# cái gì meaning in Vietnamese: what (A1)

> cái gì means “what” in Vietnamese. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/cai-gi/ · Updated 2026-10-18

**cái gì**: what

Level: A1 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: cai gi

## 1. what (question word)

Asks about a thing. On its own, *Cái gì?* is an abrupt 'What?'; to someone older, say *Dạ?*

- Saigon: Đây là cái gì vậy? | Hà Nội: Đây là cái gì thế? — What's this?
- Em muốn ăn cái gì? — What do you want to eat?

Grammar: [What? gì after the verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/gi-what/)

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