Vietnamese look-alike letters, compared
One mark or one letter apart: how many real words each pair separates, and which ones your accent says the same.
Letters with marks
| Pair | Word pairs | Same sound (South) | Same sound (North) | See |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ă / â | 189 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| a / ă | 237 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| a / â | 257 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| o / ô | 224 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| ô / ơ | 142 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| o / ơ | 142 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| u / ư | 119 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| e / ê | 104 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| d / đ | 116 | 0 % | 0 % |
First consonants
| Pair | Word pairs | Same sound (South) | Same sound (North) | See |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tr / ch | 104 | 100 % | 100 % | |
| s / x | 74 | 100 % | 100 % | |
| d / gi | 61 | 100 % | 100 % | |
| r / g/gh | 72 | 100 % | 0 % | |
| ng/ngh / nh | 81 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| n / l | 121 | 0 % | 0 % |
Final consonants
| Pair | Word pairs | Same sound (South) | Same sound (North) | See |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n / ng | 229 | 48 % | 0 % | |
| ng / nh | 63 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| n / nh | 78 | 28 % | 0 % | |
| t / c | 160 | 49 % | 0 % | |
| t / ch | 51 | 49 % | 0 % |
Tones
| Pair | Word pairs | Same sound (South) | Same sound (North) | See |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hỏi / ngã | 124 | 100 % | 0 % | |
| sắc / nặng | 609 | 0 % | 0 % | |
| huyền / nặng | 374 | 0 % | 0 % |
Word pairs = real dictionary words that differ by that sound only. Same sound = share of those pairs the accent pronounces the same: there, only the spelling tells them apart.
ăvsâ
ă or â?
Both are short. ă = a short a (open mouth), â = a short ơ (mouth half closed): ăn (to eat) ≠ ân (a kindness).
189 pairs of words in the dictionary differ only by this sound.
Your accent always says them apart.
- cayspicy≠câytree, plant
- đauto hurt, painful≠đâuwhere
- mắteye≠mấtto lose
- máymachine≠mấyhow many
- dạyto teach≠dậyto wake up, to get up
- sauafter, behind≠sâudeep
- tayhand, arm≠tâywest
- cắmto plant, stick in≠cấmto forbid, prohibit
- lauto wipe≠lâulong (time)
- cắtto cut≠cấtto put away
Compare any two words, and the sounds of your own words: in the app.
Create my free accountRead more
Quick answers
Why do look-alike letters matter?
One mark changes the word: mắt is “eye”, mất is “to lose”. Reading means seeing that mark at once.
What does “same sound” mean?
Your accent pronounces both words the same way: in the South, tr and ch, s and x, hỏi and ngã. Only the spelling tells them apart, so you learn them by sight.
Where do the pairs come from?
From our whole dictionary: every pair of real words that differ only by that sound, the most common first.
Every pair, any word
In the app, compare any two words, and train your eye on the pairs your accent hides.
Create my free account