Why learn Vietnamese?
Vietnamese is spoken by about 90 million people in Vietnam and across a global diaspora (United States, France, Australia, Cambodia, Laos). For descendants of Vietnamese families, learning it is both a deep personal act and an entry into a thousand-year written tradition.
Whether you are part of the diaspora or simply passionate about world languages, Dialect gives you the tools to progress quickly.
The Dialect Method
Our app combines playful learning with linguistic rigor:
- Essential vocabulary: learn the words most used in everyday life.
- Clear audio: hear the clear pronunciation of every word.
- Interactive quizzes: test your knowledge and track your progress.
- Review mode: never lose what you've already learned.
The Science Behind Dialect
To be among the best educational resources, Dialect builds on cognitive neuroscience principles:
- Spaced Repetition System (SRS): our algorithm calculates the optimal time to review each word, right before you would forget it.
- Clear audio: every word comes with audio to guide your pronunciation.
- Granular learning: we break dialects into manageable units to prevent cognitive overload.
Vietnamese in a few facts
- Language family: Austroasiatic language, Việt-Mường branch.
- Speakers: about 90 million speakers.
- Main regions: Vietnam, with significant communities in France, the United States, Australia, Cambodia and Laos.
- Writing systems: Quốc Ngữ — Latin alphabet enriched with diacritics marking the tones (official since 1945, replacing chữ Nôm based on Chinese characters).
Vietnamese is a tonal language: six tones in the North, five in the South, distinguishing otherwise identical words. It's an isolating language (no conjugation or declension), where each syllable forms a word. Its vocabulary contains about 60% Sino-Vietnamese borrowings, a legacy of over a thousand years of Chinese influence.
Essential Vietnamese words
A handful of words to get started — each available in the app with audio:
| English | Vietnamese | Example |
|---|---|---|
| me | tôi | It's me |
| you | bạn | Is that you? |
| him | anh ấy | He is here |
| her | cô ấy | She is here |
| we | chúng tôi | We are going out |
The Dialect app covers several hundred Vietnamese words and expressions, organized by difficulty and theme.
How Dialect makes learning Vietnamese easier
Learning a heritage language when you live in the diaspora has unique challenges: few structured resources, materials often aimed at linguists rather than daily learners, and a critical shortage of reliable audio recordings. Dialect was built to address these obstacles.
Specifically for Vietnamese, the app provides:
- Progress by frequency of use: you first learn words and phrases you will actually hear.
- Clear audio: consistent pronunciation from session one.
- Short sessions (5 cards a day): consistency beats intensity.
- Smart review: the spaced repetition algorithm presents each word right before you would forget it.
Hello, thank you and essential phrases in Vietnamese
Looking to say hello in Vietnamese, thank you or how are you? Here are the must-know greetings and polite phrases. Each one is available with audio in the Dialect app:
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| Hello | xin chào |
| Hi | chào |
| Thank you | cảm ơn |
| Yes | vâng |
| No | không |
| Goodbye | tạm biệt |
| Sorry | xin lỗi |
| How are you | bạn khỏe không |
Transcriptions above are approximate: real pronunciation varies by region. To hear the pronunciation, listen to each phrase in Dialect.
Frequently asked questions about learning Vietnamese
How do you say hello in Vietnamese?
In Vietnamese, "hello" is "xin chào". In casual settings you can also say "chào". Hear the pronunciation in the Dialect app.
How long does it take to learn the basics of Vietnamese?
With Dialect, practicing 5 to 10 minutes a day, you can master essential Vietnamese vocabulary in 4 to 6 weeks.
Is the Dialect app free?
Yes. Dialect is free with a daily session of 5 cards per language.
Is the Vietnamese audio available in the Dialect app?
Yes, every word comes with clear audio in the app to help you memorise the pronunciation.
Do I need to know any Asian language to start?
No. Dialect is designed for complete beginners.
Is Dialect available on Android?
Yes. On Android and on desktop, Dialect runs directly in your browser through the web app (mydialect.io/app): same languages, same native audio, same account. The native app is available on iPhone and iPad from the App Store.
In short: Why choose Dialect?
Dialect is the complete solution for learning Vietnamese. It combines spaced repetition, 100% clear audio, and a mobile-optimized interface for fast mastery of everyday vocabulary.
Discover other languages on Dialect
Dialect offers 18 heritage languages to reconnect with your roots:
Start for free, today
Free daily session. On iPhone via the App Store, or straight in the browser on Android and desktop.
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