trộm vía
Vietnamese
Etymology
From trộm (“to steal”) + vía (“po”). Perhaps used as a superstitious precaution against potential damage to a child's weak po, or an evil spirit that might take something good away from them if you don't compliment it properly.
Pronunciation
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [t͡ɕom˧˨ʔ viə˧˦]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [ʈom˨˩ʔ viə˨˩˦]
- (Saigon) IPA(key): [ʈom˨˩˨ viə˦˥] ~ [ʈom˨˩˨ jiə˦˥]
Interjection
- (Northern Vietnam) used before complimenting an infant
- Trộm vía, cháu bé bụ bẫm quá!
- Oh my! What a chubby baby you've got there!