nè
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
nè means particle demanding attention to something; take a look!.
Meanings of nè in English
Particle
- Southern Vietnam particle demanding attention to something; take a look!
- Nó nè!Look, she's this one!
- Coi nè!Look here!
- Anh mày nè!It's me, duh!
Interjection
- Southern Vietnam Southern Vietnam form of này (“hey!; hold up!”)
Example sentences with nè
- Tôi bị cái gì vậy nè? What the fuck is wrong with me?
- Bánh quy vỡ ra nhưng thế này nè. That's the way the cookie crumbles.
- Coi tôi tìm được gì ở bãi biển nè. Guess what I found on the beach.
- Mặc thử đi. Size này vừa với bạn nè. Try this on. It's your size.
- Phong tục nè nếp biến đổi khác nhau ở mỗi quốc gia. Social customs vary from country to country.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, nè could be written as 泥. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Usage note: nè
nè is a Southern word with two main uses: "here (it is)/look" and a friendly sentence-final particle.
- Handing something over: Tiền nè. — Here's the money. Cho em nè. — This is for you.
- Pointing out: Coi nè! — Look at this!
- Calling attention: Nè, anh ơi! — Hey, excuse me!
- Friendly emphasis: Đẹp chưa nè! — Isn't it lovely!
The Northern equivalent is roughly này: Tiền này. — Here's the money. Này, anh ơi!
On its own, Nè! to get someone's attention is casual; with strangers, anh ơi or chị ơi is politer.
Many Southern words have a Northern counterpart: nè/này, đó/đấy, vậy/thế, hổng/không.
Frequently asked questions
What does nè mean in English?
nè (particle) means "particle demanding attention to something; take a look!".
How do you pronounce nè?
IPA: Hanoi [nɛ˨˩]; Saigon [nɛ˨˩]. Tones: nè — falling tone (huyền).