té giếng

Vietnamese

Etymology

té (“to fall”) +‎ giếng (“well”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tɛ˧˦ ziəŋ˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tɛ˨˩˦ jiəŋ˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [tɛ˦˥ jiəŋ˦˥]

Verb

té giếng

1. (literal) to fall down a well
2. (Southern Vietnam, figurative, slang) to have hit your head

   Mày té giếng à !?

   Did you friggin' hit your head or somp'n?

See also

• ngã cây