Definition
The Vietnamese alphabet is the Latin-based script used for writing the Vietnamese language. Officially known as chữ Quốc ngữ (“national language script”), it comprises 29 letters plus a system of diacritics to indicate vowel quality and tone.
Overview
Adopted officially in the early 20th century, the Vietnamese alphabet replaced earlier logographic (chữ Hán) and semi‑phonetic (chữ Nôm) scripts. It is the primary writing system for all modern Vietnamese publications, education, and official communications in Vietnam. The alphabet is phonemic, meaning each letter or diacritic combination typically corresponds to a single sound.
Etymology/Origin
The alphabet originated from the work of Portuguese and later French missionaries in the 17th century. Portuguese Jesuit Francisco de Pina introduced a Latin transliteration of Vietnamese, which was further developed by Alexandre de Rhodes, whose 1651 Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum standardized many of its conventions. The script was refined during French colonial administration and codified by the Vietnamese nationalist movement in the early 1900s; it became the official script after the August Revolution of 1945.
Characteristics
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Letter inventory: 29 base letters:
A Ă Â B C D Đ E Ê G H I K L M N O Ô Ơ P Q R S T U Ư V X Y.
The letters Q, F, J, W, and Z appear only in loanwords. -
Vowel diacritics: Five diacritical marks modify vowel letters to indicate additional vowel quality:
- Breve (˘) on A → Ă
- Circumflex (ˆ) on A, E, O → Â, Ê, Ô
- Horn (̛) on O, U → Ơ, Ư
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Tone marks: Vietnamese is a six‑tone language; tone is shown by one of five diacritics placed above or below the vowel:
- Acute (´) – high rising (sắc)
- Grave (`) – low falling (huyền)
- Hook above (̉) – dipping‑rising (hỏi)
- Tilde (̃) – creaky rising (ngã)
- Dot below (̣) – heavy falling (nặng)
The unmarked vowel represents the “level” tone (ngang).
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Orthographic rules:
- Tone marks are placed on the vowel bearing the main phonetic weight (usually the first vowel in a diphthong).
- The letter Đ represents a voiced alveolar implosive /ɗ/ distinct from D /z/.
- Orthography reflects native phonology; for example, ng and ngh both represent the velar nasal /ŋ/, while nh represents the palatal nasal /ɲ/.
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Usage: Word boundaries are marked by spaces; punctuation follows conventions similar to those of other Latin‑script languages. The script accommodates regional pronunciation differences but retains a standard spelling system.
Related Topics
- Vietnamese language
- Chữ Quốc ngữ (the formal name of the script)
- Vietnamese phonology and tone system
- Historical scripts: chữ Hán (classical Chinese characters) and chữ Nôm (vernacular logograms)
- Latin alphabet adaptations for other languages
- Romanization of non‑Latin scripts
- French colonial influence on Vietnamese education and administration.