# bảo meaning in Vietnamese: to tell (A2)

> bảo means “to tell, to say” in Vietnamese. Examples with audio.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/bao-tell/ · Updated 2026-10-31

**bảo**: tell

Level: A2 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: bao

## 1. tell (verb)

to tell, to say

Hà Nội's everyday word, and the usual one in writing; in Saigon people say *kêu*. The person comes straight after it: *bảo con đi ngủ*.

- Mẹ bảo con đi ngủ sớm. — Mom told me to go to bed early.
- Anh ấy bảo là mai trời mưa. — He says it's going to rain tomorrow.

In Saigon you say [kêu](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/keu-order/#s_keu_tell).

to recognize

Grammar: [Telling, making, asking someone to: kêu / bảo, bắt, nhờ + person + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/causative-bao-bat/)

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