Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Drawling, Slurring: Describes a voice or manner of speaking that is slow, prolonged, indistinct, and often nasal or hoarse, typically due to tiredness, drunkenness, or whining. It conveys a sense of being irritating or unpleasant to hear.
   • Whining, Sniveling: Can describe the act of crying or complaining in a continuous, feeble, and annoying way.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sau ba cốc bia, anh ta bắt đầu nói giọng lè nhè. (After three beers, he started speaking in a slurred voice.)
  • Đứa trẻ mệt mỏi khóc lè nhè đòi mẹ. (The tired child whined and sniveled for its mother.)
  • Đừng có lè nhè ở đây, hãy nói rõ ràng đi! (Stop mumbling/drawling here, speak clearly!)

Advanced Usage

• The word "lè nhè" is often used in a disapproving or critical tone to express annoyance at the speaker's voice or behavior. It is strongly associated with lack of clarity and self-control.
• It can function informally as a verb phrase "nói lè nhè" (to speak in a drawling/slurring manner) or "khóc lè nhè" (to whine, to snivel).

Variants and Related Words

• Lè bè (adj): Has a similar meaning, often describing a messy, disorderly, or sloppy state, but can also overlap with "lè nhè" in describing incoherent speech.
• Rè rè (adj): Describes a hoarse, raspy, or croaking voice.

Synonyms

• Slurred: Spoken indistinctly (often due to alcohol).
• Drawling: Speaking slowly with prolonged vowel sounds.
• Whining: Complaining in a feeble or annoying way.
• Sniveling: Crying or complaining in a sniffly, whining manner.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Nói cà lè nhè: A common extended phrase meaning to speak in a very slow, dragging, and unclear manner.
  • Ông ấy say quá, nói cà lè nhè cả tiếng đồng hồ. (He was so drunk, he slurred his words for a whole hour.)

adj

1. to be drawling
   • giọng lè nhè
     drawling voice