# tàu meaning in Vietnamese: train (A2)

> tàu means “train” in Vietnamese. It can also mean boat. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/tau-train/ · Updated 2026-10-31

**tàu**: train · boat

Level: A2 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: tau

## 1. train (noun)

Saigon speech often calls a train *xe lửa*.

- Tàu chạy lúc mấy giờ? — What time does the train leave?
- Tui đi tàu ra Nha Trang. — I'm taking the train to Nha Trang.

Level: A2

## 2. boat (noun)

boat, ship

Any large boat, from a ferry to a ship; in full, *tàu thủy*. A small boat is *thuyền*, or in the South *ghe*.

- Saigon: Tụi mình đi tàu ra đảo nha. | Hà Nội: Bọn mình đi tàu ra đảo nhé. — Let's take the boat out to the island.
- Saigon: Ba tui làm trên tàu cá. | Hà Nội: Bố tôi làm trên tàu cá. — My dad works on a fishing boat.

Level: A2

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Next: [tàu hỏa](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/tau-hoa/)

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