ông kẹ
noun
Hanoi [ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˧˨ʔ]Huế [ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˨˩ʔ]Saigon [ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˨˩˨] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
ông kẹ means bogeyman.
Meanings of ông kẹ in English
Noun
- a kind of ghost or monster
- bogeyman
Etymology
Per Huình Tịnh Của (1895), this was original a nickname of Nguyễn Văn Trị, a retainer of Gia Long, said to be an honest but short-tempered man.
Frequently asked questions
What does ông kẹ mean in English?
ông kẹ (noun) means "bogeyman".
How do you pronounce ông kẹ?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˨˩˨]. Tones: ông — level tone (ngang), kẹ — heavy tone (nặng).