sủa

Vietnamese

Etymology

From Proto-Vietic *k-rɔh (“to bark”). Compare Proto-Katuic *kroh (whence Pacoh crouh) and Proto-Palaungic *-rɔːh.

The word might be originally onomatopoeic, although it is no longer so in its modern form.

The similar-looking Mandarin 說／说 (shuō), which means "to speak", is a false cognate.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [suə˧˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʂuə˧˨] ~ [suə˧˨]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ʂuə˨˩˦] ~ [suə˨˩˦]

Verb

sủa • (𠶂, 𡂡)

1. (of a dog) to bark; to woof; to arf
2. (derogatory) to say; to tell

   Hắn sủa cái gì thế?

   What the fuck is he babbling about?