The Ultimate Guide to Southern Vietnamese Slang: Talk Like a Local
If you want to understand the conversations happening in Saigon cafes or on Vietnamese social media, standard textbook Vietnamese isn't enough. You need the "secret" vocabulary that locals use every day.
Based on Tâm's four-part slang series (three videos are free!), plus later Southern lessons from Như Ý and Ngọc. Tâm's series is the cheat sheet for love, praise, complaints, and texting. The extra videos are the same words in other mouths, plus the line between casual and too-casual. Watch Tâm's series first, then the close-friend lessons when you are ready.
1. Love, Dating & Relationships
Dating culture in Vietnam has its own unique language. These words help you navigate "crushes," flirting, and social plans.
Thả thính
Literally 'dropping bait.' It means flirting or dropping hints to get someone's attention, like throwing bait to catch a fish. You can thả thính by replying to someone's Instagram story with a flirty emoji!
“Hôm nay đăng ảnh đẹp vậy, thả thính ai hả?”
Đổ
To 'fall' for someone. When your heart suddenly beats faster seeing them walk by, you've đổ. For extra emphasis, say 'Đổ đứ đừ' or 'Đổ cái rầm' (fell with a thud!).
“Mình đổ bạn ấy ngay từ lần đầu tiên gặp mặt!”
Bể kèo
When a plan or date 'breaks' and gets cancelled. 'Kèo' is the plan/appointment, 'bể' means it shattered. Use this when your dinner date falls through!
“Tối qua cả nhóm rủ đi ăn lẩu, ai ngờ trời mưa lớn quá nên bể kèo hết trơn!”
Cuốn
When something or someone is super attractive or 'addictive.' Like bánh cuốn (rolled rice cakes), you can't stop at one! Use it for people, videos, or anything captivating.
“Bạn nữ kia hôm nay mặc áo dài đẹp quá, nhìn cuốn thiệt sự!”
When "very good" or "beautiful" isn't strong enough, use these "hot" expressions that Gen Z in Vietnam love. These are positive slang terms that express absolute admiration.
Keo
The current favorite for 'slay' or 'stunning.' Use it for fashion, style, or an impressive look. It's replaced older slang like 'chất' and 'ngầu.'
“Bộ đồ này keo quá! Nhìn dáng cô ấy keo ghê!”
Hết xẩy
Literally 'out of dipping sauce.' It means something is so perfect there's nothing left to add or criticize. It's reached peak perfection!
“Món bún bò ở quán này ngon hết xẩy!”
Gu
From the French 'goût' (taste). Refers to someone's personal style, taste, or aesthetic preferences. Having good 'gu' means you're refined and selective.
“Anh ấy có gu ăn mặc lịch sự và lịch lãm.”
Nhức nách
'Aching armpits' is a funny way to say something is so satisfying or good that it's overwhelming. Often used for unexpected good fortune or extreme satisfaction.
“Hôm nay lương về sớm, lại được sếp thưởng nóng. Nhức nách!”
Đỉnh của chóp
'The peak of the top.' Use this for a major achievement, a 5-star experience, or anything exceptional and awe-inspiring.
“Kỳ nghỉ lễ này tui được đi du lịch Bali trên du thuyền 5 sao. Đỉnh của chóp!”
You will also hear hết nước chấm (the fuller form of hết xẩy) and nhức cái nách (same joke as nhức nách). Tâm's later chat with Minh is not a slang lesson, but they quiz those two at the end. Same words, a real conversation.
Saying "Tui mệt" (I'm tired) is boring and lacks emotion! Locals have much more descriptive (and often humorous) ways to complain about exhaustion.
Quải quá
Feeling physically worn out or 'sluggish' after hard work. Popular in the South (like with Tâm!). Your body doesn't want to move anymore.
“Ôi vừa thi xong 5 môn, quải quá đi!”
Quắn quéo
When your brain is 'twisted' or 'curled up' from stress or being too busy. This is mental exhaustion, when you can't think straight anymore.
“Hạn chót công việc chồng chất, tui quắn quéo luôn!”
Toang rồi
A versatile phrase meaning everything has 'failed' or collapsed. When used for tiredness, it means you've reached your absolute limit, physically and mentally.
“Tập thể dục cường độ cao quá, người tôi toang rồi!”
Kiệt sức / Kiệt lực
Completely exhausted, depleted of all energy. More formal but still widely used, especially when you want to politely decline an invitation.
“Mình vừa đi lễ hội về, kiệt sức rồi, không thể đi cà phê với bạn được.”
Hết pin / Sập nguồn
'Out of battery' or 'Power off.' Just like your phone, your body has run out of energy and needs to recharge! Very relatable in the tech age.
Make your Zalo messages and casual chats sound much more friendly and natural. These words add personality to your Vietnamese, both online and in person.
Khum / Hem
Cute ways to write 'Không' (No/Not). It's intentional misspelling that makes you sound softer and more playful. Very common in texting!
“Cuối tuần này rảnh khum? Đi ăn lẩu với tui nha!”
Dị
Means 'weird' but in a positive, funny way. Think 'quirky' or 'uniquely cool.' Transformed from the negative 'dị hợm' to something endearing.
“Cái kiểu phối màu này dị ghê, nhưng lại rất cuốn hút!”
Mlem mlem
The sound of licking your lips! Use it for delicious food, cute pets, attractive people, or anything that makes you go 'yum.'
“Nhìn cái bánh xốp phô mai tan chảy kìa, mlem mlem quá đi!”
Dễ ẹc
'Easy peasy.' When something is so simple you can do it without even blinking. Shows casual confidence.
“Bài tập này dễ ẹc, tui làm cái một là xong!”
Ủa alo
Slang for 'What the hell?' A great way to express surprise, disbelief, or a bit of emotion when something unexpected or confusing happens. Not the same as saying 'hello.'
“Ủa alo, bạn nói 7 giờ mà sao 8 giờ rồi không thấy mặt mũi?”
Nha
The Southern softener. Adds warmth to a request or invitation. Softer than a command. Northern speakers often use 'nhé' instead; Ngọc's lesson is the Southern version.
“Cuối tuần này rảnh khum? Đi ăn lẩu với tui nha!”
Ngọc's reaction lesson is the same idea as "ủa alo," from another Southern speaker: "Trời ơi," "Thiệt hả?," and "Ghê chưa!" for surprise and excitement. Hear those in her video after Tâm's texting slang.
Tâm's series is the fun, widely usable layer. Như Ý's later lessons are the next one: slang that only works with people you are already close to. The words are not rare. Using them with the wrong person is the problem.
Điên hả?
'Are you crazy?' Playful with a best friend. Rude with someone you just met. Như Ý's danger-zone lesson is built around this kind of line.
Xàm vừa thôi
'That's enough nonsense.' Teasing when you are close. Sharp when you are not.
Mệt mày ghê
Complaining at a friend with 'mày' built in. The 'mày' is the whole point: it signals intimacy, or disrespect, depending on who hears it.
Mày / tao
The most intimate 'you / I' pair. Fine between very close friends. A fast way to sound rude with anyone else. Tâm's free lesson covers this alongside questions you should not ask.
Như Ý's danger-zone lesson teaches the phrases. Tâm's free never-say lesson draws the same line with mày / tao. Như Ý's slang-and-relationships video is the idea again: the words stay put, the feeling changes with the relationship. Three passes at one rule, which is the point if you are learning by listening.
The greetings guide uses these same two videos for the formality point. Here they belong as slang.
Don't just memorize the list! Slang is all about intonation and context. Here's how to actually learn these words:
Watch the videos on Langiri to hear how Tâm, Như Ý, and Ngọc actually say the words. We recommend this for everyone. Tip: watch a second time, or hear the same slang from a second speaker, to see what you pick up with more context.
Practice by repeating, then chorusing or shadowing along with the video. Tâm includes practice sections in each slang-series episode.
Leave a comment using one of these slang words on our site to practice writing! Only if that's your learning style.
Ready to sound like a local?
Start with Tâm's four slang lessons, then add Như Ý's close-friend videos when you want the next layer.
"Thả thính" literally means "dropping bait." It is Vietnamese slang for flirting or dropping hints to get someone's attention, like throwing bait to catch a fish. You can thả thính by replying to someone's Instagram story with a flirty emoji. It is one of the most popular Southern Vietnamese slang terms for love and dating.
What is Vietnamese Gen Z slang?
Vietnamese Gen Z slang includes words like "keo" (slay/stunning, used for fashion and style), "cuốn" (addictive/captivating), "mlem mlem" (the sound of licking your lips, used for delicious food or attractive things), "khum" or "hem" (cute ways to write "không" meaning no), and "ủa alo" (an expression of surprise or disbelief). These words are common on TikTok, Facebook, Zalo, and in casual conversations in Saigon.
How do you say "I'm tired" in Vietnamese slang?
Instead of the plain "Tui mệt" (I'm tired), Southern Vietnamese speakers use colorful expressions: "quải quá" (physically worn out), "quắn quéo" (brain is twisted from stress), "toang rồi" (everything has collapsed), "hết pin" (out of battery), or "sập nguồn" (power off). Each carries a different nuance, ranging from physical exhaustion to mental overload to complete shutdown.
What does "đỉnh của chóp" mean?
"Đỉnh của chóp" literally means "the peak of the top." It is Southern Vietnamese slang used to describe something exceptional or awe-inspiring: a major achievement, a five-star experience, or anything that is absolutely the best. It is one of several popular praise expressions used by young Vietnamese speakers.
Can you use Vietnamese slang with anyone?
No. Playful slang like "keo" or "khum" is widely usable with friends. Close-friend lines like "Điên hả?" or "mày / tao" only work with people you are already close to. Như Ý's danger-zone lesson and Tâm's "Words You Should NEVER Say" both cover this: the same slang can sound warm or rude depending on the relationship.