ăn lót dạ
[ʔan˧˧ lɔt̚˧˦ zaː˧˨ʔ]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to have a light snack or meal to stave off hunger before a main meal
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Mẹ bảo tôi ăn lót dạ bát cháo rồi hãy đi học.My mother told me to have a bowl of porridge as a light snack before going to school.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “ăn lót dạ” mean?
(verb) to have a light snack or meal to stave off hunger before a main meal
Is “ăn lót dạ” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.