Vietnamese · Family & People
bố
Father
Beginnernoun
Definition
A male parent in northern Vietnamese; the south says ba.
Example
Bố tôi làm việc ở ngân hàng.
My dad works at a bank.
Etymology
The Vietnamese word 'bố' derives from Proto-Mon-Khmer and has roots related to familial terms across Southeast Asia, indicating a paternal figure. Over centuries, it has evolved in usage, becoming a colloquial term for 'father' in contemporary Vietnamese.
How & Where It’s Used
'Bố' is commonly used in informal, everyday speech among family members and children. In formal contexts, such as written compositions or respectful conversations, the term 'cha' may be preferred. There may be regional variations in terms of usage and frequency.