The Vietnamese alphabet does not include the letters F, J, W, and Z.
The Vietnamese alphabet is known for its unique characters and pronunciation. It consists of 29 letters excluding the letters F, J, W, and Z. These letters were not originally part of the Vietnamese script, but have been borrowed for the purpose of writing foreign loanwords, names, and technical terms.
Here are some interesting facts about the absence of these letters in the Vietnamese alphabet:
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Letters F, J, W, and Z are not present in native Vietnamese words: This absence is due to the historical development of the language and its writing system. Vietnamese primarily uses diacritics on vowels to indicate tones, and the alphabet was designed to fit this structure.
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Adaptation of foreign loanwords: When Vietnamese encounters foreign words or names containing the letters F, J, W, or Z, they are typically adapted to fit the Vietnamese phonetic system. For example, the name “John” becomes “Giô-ôn” and “pizza” becomes “bít-za.”
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Guidelines for usage: The Ministry of Education and Training in Vietnam provides guidelines for the use of these borrowed letters, ensuring consistency in their application. This helps in maintaining the integrity and pronunciation of foreign words while incorporating them into the Vietnamese language.
A well-known resource, Omniglot, states, “Vietnamese uses the Latin script with a few additional diacritics to indicate tones and certain vowel sounds. The alphabet does not include the letters F, J, W, and Z, which are often used to write foreign loanwords and names.”
To further illustrate the absence of these letters, here is a table showcasing the 29 letters of the Vietnamese alphabet:
| 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 |
This table emphasizes the absence of the letters F, J, W, and Z in the Vietnamese alphabet, highlighting the specific characters that make up the script.
In conclusion, the Vietnamese alphabet does not include the letters F, J, W, and Z. Despite their absence, this unique writing system effectively incorporates foreign words and names, adapting them to fit the phonetic structure of the Vietnamese language.
See the answer to “What letters are not in the Vietnamese alphabet?” in this video
The video “Why Vietnamese people don’t know their own alphabet” explores the confusion surrounding the names of letters in the Vietnamese alphabet. The historical background of the Vietnamese writing system and the adoption of French-influenced names are discussed. The video points out that many Vietnamese people rely more on the letter sounds rather than the actual names, leading to a hybrid version of referring to letters by their sound or name. The confusion is not limited to the general population but also extends to educators. The difficulty in smoothly reciting the alphabet is emphasized, and viewers are encouraged to try it themselves.
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The Vietnamese alphabet does not contain the letters F (ép, ép-phờ), J (gi), W (u kép meaning "double u", vê kép, vê đúp meaning "double v") or Z (giét). However, these letters are often used for foreign loanwords (even partially adapted ones: flo ‘fluorine’, jun ‘joule’, bazơ ‘base’) or may be kept for foreign names.
The Vietnamese alphabet does not contain the letters F (ép, ép-phờ), J (gi), W (u kép meaning "double u", vê kép, vê đúp meaning "double v") or Z (giét). However, these letters are often used for foreign loanwords (even partially adapted ones: flo ‘fluorine’, jun ‘joule’, bazơ ‘base’) or may be kept for foreign names.
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What letters are in the Vietnamese alphabet?
Response: 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. How many letters are there? It’s 26 (size of the English alphabet) – 4 (f, j, w, z) + 1 (đ) + 6 (the “variations” in the above table) = 29 letters!
What is the letter D in Vietnamese?
Answer: Đ is the seventh letter of the Vietnamese alphabet, after D and before E. Traditionally, digraphs and trigraphs like CH and NGH were considered letters as well, making Đ the eighth letter.
Does Vietnamese use French alphabet?
As a response to this: Yes, Vietnamese uses the Latin alphabet. Originally, the Vietnamese used Chinese characters to write their language. However, after Vietnam became a French colony, the colonial administration promoted the use of the Latin alphabet. Even after the French left Vietnam, the country continues to use the Latin alphabet.
Does Vietnamese use Chinese letters?
Answer: Terminology. Chữ Nôm is the logographic writing system of the Vietnamese language. It is based on the Chinese writing system but adds a large number of new characters to make it fit the Vietnamese language. In earlier times it was also called Chữ Nam ( 𡨸南, ‘Southern characters’) or Quốc Âm (國音, ‘National sound’).