thiêng liêng

Vietnamese

Etymology

Its first element thiêng is non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 聖 (“holy, sacred”, SV: thánh); its other element liêng is likely non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 靈 (“numen > numinous”, SV: linh).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tʰiəŋ˧˧ liəŋ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tʰiəŋ˧˧ liəŋ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tʰiəŋ˧˧ liəŋ˧˧]

Adjective

thiêng liêng

1. spiritual; sacred