hoàng hậu
noun Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [hwaːŋ˨˩ həw˧˨ʔ]Huế [hwaːŋ˦˩ həw˨˩ʔ]Saigon [waːŋ˨˩ həw˨˩˨] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Chinese characters: 皇后
Meanings of hoàng hậu in English
Noun
- a queen consort or an empress consort
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 皇后 (“empress consort”). The "imperial" connotation of hoàng has been lost due to its favorability over vương, likely due to the influence of historically imperial China and imperial Vietnam, whose monarchs referred to themselves as hoàng đế (“emperor”) or used hoàng in their titles (e.g. Lí Chiêu Hoàng). Compare nữ hoàng (“queen regnant”, literally “empress regnant”), hoàng tử (“royal prince”, literally “imperial prince”).
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce hoàng hậu?
IPA: Hanoi [hwaːŋ˨˩ həw˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [waːŋ˨˩ həw˨˩˨]. Tones: hoàng — falling tone (huyền), hậu — heavy tone (nặng).
Is hoàng hậu a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. hoàng hậu is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 皇后.