khum
[xum˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(verb) to crouch, to bend (one's body)
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(adverb) synonym of không (“no; don't”)
Sense 3
Meaning · English
Cutesy “no” — a softened, aegyo-flavored “không”.
Literally: Baby-talk respelling of không (no).
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Softening refusals among friends; deliberately adorable.
Register: informalConnotation: cute, humorousEra: ~2020 – present
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Origin
Mạng xã hội · Vietnamese internet culture
Examples
Đi trà sữa hông? — Khum, đang giữ ví.“Bubble tea?” — “Nuh-uh, guarding my wallet.”
Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Adapted from Vietnamese Wikipedia’s Gen-Z slang list (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30). Era: ~2020 – present.
Common questions
What does “khum” mean?
(verb) to crouch, to bend (one's body)
Is “khum” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.