# cả meaning in Vietnamese: the whole (A1)

> cả means “the whole, all” in Vietnamese. It can also mean at all, even, eldest, both. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/ca-all/ · Updated 2026-10-31

**cả**: all · at all · even · eldest · both

Level: A1 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: ca

## 1. all (adjective)

the whole, all

Before a group or a stretch of time: *cả nhà*, the whole family; *cả ngày*, all day. Unlike *tất cả*, it can't stand alone.

- Hôm qua em ngủ cả ngày. — I slept all day yesterday.
- Cả nhà đi Vũng Tàu chơi. — The whole family went on a trip to Vũng Tàu.

Level: A2

Grammar: [The whole, all of: cả](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/ca-whole/)

## 2. at all (adverb)

At the end of a negative sentence: *không … gì cả*. In Saigon, *hết* is more usual.

- Tôi không hiểu gì cả. — I don't understand anything at all.
- Hôm nay không có ai cả. — There's nobody here at all today.

In Saigon you say [hết](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/het-run-out/#s_het_at_all).

Level: A1 · to recognize

## 3. even (adverb)

Usually with *cũng* later in the sentence: *Cả em cũng biết.* Even I know.

- Saigon: Cả ba em cũng thích món này. | Hà Nội: Cả bố em cũng thích món này. — Even my dad likes this dish.
- Cả trẻ em cũng biết. — Even children know that.

Level: A2

## 4. eldest (adjective)

Northern: *anh cả*, *con cả*. In Saigon the eldest child is called *Hai*: *anh Hai*, *chị Hai*.

- Anh cả tôi ở Hà Nội. — My eldest brother lives in Hà Nội.
- Chị ấy là con cả. — She's the eldest child.

Level: A2 · Hà Nội only · to recognize

## 5. both (conjunction)

both … and

As *cả … lẫn …* or *cả … và …*, often with *đều* before the verb.

- Em thích cả phở lẫn bún. — I like both phở and bún.
- Saigon: Cả ba lẫn mẹ đều đi làm. | Hà Nội: Cả bố lẫn mẹ đều đi làm. — Both Dad and Mom work.

Level: A2

Previous: [bưu điện](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/buu-dien/)
Next: [cá](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/ca-fish/)

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