hẻm
[hɛm˧˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An alley, lane — the Southern word; Northerners say ngõ.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Đường nhỏ trong khu dân cư — từ miền Nam; ngoài Bắc nói ngõ.
Where it’s used:
Used
Miền Nam · Southern Vietnam
Examples
hẻm vựca canyon
Quán cà phê nằm sâu trong hẻm nhỏ.The café sits deep inside a little alley.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31)
Equivalents & related
Common questions
What does “hẻm” mean?
An alley, lane — the Southern word; Northerners say ngõ.
Is “hẻm” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“ngõ” (Tiếng Việt) — same meaning · other region.