kẻ cả
Vietnamese edit
Etymology edit
kẻ (“person”) + cả (“firstborn; most senior among siblings or wives of the family”)
Pronunciation edit
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [kɛ˧˩ kaː˧˩]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [kɛ˧˨ kaː˧˨]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [kɛ˨˩˦ kaː˨˩˦]
Noun edit
- (dated) an elder; senior
- (figurative) a big shot; VIP; boss
- (derogatory, figurative) a condescending person; self-important person
Adjective edit
- (derogatory, by extension) condescending; self-important
- lên giọng kẻ cả ― to raise a condescending voice