"To wear" - "to put on" in Vietnamese
In Vietnamese, the word for “to wear” changes depending on what you’re putting on. Unlike English, there is no single verb - each clothing type has its own word.
The 7 Vietnamese words for "to wear"
| Word | Used for | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| mặc | Tops, bottoms, dresses, coats - clothing worn on the body | Anh ấy mặc áo trắng. - He wears a white shirt. |
| đội | Hats, helmets, caps, wigs - anything worn on the head | Cô ấy đội mũ len. - She wears a beanie. |
| đeo | Glasses, jewellery, watches, masks, bags - accessories attached to the body | Tôi đeo kính. - I wear glasses. |
| đi | Gloves, shoes, sandals, socks - hand and footwear | Em bé đi giày đỏ. - The child wears red shoes. |
| thắt | Ties, bows tied around the neck | Anh ấy thắt cà vạt đen. - He wears a black tie. |
| quàng | Scarves draped loosely around the neck or shoulders | Cô ấy quàng khăn. - She wears a scarf. |
| mang | Can be equivalent to đội, đeo, đi, or mặc - used in certain regions and/or situations |
Common mistake: Many learners use mặc for everything - but saying mặc kính (glasses) sounds unnatural to native speakers. Use đeo kính instead.
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