Learning a new language can be a rewarding and enriching experience, and Vietnamese is no exception. As a tonal language with a unique script and pronunciation, Vietnamese offers a fascinating challenge for language learners. If you’re just starting out on your Vietnamese language journey, this article will provide you with a comprehensive list of essential words and phrases that are crucial for A1 level proficiency.

Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions

When learning any language, it’s important to start with greetings and polite expressions. These are the words and phrases you’ll use most frequently in everyday conversations.

1. **Hello** – Xin chào
2. **Goodbye** – Tạm biệt
3. **Yes** – Vâng / Dạ
4. **No** – Không
5. **Thank you** – Cảm ơn
6. **You’re welcome** – Không có gì
7. **Please** – Làm ơn
8. **Excuse me** – Xin lỗi
9. **I’m sorry** – Xin lỗi
10. **How are you?** – Bạn có khỏe không?
11. **I am fine, thank you** – Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn
12. **What is your name?** – Tên bạn là gì?
13. **My name is…** – Tên tôi là…

Numbers and Counting

Understanding numbers is fundamental, whether you’re shopping, telling time, or asking about prices. Here are the basic numbers in Vietnamese:

1. **One** – Một
2. **Two** – Hai
3. **Three** – Ba
4. **Four** – Bốn
5. **Five** – Năm
6. **Six** – Sáu
7. **Seven** – Bảy
8. **Eight** – Tám
9. **Nine** – Chín
10. **Ten** – Mười

For numbers beyond ten, Vietnamese combines these basic numbers. For example, eleven is “mười một,” and twenty is “hai mươi.”

Days of the Week

Knowing the days of the week is essential for scheduling and daily planning.

1. **Monday** – Thứ hai
2. **Tuesday** – Thứ ba
3. **Wednesday** – Thứ tư
4. **Thursday** – Thứ năm
5. **Friday** – Thứ sáu
6. **Saturday** – Thứ bảy
7. **Sunday** – Chủ nhật

Common Phrases for Everyday Use

In day-to-day interactions, you’ll often use these common phrases:

1. **How much is this?** – Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
2. **Where is the bathroom?** – Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?
3. **I don’t understand** – Tôi không hiểu
4. **Can you help me?** – Bạn có thể giúp tôi không?
5. **I would like…** – Tôi muốn…
6. **Do you speak English?** – Bạn có nói tiếng Anh không?
7. **What is this?** – Đây là gì?
8. **I need…** – Tôi cần…
9. **Where is…?** – … ở đâu?
10. **How do you say… in Vietnamese?** – … nói thế nào trong tiếng Việt?

Food and Drink

Vietnamese cuisine is renowned worldwide, and knowing the names of common foods and drinks will enhance your dining experience.

1. **Rice** – Cơm
2. **Noodles** – Mì
3. **Chicken** – Gà
4. **Beef** – Bò
5. **Pork** – Heo
6. **Fish** – Cá
7. **Vegetables** – Rau
8. **Fruit** – Trái cây
9. **Water** – Nước
10. **Tea** – Trà
11. **Coffee** – Cà phê
12. **Beer** – Bia

Family Members

Talking about family is a common topic in many cultures. Here are the Vietnamese words for family members:

1. **Father** – Bố / Cha
2. **Mother** – Mẹ
3. **Brother** – Anh / Em trai
4. **Sister** – Chị / Em gái
5. **Son** – Con trai
6. **Daughter** – Con gái
7. **Husband** – Chồng
8. **Wife** – Vợ
9. **Child** – Con
10. **Grandfather** – Ông
11. **Grandmother** – Bà

Days, Months, and Seasons

Understanding how to talk about time is crucial. Here are the words for days, months, and seasons:

Months

1. **January** – Tháng một
2. **February** – Tháng hai
3. **March** – Tháng ba
4. **April** – Tháng tư
5. **May** – Tháng năm
6. **June** – Tháng sáu
7. **July** – Tháng bảy
8. **August** – Tháng tám
9. **September** – Tháng chín
10. **October** – Tháng mười
11. **November** – Tháng mười một
12. **December** – Tháng mười hai

Seasons

1. **Spring** – Mùa xuân
2. **Summer** – Mùa hè
3. **Autumn** – Mùa thu
4. **Winter** – Mùa đông

Basic Adjectives and Descriptions

Adjectives are essential for describing people, places, and things. Here are some basic adjectives in Vietnamese:

1. **Big** – To
2. **Small** – Nhỏ
3. **Beautiful** – Đẹp
4. **Ugly** – Xấu
5. **Good** – Tốt
6. **Bad** – Xấu
7. **Hot** – Nóng
8. **Cold** – Lạnh
9. **Happy** – Vui
10. **Sad** – Buồn

Transportation

Knowing how to talk about transportation can be very helpful, especially if you’re traveling.

1. **Car** – Xe hơi
2. **Bus** – Xe buýt
3. **Train** – Tàu hỏa
4. **Bicycle** – Xe đạp
5. **Motorcycle** – Xe máy
6. **Airplane** – Máy bay
7. **Taxi** – Taxi
8. **Boat** – Thuyền

Colors

Colors are a fundamental part of language learning. Here are the basic colors in Vietnamese:

1. **Red** – Đỏ
2. **Blue** – Xanh dương
3. **Green** – Xanh lá cây
4. **Yellow** – Vàng
5. **Black** – Đen
6. **White** – Trắng
7. **Orange** – Cam
8. **Purple** – Tím
9. **Brown** – Nâu
10. **Pink** – Hồng

Common Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of sentences. Here are some common verbs you’ll need to know:

1. **To be** – Là
2. **To have** – Có
3. **To do** – Làm
4. **To go** – Đi
5. **To come** – Đến
6. **To eat** – Ăn
7. **To drink** – Uống
8. **To see** – Nhìn
9. **To hear** – Nghe
10. **To speak** – Nói

Common Nouns

Here is a list of common nouns that will help you in various situations:

1. **House** – Nhà
2. **Room** – Phòng
3. **School** – Trường
4. **Work** – Công việc
5. **Store** – Cửa hàng
6. **Friend** – Bạn
7. **Food** – Thức ăn
8. **Water** – Nước
9. **Book** – Sách
10. **Pen** – Bút

Question Words

Asking questions is a critical part of communication. Here are the essential question words in Vietnamese:

1. **Who?** – Ai?
2. **What?** – Gì?
3. **When?** – Khi nào?
4. **Where?** – Ở đâu?
5. **Why?** – Tại sao?
6. **How?** – Như thế nào?

Time and Dates

Discussing time and dates is fundamental. Here are some essential words:

1. **Today** – Hôm nay
2. **Tomorrow** – Ngày mai
3. **Yesterday** – Hôm qua
4. **Morning** – Buổi sáng
5. **Afternoon** – Buổi chiều
6. **Evening** – Buổi tối
7. **Night** – Đêm
8. **Hour** – Giờ
9. **Minute** – Phút
10. **Second** – Giây

Useful Expressions

Here are some expressions that can be very handy:

1. **What’s the time?** – Mấy giờ rồi?
2. **I’m lost** – Tôi bị lạc
3. **I don’t know** – Tôi không biết
4. **What do you think?** – Bạn nghĩ gì?
5. **How do you feel?** – Bạn cảm thấy thế nào?
6. **It’s okay** – Không sao
7. **I agree** – Tôi đồng ý
8. **I disagree** – Tôi không đồng ý
9. **I like it** – Tôi thích nó
10. **I don’t like it** – Tôi không thích nó

Conclusion

Starting to learn Vietnamese can be challenging, but with these essential words and phrases, you’ll be well on your way to A1 level proficiency. Remember that language learning is a gradual process that requires practice and patience. Use these words in daily conversations, practice with native speakers if possible, and immerse yourself in the language through listening and reading. Good luck on your Vietnamese language journey!