xe ôm

Vietnamese

Xe ôm.

Etymology

xe (“vehicle”) +‎ ôm (“to hug; to embrace”), supposedly called so because you would hug the rider so you won't fall.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [sɛ˧˧ ʔom˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [sɛ˧˧ ʔom˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [sɛ˧˧ ʔom˧˧]

Noun

xe ôm

1. (chiefly Northern Vietnam, vehicles) a motorcycle taxi

   Synonym: xe thồ