Pronunciation

1. Phonetic value

Vietnamese “n” is generally:

Voiced alveolar nasal

This is the same basic sound as English “n” in “no,” “night,” “name.”

2. How to pronounce Vietnamese “n”

Tongue Position

Tip of tongue touches the alveolar ridge (the bump right behind the upper front teeth).

Tongue sides touch the upper teeth lightly.

Mouth Shape

Lips: neutral, relaxed

Jaw: slightly open

Air passes through the nose, not the mouth

Voicing

Vocal cords vibrate (voiced sound)

You should feel vibration if you touch your throat

Airflow

Tongue blocks oral air

Air escapes through the nasal cavity

Pronunciation

1. Phonetic value

Vietnamese “t” is usually:

Unaspirated voiceless alveolar stop

IPA: [t]

In Southern Vietnamese, it often sounds dental (tongue touches upper teeth).

In Northern Vietnamese, it is slightly alveolar (behind the teeth).

The key point:

Vietnamese “t” has little or no air release compared to “th.”

2. How to pronounce Vietnamese “t”

Tongue Position

Tip of tongue touches the upper front teeth (Southern)

OR

Touches the alveolar ridge behind the teeth (Northern)

Both are acceptable and natural.

Mouth

Lips: neutral, slightly open

Jaw: relaxed

Teeth: often lightly together or slightly apart

Manner of articulation

Build up air behind the tongue

Release quickly

Do NOT blow strong air

No vocal cord vibration (voiceless)

A key feature

Unlike English “t,” Vietnamese t is short, crisp, and unaspirated.

Put your hand in front of your mouth:

English “t” (like “take”) → a small puff of air

Vietnamese “t” → almost no air

Pronunciation

1. Phonetic value

Vietnamese “th” is pronounced as an aspirated voiceless alveolar stop.

IPA → [tʰ]

This means it is basically a t sound with a strong puff of air.

It is NOT the same as English “th” in think / this.

English “th” = interdental fricative [θ] or [ð]

Vietnamese “th” = aspirated T, like [tʰ]

2. How to pronounce Vietnamese “th”

Mouth shape

Lips: relaxed, slightly open

Jaw: neutral to slightly open

Tongue position

Tip of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge (the bumpy area right behind your upper front teeth)

Same position as English t in “tea”

Manner

Build up pressure behind the tongue.

Release it forcefully, letting out a strong burst of air.

No vibration in the throat (voiceless).

Aspirated = Strong air

Put your hand in front of your mouth:

English “t” → little air

Vietnamese “th” → a lot of air (like “t” + puff)

Pronunciation

1. Phonetic value

Vietnamese “đ” (the crossed D) is:

Voiced alveolar stop

IPA: [ɗ] or sometimes [d]

It is similar to English “d” in “dog,” but:

Slightly more tense / firm

Shorter and more crisp

Not aspirated (no puff of air)

It is NOT the same as Vietnamese “d.”

2. How to pronounce Vietnamese “đ”

Tongue Position

Tip of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge (just behind upper front teeth)

Tongue body is firm and slightly tense

Sides of tongue lightly touch upper side teeth

Mouth Shape

Lips: relaxed, neutral

Jaw: slightly open

Teeth: natural position, not clenched

Voicing

Vocal cords vibrate

If you touch your throat, you should feel vibration (voiced stop)

Manner

Build up pressure behind the tongue

Release it quickly

No strong puff of air (unaspirated)

Sound is short, firm, and clear

Pronunciation

1. Phonetic value

Vietnamese “x” is:

Voiceless alveolar fricative

It is exactly like the English “s” in:

“see”, “sun”, “six”

2. How to pronounce Vietnamese “x”

Tongue Position

Tongue tip is close to the alveolar ridge (the bumpy area behind upper front teeth)

Does NOT touch the ridge

The sides of the tongue gently touch the upper teeth

Mouth Shape

Lips slightly spread (like smiling gently)

Jaw slightly open

Teeth close together, but not touching

Airflow

Air flows continuously through a narrow channel between the tongue and the alveolar ridge

No vocal cord vibration (voiceless)

Produces a hissing sound

Voicing

Should feel no vibration in the throat

Pronunciation

1. Important!

Vietnamese “d” is NOT pronounced like English d.

Its pronunciation depends on the region:

Northern Vietnamese (Hanoi)

d = [z] (voiced s-sound)

→ like English z in “zoo”

Southern Vietnamese (Saigon)

d = [j]

→ like English y in “yes”

Both are standard; they are just regional differences.

2. How to pronounce Vietnamese “d” (Northern)

IPA: [z]

Tongue

Tongue tip close to alveolar ridge (bumpy area behind upper teeth)

Does not touch it

Tongue sides touch upper teeth lightly

Mouth

Lips slightly spread

Teeth almost touching but not closed

Airflow

Continuous fricative

Vocal cords vibrate (voiced)

Sound like:

z in zoo, zero, zebra.

3. How to pronounce Vietnamese “d” (Southern)

IPA: [j]

Tongue

Middle of the tongue rises toward the hard palate

Similar to English y in “yes”

Mouth

Lips relaxed

Smooth airflow

Voicing

Vocal cords vibrate

Sounds like:

y in yes, yellow

Pronunciation

Place of articulation:

alveolar (tongue touches the alveolar ridge — the bump behind your upper teeth)

Tongue position:

Tongue tip touches the alveolar ridge

Tongue body is low in the mouth

Sides of the tongue are slightly open so air can pass

Mouth shape: slightly open, relaxed

Voicing: voiced (vocal cords vibrate)

Airflow: air flows around the sides of the tongue (lateral consonant)

How it sounds

Like English “l” in light, long, love

NOT like the dark “l” in “ball” or “full”