lả
[laː˧˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(adjective) up and down at varying heights, gracefully gliding and swaying
Examples
Cánh cò bay lả trên sông.Stork flying gracefully above the river.
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 droop
Examples
Hàng cây lả ngọn.The line of trees whose top are drooping.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(verb) to be so exhausted that your body feels completely limp and you can't do anything anymore
Examples
Mệt lả người.To be exhausted.
Đói lả.To be exhausted from hunger.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sense 4
Meaning · English
(noun) Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh form of lửa
Where it’s used:
Used
Miền Trung · Central Vietnam
• Wiktionary labels this sense “Hà Tĩnh”
Common questions
What does “lả” mean?
(adjective) up and down at varying heights, gracefully gliding and swaying
Is “lả” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.