áo bà ba
noun
Hanoi [ʔaːw˧˦ ʔɓaː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧]Huế [ʔaːw˨˩˦ ʔɓaː˦˩ ʔɓaː˧˧]Saigon [ʔaːw˦˥ ʔɓaː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
áo bà ba means an ao ba ba; paired with silk pants.
Meanings of áo bà ba in English
Noun
- an ao ba ba, a traditional southern Vietnamese garment consisting of a long-sleeved, button-down silk shirt split at the waist with a scooped neck, paired with silk pants.
Etymology
Analyzed as áo + bà + ba, lit. "shirt of the third (born) madam". According to Sơn Nam, named after the dress of the Baba Nyonya aka Peranakans (ethnic Chinese from Penang, Malaysia).
Frequently asked questions
What does áo bà ba mean in English?
áo bà ba (noun) means "an ao ba ba; paired with silk pants".
How do you pronounce áo bà ba?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔaːw˧˦ ʔɓaː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧]; Saigon [ʔaːw˦˥ ʔɓaː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧]. Tones: áo — rising tone (sắc), bà — falling tone (huyền), ba — level tone (ngang).