Foundations

Sounds & tones (Saigon)

3 lessons · ~48 min theme · each lesson 10–20 min · pack to your day in Settings

1. Six marks, five sounds

   ~15 min

   Vietnamese writes six tone marks. In Saigon speech, hỏi and ngã sound the same. Train your ear on five shapes, not six.

   • ma — ghost (level) · ngangListen
   • mà — but (low falling) · huyềnListen
   • má — mom (high rising) — Southern · sắcListen
   • mả — grave (dip-rise) · hỏiListen
   • mã — horse / code — say like hỏi in the South · ngãListen
   • mạ — rice seedling (low heavy) · nặngListen

   Listen cues

   • Play má vs mà — which rises?
   • Play mả and mã — they should match in Southern TTS

   Speak

   • Say the set: ma mà má mả mã mạModel
   • Say: Dạ, con chào má.Model

   Quiz

   In Saigon speech, hỏi and ngã are…

   Always differentUsually the same contourNot used

   Polite ‘yes’ with elders — prefer

   Northern polite yesdạCasual ừ only

2. Family hello (meeting parents seed)

   ~18 min

   With her parents, you are con. Greet with chào and answer with dạ.

   • Con chào ba. — I (child) greet dad.Listen
   • Con chào má. — I (child) greet mom.Listen
   • Dạ, con khỏe. — Yes (polite), I’m well.Listen

   Listen cues

   • Hear male vs female SG voices on Con chào ba/má.

   Speak

   • Con chào ba.Model
   • Con chào má.Model
   • Dạ, con khỏe.Model

   Quiz

   Southern dad is usually

   Northern dad wordbaOnly a rare nickname

3. Tap the rising tone

   ~15 min

   No typing — tap what you hear in your head. Sắc rises in the South; huyền falls. Pick by meaning, not by typing Vietnamese.

   • má — mom — high rising · sắcListen
   • mà — but — low falling · huyềnListen
   • dạ — polite yes — heavy / short · nặngListen

   Listen cues

   • Imagine má (mom) vs mà (but) — only one rises
   • Imagine dạ — short and settled, not rising

   Speak

   • máModel
   • màModel
   • dạModel
   • Dạ, má.Model

   Quiz

   Which word is high rising (Southern mom)?

   màmádạ

   This unit asks you to…

   Type Vietnamese on a keyboardRead, listen, speak, and tap quiz answersOnly memorize Northern tones