nĩa
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
nĩa means fork.
Meanings of nĩa in English
Noun
- fork
Example sentences with nĩa
- Thiếu một cái nĩa. There is a fork missing.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Usage note: nĩa
nĩa is the Southern word for "fork". In the North a fork is dĩa — which in the South means plate.
- Cho em xin một cái nĩa. — Could I have a fork?
- dao và nĩa — knife and fork
In practice:
- Saigon: fork = nĩa, plate = dĩa
- Hanoi: fork = dĩa, plate = đĩa
Most Vietnamese food is eaten with chopsticks and a spoon; forks appear with Western dishes, fruit plates and bánh.
Etymology
From Proto-Vietic *tʃ-rn-ɛh, the *-rn- (instrumental derivative) infixed form of Proto-Vietic *tʃɛh, whence Modern Vietnamese xỉa (“to pick; to jab”). Also related to Vietnamese chĩa (“pitchfork”) and to Chinese 杈 (MC tsrheaH).
Frequently asked questions
What does nĩa mean in English?
nĩa (noun) means "fork".
How do you pronounce nĩa?
IPA: Hanoi [niə˦ˀ˥]; Saigon [niə˨˩˦]. Tones: nĩa — creaky rising tone (ngã).
What classifier is used with nĩa?
Common classifiers: cái — for example "một cái nĩa" (one fork).