A list of French loanwords still in use - some only in North Vietnam, some only in the South.Very incomplete, of course, especially in automobile and mechanics.
[Vietnamese word -- French parent word: English meaning]
--- A ---
album (ăng-bum)
alô -- allô: hello (telephony)
amiđan -- amygdale: amygdala
amatơ -- amateur: amateur, amateurish
amiăng -- amiante: asbestos
ampe -- ampère: ampere
áp phích -- affiche: poster
áp-xê -- abcès: abscess
atisô -- artichaut: artichoke
(con) át -- as (cartes): ace (card games)
axít -- acide: acid
--- Ă ---
ắc qui -- accus, accumulateur: accumulator (wet-cell storage battery)
ăng ten -- antenne: antenna
--- Â ---
âm li -- amplifier: digital mixer
--- B ---
ba-ga, bạc-ba-ga -- porte bagage: rear rack, luggage rack (bike or motorbike)
(xe) ba gác -- bagage
ba đờ xuy -- pardessus: overcoat
ba gai -- pagaille: trouble-making, lacking in discipline
ba láp, bá láp -- palabre: nonsense, to talk nonsense
ba lê (ballet)
ba lô -- ballot: backpack
ba-rem -- barème: marking scale, marking criteria
ba-rê -- barrer: to bar off
ban công -- balcon: balcony
banh ta lông -- talon (jante roue arrière - vélo): to fall completely apart
bánh (bít) quy -- biscuit: 1. biscuit; 2. cookie
bánh su -- pâte à choux: choux pastry
bazan -- basalte: basalt
bazơ -- base (chimie): base (chemistry)
băng (đảng, chuyền, cát xét) -- bande: gang, group, tape, belt...
băng ghế, ghế băng -- banc: bench
băng rôn -- banderolle: banner
bê tông -- béton: concrete
chó bẹc giê -- chien de berger: German shepherd
bi -- billes: marble (toy), minuscule ball of any material, also testicles
bi đông (bidon)
bi-da -- billard: billiard
bia -- bière: beer
bít tết -- biftek: beefsteak, steak
boa -- pourboire: tips (money)
bom -- bombe: bomb
boong -- pont (de bateau): deck (ship, boat)
bóp -- porte monnaie: 1. purse; 2. wallet
bồ -- beau: boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other (in older times, also "friend, pal")
bơ -- beurre: butter
bơm -- pompe: pump (mechanics)
buffet (búp-phê)
bu-gi -- bougie: spark plug
(áo) bu giông, bu dông -- blouson: blouse jacket
bù loong -- boulon: bolt (metal fastener)
búp bê -- poupée: doll
(xe) buýt -- bus: bus
--- C ---
ca -- cas: 1. (medical) case; 2. work shift
cabin -- cabine: cabin
capô -- capot (véhicule): hood (vehicle)
cacao -- cacao: cocoa
cara -- carat: 1. karat; 2. carat
carô -- carreau: 1. checkered or plaid (pattern), tartan; 2. naughts and crosses, Tic-Tac-Toe
ca nô -- canot: motor boat, speed boat
catalô (catalogue)
ca ve -- cavalière: (female) sex worker
cà nông -- canon: cannon
cà phê -- café: coffee
cà rá -- carat: ring (accessory)
cà ri -- cari: curry
cà rốt -- carotte: carot
cà vạt, cà-ra-vát, caravát -- cravate: necktie
cà vẹt -- carte verte: vehicle registry/identification paper
cạc -- carte: card
cạc tông (carton): cardboard
cạc vi zít (danh thiếp) -- carte de visite: business card
can ke, căn ke -- calquer: to carbon copy
cao su -- caoutchouc: rubber (material)
cát-ca-đơ -- cascadeur: stuntman, stuntperson
cát xét (cassette)
căng tin -- cantine: canteen
compa -- compas: compass
com lê -- complet (vêtement): three-piece suit
coọc-xê -- corset: bra
(quay, coi) cóp, cọp -- copier: to copy from another student's paper in an exam
(vải) cotton (cô-tông) -- coton: cotton, the fabric
đậu cô ve -- haricot vert: green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, not Pisum sativum)
công-tai-nơ, côngtenơ -- conteneur: (shipping) container
công tắc -- contact: switch (device)
công tơ -- compteur: counter (device), whatever-ometer
(đàn) công-trờ-bát, đàn bát -- contrebasse: double bass
cốp (xe) -- coffre: trunk (vehicle)
cơ -- coeur (cartes): heart (card)
cờ-lê -- clé, clef: wrench, spanner
cu li -- coolie
cua (gái, trai) -- courtiser: to woo, to court (a love interest)
cua (xe) -- courber: to make a turn (driving)
cua-rơ -- coureur: cyclist
(chiếc) cúp -- coupe: cup (sports)
cúp (điện, nước) -- (je, il) coupe: 1. to cut the supply of electricity or water; 2. to skip a class
---D---
da ua -- yaourt: yoghurt
dao nhíp -- canif: pocket knife
dăm bông, giăm bông -- jambon: Western-style ham
dây te -- terre (életricté): earth wire, ground wire
dynamo (đinamô): alternator
---Đ---
đăng-ten -- dentelle: lace
đầm -- dame: 1. dress (item of cloth); 2. queen (card)
đét xe -- dessert
đề, đề pa, đề ba -- départ: jump-start (a vehicle)
đề-can -- décal (décalcomanie): decal, bumper sticker
diesel (điêzen)
đi văng -- divan
(cờ) đôminô -- domino
đúp -- double
---E---
(tay) embraya, ambraya, am-bray-ya -- embrayage: clutch (vehicle)
ép phê -- effet: effective / affected
---Ê---
(thước) ê ke -- équerre: set square
ê kíp -- equipe: (production) crew
---G---
(nhà) ga -- gare: train station
ga -- gaz: gas (for heating, cooking...)
ga lăng -- galant: gallant, courteous, gentlemanly (towards women)
gam (nhạc) -- gamme: musical scale
gara -- garage: any structure where vehicles are parked
(bánh) ga tô -- gâteau: gateau (or any Western-style type of cake)
gà mên -- gamelle: set of (nestled) mess tins
găng (tay) -- gant: glove
ghi-đông -- guidon: handlebar
(đàn) ghi ta -- guitare: guitar
(áo) gi-lê -- gilet: waistcoat
gôm -- gomme: rubber (eraser)
gôn - golf
gu -- goût: taste (in culinary, art, entertainment, people...)
---H---
hoóc môn, hoọc môn -- hormone
xe hủ lô, xe lu --- rouleau-compresseur: road roller
---I---
Inox (i-nốc) -- (acier) inoxydable: stainless steel
---J---
juýp -- jupe: skirt
---K---
kaki -- kaki: khaki
kali -- kalium: potassium
kem -- crème: 1. cream; 2. icecream, ice pop, ice lolly
két (bia, tiền) -- caisse: 1. case (of beer, soft drink...); 2. cash register
kiốt - kiosque: kiosk
---L---
la phông -- plafond: ceiling
lavabô -- lavabo: wash basin
(lưỡi) lam -- lame: razor blade
(đồ) lạc xoong -- l'aution: yard sale goods
(ướp) lát xê -- glacé: chilled, to keep chilled (drinks)
lăng xê -- lancer: promote
len -- laine: wool
(đồ) lê ghim -- légume: vegetable of the kinds often used in Western dishes
lêkima -- pouteria lucuma: lucuma, eggfruit
lít -- litre
líp (xe) -- roue libre: freewheel
lò xo -- ressort: spring (mechanics)
long đền -- rondelle: washer (mechanics)
lô -- lot: plot, lot, batch
lô cốt -- blockhaus (!): blockhouse
lôgarít -- logarimthe: logarithm
lôgíc -- logique: logic
lốp -- enveloppe: tire (vehicle)
xanh lơ –- bleu: light blue
kính lúp -- loupe: magnifying glass
---M---
ma cà bông -- vagabond: tramp, hobo
ma cô -- maquereau: pimp
ma lanh, lanh -- malin: (usually of a child) sly, wickedly clever
ma nơ canh -- mannequin
(áo) mayô -- maillot: men's undershirt, singlet, wife-beater
mát xa -- massage
măng sông, măng xông -- manchon: gas mantle (đèn măng xông: mantle lamp)
(áo) măng tô -- manteau: long coat
mét -- mètre: meter (unit)
mề đay -– médaille: medal
mìn -- mine (exploding device)
mỏ lết -- (clé, clef à) molette: adjustable wrench, adjustable spanner
mô đen -- modèle: 1. style; 2. trend; 3. fashionable, à la mode
môtô -- moto: motorbike
mô tơ -- moteur: motor
mô típ -- motif
mốt -- mode: fashion, trend, fad
mù tạc -- moutarde: mustard
khăn mù(i) xoa -- mouchoir: handkerchief
---N---
natri -- natrium: sodium
(đèn) nê ông -- néon: neon
Nô-en -- Noël: Christmas
nơ -- nœud: bow
nui -- nouilles: pasta noodle
nuy -- nu: nude
ny lông (nylon)
---Ô---
ô liu (olive)
ôxy -- oxygène: oxygen
ôtô -- auto (voiture): car
---P---
panô -- panneau (publicitaire): billboard
patê, batê -- pâté
patêsô -- pâté chaud
patin, patăng, patanh -- patin (à roulettes): rollerskating
păng-xê -- pensée: pansy (flower)
pê đan -- pedale: pedal
pêđê, bêđê -- pédé: gay, homo, fag, poof
(đàn) piano (pianô)
pích, bích -- pique (cartes): spade (card)
pin -- pile: battery
(đèn) pha -- phare: flood light; headlight, beacon
pha -- phase: phase (automobile, biology...)
phanh -- frein: brake
phăng -- fantaisie: to add a new, individualistic twist to smth e.g a dance, a piece of music...
phẹc-mơ-tuya -- fermeture: zipper
phê (thuốc) -- effet: high (on drug)
phích -- fiche (prise de courant): electric plug (also, "thermos")
phim -- film: movie, film
phin -- filtre: (coffee) filter
phoọc (người) -- forme: physique, body frame
phô mai, phô mát -- fromage: cheese
phuộc (nhún) -- fourche: (bicycle or motorcycle) fork
(trái) pom, bôm -- pomme: apple
pô (hình, ảnh) -- pose: shot (photography)
ống pô, ống bô -- pot (d'échappement): exhaust pipe
---R---
ra (giường) -- drap: bed sheet
radio (ra-đi-ô)
ragu -- ragoût: ragout
đường ray, đường rầy -- rail: railroad, railway
riđô -- rideau: curtain
rô -- carreau: diamond (card)
rôbinê -- robinet: tap, faucet
rô ti -- rôti: roast
rơ le, rờ le -- relais: relay (electric device)
rờ moọc -- remorque: trailer (vehicle)
ruy băng -- ruban: ribbon
---S---
sabôchê, xa pô chê -- sapotillier: sapodilla
sà lan, xà lan -- chaland: barge
sạc -- charge: to recharge, to charge
sâm panh, sâm banh -- champagne
séc -- chèque: (bank) check
sên -- chaine: chain (vehicle)
sếp -- chef: boss
(bệnh) si đa -- SIDA: AIDS
(vải) simili: synthetic fabric
soirée (xoa-rê, soa-rê): wedding dress
sôcôla -- chocolat: chocolate
(ghế) sôfa -- sofa: couch, sofa
sơ, ma sơ -- soeur, ma soeur: sister (Catholicism)
(áo) sơ mi -- chemise: dress shirt
su hào -- chou-rave: kohlrabi
su su -- chouchou: chayote
súp -- soupe: Western-style soup
súp lơ -- chou-fleur: cauliflower
suyệc / xẹc -- sur: "/", the slash in a Vietnamese address, indicating branching of an alley. Also said as "trên" (over).
---T---
tách -- tasse: Western-style teacup
táp đờ nuy -- table de nuit: nightstand
(xe) tắc xi -- taxi
(xe) tăng -- tank (war machine)
tăng -- temps: session (humorous)
(điệu) tango (tăng-gô)
(lên) tăng xông -- tension (arterielle): (to go through) a dangerous surge of blood pressure
tem -- timbre: stamp
típ người -- type: type of person
toalét -- toilette: restroom, toilet
tông -- ton: 1. shade of colour; 2. tone
tông suyệc tông -- ton sur ton: combining different shades of the same color
tông đơ -- tondeur: hair clipper
(thùng) tônô -- tonneau: barrel
tua -- tour: 1. tour; 2. to rewind or fast-forward (video clip, tape etc.)
tua-bin, tuộc-bin (turbine)
tùng bê, tòm bê -- tombe: to fall over and apart, hilariously
tuộc nơ vít -- tournevis: screwdriver
tuýp -- tube: tube (of cream or gel)
---V---
vali -- valise: suitcase
vani -- vanille: vanilla
(điệu) van -- valse: waltz
rượu vang -- vin: grape wine
(màu) ve, (màu) xanh ve (also 've' in bi ve and ve chai) -- verre: the cyan shade of thick glass
vẹc ni -- vernis: varnish
(áo) vest(on) -- vest(on): suit jacket
video (vi-đê-ô)
(đàn) violon (vi-ô-lông): violin
(ốc) vít -- vis: screw
vô lăng -- volant: steering wheel
---X---
(ghế) xa lông -- salon: couch
xa tanh (satin)
quỷ Xa tăng (Satan)
xà bông, xà phòng -- savon: soap
xà lách -- salade: salad
(quần) xà lỏn -- sarong: shorts (clothing)
xà lim -- celulle: prison cell
xăng -- essence: gas (fuel)
xe ben -- (camion) benne: dump truck
(trái, quả) xê ri -- cerise: cherry
(số) xê ri -- série: serial number
xi -- cire: any kind of wax used for polishing
xi lanh -- cylindre: cylinder
xi líp, xì líp -- slip: underwear
xi măng -- ciment: cement
(đèn) xi nhan -- signal: signal (driving)
xi nhê -- signer: effective
xi phông -- siphon
xi rô -- syrop: syrup
(xe) xi téc -- citerne: tank truck
xì căng đan -- scandale: scandal
xì gà -- cigare: cigar
xích lô -- cyclo: rickshaw
xiếc, xiệc -- cirque: circus
vải xoa -- soie: really thin and fine silk
xô -- seau: bucket
xốt (sauce)
xơ cua -- (de) secours: spare, backup
xu -- sou: coin, penny
xú báp, xú-páp, sú-páp -- soupape: valve (xả xú báp: to let off / blow off steam)
xúc xích -- saucisse: sausage
Dated / Retro:
ăng-kết -- enquête: investigation
ăng-lê -- anglais: English, British
ca pốt -- capote anglaise: condom
cà rem -- crème: icecream; popsicle, ice lolly
(xe) cam nhông -- camion: truck, lorry
cùi dìa -- cuiller: spoon
cuốc (điện thoại) -- cours: (phone) call
đít-cua -- discours: structured, scripted public speech
(nhà) đoan -- douane: customs (house)
đốc tờ, đóc tờ -- docteur: (medical) doctor
gác dan -- gardien: doorman, guard
gạp-măng-giê -- garde manger: cupboard
Lê dương -- Légion: belonging to the French Foreign Legion
ma-ki-dê -- maquiller: makeup
moa -- moi: I
ne pas (nơ-pa): nothing at all
nhà băng -- banque: bank (financial institution)
ô-tô-buýt -- autobus: bus
phoóc sết -- fourchette: fork
pít-xin -- piscine: swimming pool
sớp-phơ -- chauffeur: driver
toa -- toi: you
(xe) tăng đem (xe đạp) -- tandem (vélo): tandem bicycle
xăng tuya -- ceinture: belt
xi nê -- ciné: cinema
xu chiêng -- soutien-gorge: bra
Words directly from English, but pronounced as if from French:
boongke -- bunker
cátxê -- cashier: an actor's pay
(khẩu) côn -- Colt revolver
giữ gôn - goalkeeping
(cú) líp -- lift (tennis)
quần soọc -- shorts
resort (rì-xoọc)
rờ-mốt -- remote: remote control
séc (đấu) -- set (tennis)
sing gum, sưng gum -- chewing-gum
van -- valve
xẹc vít, sẹc vít -- service: service, to provide service, to serve
xeo xẹc vít -- self-service
xì tin -- style: hip, cool in a cute, youthful way
(based on Jubinell's list and various other sources)
Ireland (Éire / Ireland)
Vietnam (Việt Nam)
thank you for this. It's helpful for me to know where the words came from
