Definition

1. Noun (Historical):

   • Prince or Princess (child of a king): In the Nguyễn dynasty royal court, "mệ" was a term used to refer to the sons and daughters of the king.

2. Noun (Dialectal):

   • Grandmother: In some Vietnamese dialects, particularly in the Central region, "mệ" is used as a familiar term for one's grandmother.
   • Madam / Mrs.: Used as a respectful or affectionate term for an older woman.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Historical):
  • Các vị mệ trong triều đình nhà Nguyễn có cuộc sống rất khác biệt. (The princes and princesses in the Nguyễn dynasty court lived very distinct lives.)
• Noun (Dialectal):
  • Mệ nội của tôi rất hiền. (My paternal grandmother is very kind.)
  • Mệ ơi, mệ có khỏe không? (Grandma, how are you feeling?)

Advanced Usage

• The historical usage is now obsolete and found only in historical texts or discussions about the Nguyễn dynasty (1802-1945).
• The dialectal usage remains alive in central Vietnamese speech, carrying a tone of deep familiarity and affection, often stronger than the more standard "bà."

Variants and Related Words

• Mệ nội (n): Paternal grandmother.
• Mệ ngoại (n): Maternal grandmother.
• Bà (n): The standard, more common word for grandmother or madam.

Synonyms

• Prince / Princess: royal offspring (for historical context).
• Grandmother: grandma, granny (for dialectal context).
• Madam: a respectful form of address for a woman.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms are directly formed with the word "mệ" itself. Its use is primarily in direct address or reference.