Vietnamese Tones

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Contents 1 Usage 1.1 Unmarked 1.2 Dot Below 1.3 Tilde 1.4 Acute Accent 1.5 Grave Accent 1.6 Hook 2 Other Symbols 2.1 Horn

[edit] Usage

Vietnamese vowels can take any of six tones (pitches). In writing, these are indicated by markers are placed on vowels.

[edit] Unmarked

Unmarked vowels are pronounced with a level voice, in the middle of the speaking range.
Examples: A, O

[edit] Dot Below

The dot signifies that the speaker should start low and fall lower in tone.
Examples: Ọ, Ụ

[edit] Tilde

A tilde indicates that the speaker should start high, then dip and rise like a question in tone.
Examples: Ã, Õ

[edit] Acute Accent

The acute accent indicates that the speaker should start high and rise sharply in tone.
Examples: É, Í

[edit] Grave Accent

The grave accent indicates that the speaker should start somewhat low and drop slightly in tone.
Examples: Ù, Ò

[edit] Hook

The hook indicates that the speaker should start somewhat low, and fall, then rise, as in a question.
Examples: Ủ, Ả

[edit] Other Symbols

[edit] Horn

The horn is attached to the vowels O and U occasionally, which indicates a following R sound.
Examples: Ở, Ữ
Note that these letters also have accents on them. This is not always so.