# Các: plural, the whole set in Vietnamese (A1)

> A Vietnamese noun doesn't change for the plural: sinh viên is one student or many, and usually the situation makes it clear.

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

**plural, the whole set**

Pattern: `các + [noun]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: cac

A Vietnamese noun doesn't change for the plural: *sinh viên* is one student or many, and usually the situation makes it clear. When you want to point to a whole group you both know about, put *các* in front: *các sinh viên* (the students, all of them), *các món ở đây* (the dishes here).

That's how *các* differs from *những*, which picks out some members of a group, usually with a description: *những sinh viên giỏi* (the students who do well). A sentence with *các* often adds *đều* (all) before the verb: *Các phòng đều có máy lạnh.*

For things in general, leave *các* out: "I like dogs" is simply *Tôi thích chó*. After a number there's no *các* either, because the number already shows how many: *ba sinh viên*.

You'll see *các* on signs and in writing, and hear it when someone speaks to a group: *các bạn*, *các em*. In relaxed Saigon speech, *mấy* often takes its place: *mấy bạn*, *mấy cái này* (these ones).

## A common mistake

✗ Tôi có các ba con mèo.

✓ Tôi có ba con mèo.

After a number, leave *các* out: the number already says how many.

## Examples

- Saigon: Các bạn ơi, đi ăn nha! | Hà Nội: Các bạn ơi, đi ăn nhé! — Hey everyone, let's go and eat!
- Các món ở đây đều ngon. — All the dishes here are good.
- Các bạn trong lớp em rất dễ thương. — My classmates are really nice.
- Saigon: Các phòng đều có máy lạnh. | Hà Nội: Các phòng đều có điều hòa. — All the rooms have air conditioning.

## Words in this pattern

- [các](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/cac-more-than-one/#s_cac_more_than_one): more than one
- [mấy](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/may-how-many/#s_may_more_than_one): more than one
- [tụi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/tui-group-of-people/#s_tui_group_of_people): group of people

## Compare

- [Some of them (plural): những](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nhung-plural/): plural, a subset
- [No những / các after a number, no plural word when the context shows it: ba con chó](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bare-noun-plural/): no plural marking
- [You all, they: các anh, các chị ấy, họ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cac-plural-you/): plural you / they

Previous in Things, counting and numbers: [All alike, both: đều before the verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/deu-all/)
Next in Things, counting and numbers: [Big numbers: trăm, ngàn / nghìn, triệu, tỷ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/big-numbers/)

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