trà đá
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
trà đá means iced tea.
Meanings of trà đá in English
Noun
- iced tea
Usage note: trà đá
trà đá is iced tea — weak green tea over ice — and it is often served free or for a tiny price with meals.
- Cho em hai ly trà đá. — Two iced teas, please.
- Quán này trà đá miễn phí. — Iced tea is free here.
- uống trà đá vỉa hè — drink iced tea on the pavement (a Hanoi pastime)
In Hanoi, trà đá stalls with tiny plastic stools are social hubs where people chat, watch the street and crack sunflower seeds. In Saigon, a jug of iced tea often stands on restaurant tables, free for customers.
If you do not want ice, say trà nóng (hot tea) or không đá (no ice).
Not to be confused with Western-style sweet iced tea: trà chanh (lemon tea), trà đào (peach tea) and trà sữa (milk tea) are separate drinks.
Etymology
trà (“tea”) + đá (“ice”).
Frequently asked questions
What does trà đá mean in English?
trà đá (noun) means "iced tea".
How do you pronounce trà đá?
IPA: Hanoi [t͡ɕaː˨˩ ʔɗaː˧˦]; Saigon [ʈaː˨˩ ʔɗaː˦˥]. Tones: trà — falling tone (huyền), đá — rising tone (sắc).