ao
[ʔaːw˧˧]
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(noun) pond
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Nguyễn Khuyến, "Thu điếu (Autumn Fishing)"
Ao thu lạnh lẽo; nuớc trong veo;
Một chiếc thuyền câu bé tẻo teo;
The cold autumn pond; the clear water;
A tiny, itsy-bitsy, fishing boat;
Ao cũ, con ếch nhảy vào, vang tiếng nước xao.The old pond; A frog jumps in — The sound of the water.
Nhà tôi có một cái ao nhỏ.My house has a small pond.
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 ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(verb) to measure roughly, to measure approximately
Common questions
What does “ao” mean?
(noun) pond
Is “ao” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.