hải ngoại

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 海外, literally “outside the sea”.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [haːj˧˩ ŋwaːj˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [haːj˧˨ ŋwaːj˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [haːj˨˩˦ ŋwaːj˨˩˨]

Noun

hải ngoại

1. overseas; abroad
2. (by extension, collective) diaspora; expatriates

   kiều bào Việt Nam ở hải ngoại

   Vietnamese nationals who reside overseas

Usage notes

This is a more literal translation of English overseas. For something more generic, like English foreign or abroad, use nước ngoài or ngoại quốc instead.