# ốm meaning in Vietnamese: ill (A2)

> ốm means “ill, sick” in Vietnamese. It can also mean thin. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/om-ill/ · Updated 2026-10-31

**ốm**: ill · thin

Level: A2 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: om

## 1. ill (adjective)

ill, sick

Northern. In Saigon *ốm* means thin, and ill is *bệnh*.

- Hôm nay tôi bị ốm. — I'm sick today.
- Con ốm à? Uống thuốc chưa? — Are you sick? Have you taken your medicine?

In Saigon you say [bệnh](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/benh-illness/#lx_benh).

Level: A2 · Hà Nội only · to recognize

## 2. thin (adjective)

thin, skinny

A false friend: in Hà Nội *ốm* means ill, and thin is *gầy*.

- Saigon: Dạo này em ốm quá. | Hà Nội: Dạo này em gầy quá. — You've gotten so thin lately.
- Saigon: Anh ấy cao và ốm. | Hà Nội: Anh ấy cao và gầy. — He's tall and thin.

In Hà Nội you say [gầy](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/gay-thin/#s_gay_thin).

Level: A2 · Saigon only

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