"Ừ", "ờ" and "ok": casual ways to say yes in Vietnamese

Ừ (roughly "uh," with a low falling tone) is the casual way to say "yes" in Vietnamese, used with friends, family members your age and people younger than you. Ờ is similar but often sounds like "oh, yeah" or "oh, okay," and ok is used widely, especially by younger people.

These are friendly and natural, but they're too casual for elders. Here's how each one works.

Ừ: the casual yes

Ừ is a quick, simple "yeah." You'll hear it:

• Between friends: "Đi ăn không?" "Ừ, đi!" ("Want to go eat?" "Yeah, let's go!")
• From parents and older people to younger ones: "Con đi học nhé." "Ừ, đi cẩn thận." ("I'm off to school." "Okay, be careful.")
• As "I hear you": a short ừ while someone's talking shows you're listening.

Pronunciation: The "ư" vowel doesn't exist in English. Try saying "oo" while keeping your lips spread, as if smiling. The huyền tone makes it fall gently, so it sounds relaxed.

In the South, you'll also hear ừa or ừ ha, which feel softer and more conversational. Usage varies by speaker.

Ờ: oh, yeah

Ờ (sounds like "uh," but with the mouth more open, falling tone) overlaps with ừ, but it often carries a sense of realizing or remembering:

• "Ờ, đúng rồi!" Oh, right!
• "Ờ, quên mất." Oh, I forgot.
• "Ờ... chắc vậy." Uh... I guess so.

Depending on tone, ờ can sound thoughtful, hesitant or a bit dismissive. A long, flat "ờờờ" can come across as "yeah, whatever." Usage varies a lot by region and person, so listen to how people around you use it.

Ok, oke and other borrowed yeses

English "ok" is extremely common in Vietnamese, especially among younger speakers and in messages. You may see it written as ok, oke or okê. Some people use playful versions as well, but these change quickly with trends.

• "Mai 7 giờ nhé?" "Ok!" "Tomorrow at 7?" "Okay!"
• "Oke luôn." Sure thing, deal.

Luôn adds a "right away" or "totally" feel.

Other casual yeses

• Được. Okay, can do. Literally "can" or "possible."
• Được thôi. Sure, fine.
• Đúng rồi. That's right.
• Ừm. Hmm, yeah. A soft, closed-mouth yes, often while thinking.
• Chuẩn. Exactly, spot on. Slangy, popular with young people.

How do people text these?

In casual messages, you'll often see shortcuts:

• uk or uh for ừ
• ok, oke or okela
• dc or đc for được

Texting styles change fast, and not everyone uses every shortcut. There's more on this in our upcoming guide to Vietnamese texting abbreviations.

When does a casual yes sound rude?

Saying ừ or ờ to someone older than you, like a parent, teacher, boss or older stranger, can sound disrespectful. With elders, use the polite yes instead:

• Dạ (South and everywhere)
• Vâng or dạ vâng (North)

Even among peers, a flat, one-word "ờ" when someone tells you something important can seem dismissive. Adding a softener helps: "Ừ, được nha!" or "Ờ, hay đó!" (Oh, that's cool!)

See dạ and vâng: the polite yes for the respectful versions.

Who says ừ to whom?

A simple way to think about it:

• Older person → younger person: ừ is normal and friendly.
• Peers and friends: ừ, ờ and ok are all fine.
• Younger person → older person: use dạ or vâng, not ừ.

That's why parents and grandparents often answer with ừ, while their children answer with dạ.

In cartoons and comedy

Short, casual responses are great for comedy because the tone does the work. A drawn-out "Ờờờ..." can mean "I'm not convinced," and an instant "Ừ!" can sound overly eager. In Duma Meow, a lot of the comedy comes from short lines like this, such as the dance skit where one cat says "Nhảy đi!" (Dance!) and another answers "...Không." (...No.)

Quick guide

• Casual yes to friends: Ừ or Ok
• Oh, right: Ờ, đúng rồi
• Can do: Được
• Polite yes to elders: Dạ or Vâng

For tone examples in a cartoon setting, see the ham chơi voice test.

Listen for ừ and dạ in the same conversation next time you watch Vietnamese video, and you'll start noticing who is older without anyone saying it.