mãng xà

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 蟒蛇, composed of 蟒 (“python”) and 蛇 (“snake”). The mythological sense is probably a Vietnamese innovation.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [maːŋ˦ˀ˥ saː˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [maːŋ˧˨ saː˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [maːŋ˨˩˦ saː˨˩]

Noun

(classifier con) mãng xà

1. a large python
2. a kind of giant, monstrous, wicked snake or serpent in Vietnamese folklore

See also

• chằn tinh
• xà tinh