# Các anh: plural you / they in Vietnamese (A1)

> To speak to several people at once, put các before the family word you'd use for each one: các anh (you, to men a little older), các chị, các em, các bạn.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cac-plural-you/ · Updated 2026-11-10

**plural you / they**

Pattern: `các + [kinship word] (you all) · các + [kinship word] + ấy (they) · họ (they, distant)`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: cac anh, cac anh ay, ho

Saigon: mấy anh / mấy ảnh; tụi + [word] | Hà Nội: các anh; các anh ấy

To speak to several people at once, put *các* before the family word you'd use for each one: *các anh* (you, to men a little older), *các chị*, *các em*, *các bạn*. For a mixed group, *các anh chị*. In everyday Saigon speech, *mấy* does the same job and sounds warmer: *mấy anh*, *mấy chị*, *mấy em*. *Các* is the careful and written form, and the usual one in Hà Nội. Careful: *mấy* also asks "how many" (*Có mấy anh?* How many of you?), and *mấy người* on its own, "you people", can sound rude.

For "they", add *ấy*: *các anh ấy*, *các chị ấy*. In Saigon you'll mostly hear *mấy ảnh* and *mấy chỉ*. For children, or friends you're close to, Saigon says *tụi*: *tụi nó* (they), *tụi nhỏ* (the kids).

*Họ* also means "they", but it keeps its distance. It fits strangers, people in the news, a company, or any group you aren't part of: *Họ là khách du lịch.* It sounds cold for your own family or for people you're close to, so there you repeat the family word: *ba mẹ em*, *mấy chị*. Don't mix it up with *họ* meaning family name: *họ Nguyễn*, and *họ và tên* (full name) on every form.

## A common mistake

✗ Ba mẹ em ở Đà Lạt. Họ là giáo viên.

✓ Ba mẹ em ở Đà Lạt. Ba mẹ em đều là giáo viên.

*Họ* keeps people at a distance, so it sounds cold for your own family. Repeat the family word instead.

## Examples

- Saigon: Mấy anh ăn gì? | Hà Nội: Các anh ăn gì? — What would you like to eat? (to a group of men)
- Saigon: Các em ơi, vô lớp nha. | Hà Nội: Các em ơi, vào lớp nhé. — Come into class, everyone.
- Saigon: Mấy chỉ đi chợ rồi. | Hà Nội: Các chị ấy đi chợ rồi. — They've gone to the market. (women a bit older than you)
- Saigon: Tụi nó đang chơi ngoài sân. | Hà Nội: Chúng nó đang chơi ngoài sân. — They're playing outside. (about children)
- Họ là khách du lịch. — They're tourists.

## Words in this pattern

- [họ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/ho-they/#s_ho_they): they

## Compare

- [He, she, it: anh ấy, chị ấy, and nó for children and things](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/anh-ay-he/): he / she / it
- [We without you, we with you: chúng tôi, chúng ta](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chung-toi-ta/): we (exclusive / inclusive)
- [People, they (in general): người ta](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nguoi-ta/): one / people

Previous in Talking to and about people: [We without you, we with you: chúng tôi, chúng ta](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chung-toi-ta/)
Next in Talking to and about people: [You and I are family words: anh, chị, em, cô, chú, ba / mẹ and con, thầy / cô and em](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/address-kinship/)

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