# mấy meaning in Vietnamese: how many (A1)

> mấy means “how many” in Vietnamese. It can also mean which number, a few, more than one. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/may-how-many/ · Updated 2026-10-31

**mấy**: how many · which number · a few · more than one

Level: A1 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: may

## 1. how many (question word)

When you expect a small number: *mấy người?*, how many people? For bigger numbers, *bao nhiêu*.

- Nhà em có mấy người? — How many people are in your family?
- Chị muốn mua mấy cái? — How many would you like to buy?

Level: A1

## 2. which number (question word)

which number, what number

After a noun: *phòng mấy?*, which room?

- Mấy giờ rồi? — What time is it?
- Hôm nay thứ mấy? — What day is it today?

Level: A1

## 3. a few (quantifier)

Without a question, *mấy* + noun means a few: *mấy ngày* (a few days).

- Tui ở Đà Lạt mấy ngày. — I stayed in Đà Lạt for a few days.
- Saigon: Chờ em mấy phút nha. | Hà Nội: Đợi em mấy phút nhé. — Give me a few minutes.

Level: A1

Grammar: [A few: vài / mấy + classifier + noun](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/vai-few/)

## 4. more than one (quantifier)

In Saigon speech, *mấy* before a noun often just marks a group you both know, as *các* does: *mấy bạn* (you guys), *mấy cái này* (these ones).

- Saigon: Mấy bạn ơi, ăn cơm nha! | Hà Nội: Các bạn ơi, ăn cơm nhé! — Hey everyone, food's ready!
- Saigon: Mấy cái này bao nhiêu vậy chị? | Hà Nội: Mấy cái này bao nhiêu thế chị? — How much are these?

Said everywhere: [các](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/cac-more-than-one/#s_cac_more_than_one).

Level: A1 · Saigon only

Grammar: [All of them (plural): các](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cac-plural/)

Previous: [mất](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/mat-take/)
Next: [mấy giờ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/may-gio/)

---

Add to Vietnamese Buddy: https://app.vietnamesebuddy.com/waitlist?source=word%3Aw_may_how_many
In the app, any word you meet while reading can go into your lexicon with its audio, ready to study with flashcards and spaced repetition.