hả

Meanings

Highlighted words are what Saigon and Hà Nội say differently.

1. checking back

   particle

   Goes at the end of a statement to check something you have just heard, often with a little surprise, like '…, really?'. Casual; with someone older, add their word after it.

   Saigon's everyday word for this; Hà Nội mostly says à: Anh là người Anh à?

   • Saigon

     Mai em đi Đà Lạt hả?

     Hà Nội

     Mai em đi Đà Lạt à?

     You're going to Đà Lạt tomorrow?

   • Saigon

     Cái này hai mươi ngàn hả chị?

     Hà Nội

     Cái này hai mươi nghìn à chị?

     This one's twenty thousand?

   Said everywhere: à.

   A1Saigon onlyGrammar: Double-checking what you just heard: hả / à

2. huh?

   interjection

   huh?, what?

   Blunt on its own. With someone older, Dạ? is the polite way to ask them to say it again.

   • Hả? Anh nói gì?

     Huh? What did you say?

   • Saigon

     Hả? Thiệt hả?

     Hà Nội

     Hả? Thật à?

     What? Really?

   A1casualfamiliar