ngã ngửa
[ŋaː˦ˀ˥ ŋɨə˧˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to get extremely surprised, due to the unexpected.
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Near-synonym: hớp hồn
Cả giáo xứ ngã ngửa trước tin vị linh mục ấy vừa qua đời.The entire fellow was astonished by the announcement of the priest's very death.
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 ↗
Common questions
What does “ngã ngửa” mean?
(verb) to get extremely surprised, due to the unexpected.
Is “ngã ngửa” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.