"Crush" in Vietnamese: how the English word moved in

Yes, Vietnamese speakers say "crush," borrowed straight from English, especially younger people online and in texts. It works as a noun ("my crush") and as a verb ("to have a crush on"), and native phrases such as cảm nắng and thầm thương trộm nhớ sit right next to it.

How "crush" works in a Vietnamese sentence

Vietnamese words don't change form, so "crush" drops into a sentence without any extra endings. The grammar around it does the work.

• Crush của mình (crush KOO-uh meeng): "my crush." Của means "of" or "belonging to."
• Mình crush anh ấy (meeng crush ahn AY): "I have a crush on him." Here crush is used as a verb.
• Bạn có crush ai không? (bahn kaw crush ai khong): "Do you have a crush on anyone?"
• Crush đã đọc tin nhắn: "My crush read my message." People often use "crush" with no possessive at all, almost like a name.

Pronunciation stays close to English, though some speakers soften the final sound. You don't need to copy that; the English sound is understood.

Why the English word moved in

Vietnamese has borrowed plenty of words over the centuries, from Chinese and French and, more recently, from English. Words like "crush," "chill" and "flex" spread through social media, music and school slang, where English feels casual and a little playful.

"Crush" also fills a handy gap. It's short, and it names the person and the feeling at once. It sounds lighter than a native word for love, too. Saying "crush" in Vietnamese keeps things low-stakes: it's a fun admission, not a confession.

Native ways to say you have a crush

If you want to sound less online, or you're talking with older people, these native options are useful.

• Cảm nắng (gahm NAHNG): literally "to get sunstroke." It's a playful way to say you've suddenly fallen for someone, as if dazzled by the sun. "Mình bị cảm nắng rồi" means "I've got a crush."
• Thích (tik): "to like." Simple and clear. "Mình thích bạn ấy" is "I like them."
• Thầm thương trộm nhớ (thum thuhng chome nyuh): a set phrase meaning to secretly love and secretly miss someone. It sounds a bit poetic and is often said with a smile.
• Phải lòng (fai long): "to fall for." It's a little old-fashioned and storybook in tone.
• Để ý (deh ee): "to notice" or "pay attention to." In dating talk it can mean you've got your eye on someone.

Each of these has a slightly different feel. Cảm nắng is cute and sudden. Thầm thương trộm nhớ is quiet and long-lasting. Thích is the everyday, all-purpose word.

Crush, ny and other dating words

Once there's a crush, other slang follows. In texting, ny is short for người yêu, "boyfriend" or "girlfriend." For the full list of shortcuts, see Vietnamese texting abbreviations and the guide to ny and người yêu.

You'll also see thả thính, "to drop bait," which means flirting by dropping hints. Someone might thả thính their crush with a photo caption or a vague post. There's a separate guide to thả thính if you want the details.

Who says "crush," and when?

"Crush" is common among teens, students and young adults, and it shows up all over social media captions, comment sections and memes. It's casual, so it fits texts with friends better than formal writing.

Older relatives may understand it, especially if they've heard younger people use it, but they might reach for thích or để ý instead. If you're unsure, use thích. Everyone understands it, and it never sounds out of place.

A few example sentences

• Hôm nay gặp crush, run quá! "Saw my crush today, I was so nervous!"
• Crush không rep tin nhắn. "My crush didn't reply." Rep is another casual borrowing, from "reply."
• Đừng trêu, mình chỉ cảm nắng thôi. "Don't tease me, it's just a little crush."

Notice how easily English and Vietnamese mix in the first two. That mix is normal in casual Vietnamese today, and you'll hear it in plenty of everyday chat between younger speakers.

A quick note on tone

Talking about a crush is usually lighthearted. Friends tease each other about it, often with words like ghẹo or trêu (to tease). If you're learning Vietnamese, using "crush" in a sentence is an easy, friendly way to join that kind of chat without needing perfect tones, because the key word is one you already know.

It's also a nice reminder that learning Vietnamese slang isn't only about memorizing new words. Sometimes it's about noticing which English words have moved in, and how they behave once they get there.

Try "Bạn có crush ai không?" with a Vietnamese-speaking friend; it's a simple question that usually gets a laugh and a story.