họ
[hɔ˧˨ʔ]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(noun) family name; surname
Register: formal
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Dân Đông Á dùng họ trước tên sau. Người Tây dùng tên trước họ sau.East Asians have their family names come first. Westerners do the opposite.
Hai Bà Trưng họ gì?
Họ Hai!What was the family name of the Two Ladies Trưng?
Two!
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
(noun) extended family
Register: formal
Sense 3
Register: formal
Sense 4
Meaning · English
(adjective) being a cousin
Register: formal
Examples
anh/chị họa male/female cousin who can be traced back to an ancestor who is/was an elder sibling to yours
em họa cousin who can be traced back to an ancestor who is/was a younger sibling to yours
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions
What does “họ” mean?
(noun) family name; surname
Is “họ” formal or informal?
họ is generally formal.