ngã

See also: nga, NGA, Nga, ngà, and ngả

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

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

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

ngã • (我)

1. to fall (due to lack of balance)

   Synonyms: té, bổ

   thanh ngã

   the tone as in the word ngã

   ngã gục

   to collapse

   gục ngã

   to fall from grace

   sa ngã

   to descend into depravity or decadence

   ngã ngửa

   to fall with one's back against the ground

Noun

ngã

1. (linguistics) Short for thanh ngã.

Etymology 2

From Proto-Mon-Khmer *d₁ngah (“crossroads”).

Noun

ngã

1. (almost always in compounds with an integer greater than 2) an intersection

   ngã ba ― a three-way intersection; a fork

   ngã tư ― a crossroads

Usage notes

• The number attached is the number of exits, not the number of streets crossed. Therefore a crossroads is called ngã tư because it has four exits.
• Not to be confused with ngả (“way”).