# la meaning in Vietnamese: to scold (A2)

> la means “to scold, to tell off” in Vietnamese. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/la-scold/ · Updated 2026-10-31

**la**: scold

Level: A2 (our estimate)

## 1. scold (verb)

to scold, to tell off, to yell at

Saigon's everyday word; Hà Nội says *mắng*. *Bị la* is getting told off.

- Saigon: Về trễ là bị má la đó. | Hà Nội: Về muộn là bị mẹ mắng đấy. — If I'm home late, Mom will tell me off.
- Saigon: Sao anh la em? | Hà Nội: Sao anh mắng em? — Why are you yelling at me?

In Hà Nội you say [mắng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/mang-scold/#s_mang_scold).

Saigon only

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