media.

• KLQ (Không liên quan): Irrelevant.

• NYC (Người yêu cũ): Not “New York City,” but rather refers to an ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend. 

• Rep: To reply or respond to someone’s messages.

• SNVV (Sinh nhật vui vẻ): This is a short and simple way to say “Happy birthday,” but it’s not appreciated very much as it’s too short and not very thoughtful.

(- SVNN nha mày
Alo
???
Alooo)

5. Text Slang Expressions

Technically, spoken Vietnamese turns into internet slang. Then, once internet slang goes viral, it turns into text language. 

Now, let’s learn some common Vietnamese SMS abbreviations. Below is a list of Vietnamese text slang words that you can apply immediately:

• BTVN (Bài tập về nhà): Homework.

• Kb (không biết): Don’t know.

(-  Có BTVN không?
– KB)

• ntn (như thế nào): How?


• k (không): No.


• bb: Bye-bye.


• uhm/uh (ừ): Yes.


• ls (là sao/làm sao): Why? / What?


• đc k (được không): Is that okay?


• đc (được): Okay, it’s good.


• Có gì alo: Call you later. / Catch you later.


• toang: To break up with somebody.


• Tuesday (Thứ ba): The third person who interferes in a relationship.


• Trà xanh: Green tea. It also means the third person who interferes in a relationship.


• ĐLGT (Đang làm gì thế): What are you doing?


• Cẩu lương: Dog’s food. It refers to the intimate and sweet actions of couples in love in the eyes of single people. 

Perhaps we should change the way we see slang because, as mentioned above, most of them sound pretty cute to me. Vietnamese internet and text slang, therefore, happens to be surprisingly useful when learning the language, especially if you want to sound like a local.

Using Vietnamese slang terms is enjoyable and can show you many things about Vietnamese culture. Although countless Vietnamese natives use it on a daily basis, I recommend that you only use Vietnamese slang in informal contexts with your family, friends, coworkers, or other people you know well. When speaking in a professional setting, it is preferable to utilize formal terms to express yourself directly.

If you want to learn more Vietnamese phrases, visit VietnamesePod101.com and get access to your free lifetime account right now. And see you in the next article. Bb!