# Thường: frequency words in Vietnamese (A1)

> Words for how often go after the person and before the verb, much as in English "I usually drink coffee": Tôi thường uống cà phê.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/frequency-position/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**frequency words**

Pattern: `[person] + luôn (luôn) / thường / ít khi + [verb] · (Thỉnh thoảng / Đôi khi / Nhiều khi) + [person] + (thỉnh thoảng / đôi khi / nhiều khi) + [verb]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: thuong, luon, thinh thoang

Variants:

- thường xuyên
- thường thường
- đôi khi
- nhiều khi
- hiếm khi
- ít khi
- chẳng mấy khi

Words for how often go after the person and before the verb, much as in English "I usually drink coffee": *Tôi thường uống cà phê.*

From most to least often, the main ones are *luôn* or *luôn luôn* (always), *thường* (usually), *thỉnh thoảng* or *đôi khi* (sometimes), *ít khi* (rarely) and *không bao giờ* (never). *Hay*, the everyday spoken word for "often", sits in the same place: *Tôi hay đi bộ.* In everyday speech, "always" is also very often *lúc nào cũng* before the verb: *Ba tôi lúc nào cũng dậy sớm.* My dad always gets up early.

The sometimes-words are freer. *Thỉnh thoảng*, *đôi khi* and *nhiều khi* (quite often) can also open the sentence: *Thỉnh thoảng em nấu cơm ở nhà.* Sometimes I cook at home.

*Thường xuyên* means "regularly, frequently". It sounds a little more formal, and you'll often see it in writing: *thường xuyên tập thể dục*, exercise regularly. *Hiếm khi* means the same as *ít khi* and is also a little more formal.

After a verb, *luôn* means something else: "right away" (*Làm luôn đi!* Do it now!), and also "too, as well" or "for good" (*Ăn luôn cái này.* Eat this one too. *Nó đi luôn rồi.* He's gone for good.)

## Examples

- Tôi thường uống cà phê sữa đá. — I usually drink iced coffee with milk.
- Thỉnh thoảng em nấu cơm ở nhà. — Sometimes I cook at home.
- Saigon: Ba tôi luôn dậy sớm. | Hà Nội: Bố tôi luôn dậy sớm. — My dad always gets up early.
- Tôi ít khi ăn sáng. — I rarely eat breakfast.

## Words in this pattern

- [luôn](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/luon-always/#s_luon_always): always
- [thỉnh thoảng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/thinh-thoang/#s_thinh_thoang): sometimes
- [thường](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/thuong-usually/#s_thuong_usually): usually

## Compare

- [Often: hay before the verb, and có hay … không?](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hay-often/): often
- [Right away, while you're at it: verb + luôn](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/luon-right-away/): right away; as well; totally

Previous in Time and when things happen: [How long goes after the verb: học hai năm, no 'for'](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duration-after-verb/)
Next in Time and when things happen: [In (a time from now): … nữa](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nua-from-now/)

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