Nguyen? What is This Word and How the Heck Do You Pronounce It?

You’ve seen this name before. It’s a family name that’s so popular, there’s no way you haven’t. Go look in your high school yearbook and I guarantee you’ll find someone with this name assuming your high school was even the least bit diverse. Maybe it’s the name of one of your best friends named Kevin. Maybe it was the name of your crush. Or maybe... it’s your name.

And that name is NGUYEN.

In this video, we take a look at the origin of this famous name, why all Vietnamese people have it in common, and most importantly... how the heck do you pronounce it???

[nathantran]

Thank you, as a Vietnamese person I appreciate this video. I'll send it to the people who offend my Vietnamese friends with the last name Nguyen. You got the pronunciation right but it'll sound better if you include the accents.

[OnesummerdayTV]

As a South-Vietnamese I kind of disagree with the pronunciation "win". 🤔
The last girl said it right though (because she is obviously Vietnamese)

[jamie.d.k.]

Dude, I found out the pronunciation of this name by reading the Hey Arnold credits to find out Mr Nguyen’s voice actor.

[DallasKillpack]

I think it depends on the region of Vietnam. My wife is from Southern Vietnam and it's definitely not pronounced like "win." I know people from Northern Vietnam and they also don't pronounce it like that. The "ng" makes an n sound by lowering your soft palate to your tongue. We don't really have that in English besides some words--notably "singer" if your English accent doesn't really pronounce the g. However, you have to start at the n first, which may be hard if you're not used to it. The "y" makes an "ee" sound. In the South the last "n" is pretty much the same as "ng, " but the North usually pronounces an "n" the way English speakers do. You can piece it together to get the "correct" pronunciation. "Win" is just the most acceptable incorrect way to pronounce it--unless you ask a native to really tell you. I appreciate the history, though.

Edit: "u" makes an "oo" sound. You can also consider the end "e" silent, since the "y" makes an "ee" sound already. Also, Vietnamese is a tonal language.. So, even if you pronounce it "correctly" you probably aren't because you aren't using the correct tone, or any tone for that matter. So, it would still be wrong lol.

[youknow]

I love how your videos are funny and informative at the same time

[jayh]

6:21 lol why did I think the lady just dabbed!? 😭🤣 had to rewind it just to make sure💀

[AnRuixuan]

it's pronounced "Nguyen"

[saucon]

First, as a Vietnamese, I'm very interested in how you guys put much effort into making this video. Thank you for being positive and not to blow up any cultural arguments now haha. I just want to fix a tiny detail that is the name of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the "Nguyen" is actually "Nguyên", not "Nguyễn" and it is not a surname. Anyways, I'm happy with the rest of the video and hope the others will find it helpful too ^^

[ChauChannel]

YOOO! The village thing is how my dad's dad got his last name!!!! (Chau)
My mom's maiden name is actually Nguyen btw.

[BleuEri]

I recognize it from my favorite dc anti villian Jade Nguyen.

[minatozakiharuka]

I came here while think ing lisa nguyen the shorts cook . Love her content 💕

[gabbysell]

my boyfriend is from South Vietnam and his last name is Nguyen.. more then likely will be my last name too in the near future.

When we do eventually get married, I'm gonna hate it when people pronounce the name wrong. But, I'll become a Dr. and have the higher hand and make them feel bad when they pronounce it wrong.

Them: "Dr. New-guy-in?"
Me (a white girl): "Dr. Win., you may have a seat."

Also, I love the Chimmy shirt. #ARMY

[detodosmoles]

#1: The American War of Invasion in Vietnam (misnomered the Vietnam War)
#2: The weird spelling comes from Portuguese and French missionaries that developed our phonetic alphabet for us. It's weird -- until you understand the phonetics. The "nh" at the beginning of words like "nhà" for house sounds like "ny" and comes from Portuguese, like "caipirinha" and "piranha".

[samh]

Very impressively surprised of the amount of culture representation through this video. It's so nice to have people researching our culture rather than just only "knowing" the westernized history of my people

[t.n.]

All my life! Thank you for clearing this up for others!

[chelseaharridass]

Tbh I have never in my life met, seen or heard about someone with the name Nguyen before?! But it's pretty cool and unique, I like it .

[mktheabstract]

I learned to pronounce it right from a friend I knew in high school, who was of course named...Kevin Nguyen.

[Seventeenstan]

I have so many classmates with this last name + one of my best friends has this last name so I just wanted to make sure

[noonafromwowstanskz]

2:50 THAT GUY PRONOUNCED IT REALLY WELL

[decidethink]

I remember this name from years ago... of a French actress with a Vietnamese father... France Nuyen (Nguyen originally). Thought I knew how to pronounce it back then. I was wrong.