Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Speaking with a lisp or in a faltering, unclear manner: Describes the way of speaking of someone who has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, especially sibilants like "s" and "z," or who speaks in a hesitant, mumbling, or childish way.
   • Childish or babylike speech: Can refer to the cute, imperfect pronunciation typical of young children who are learning to talk.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa bé mới tập nói nên còn ngọng nghịu. (The child is just learning to speak, so he still lisps / speaks in a babylike way.)
  • Anh ấy nói hơi ngọng nghịu khi phát âm chữ "s". (He speaks with a slight lisp when pronouncing the letter "s".)
  • Giọng nói ngọng nghịu của em bé nghe thật đáng yêu. (The baby's lisping voice sounds really adorable.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe imperfect articulation beyond a clinical lisp: Can describe any unclear, mumbling, or hesitant speech, not necessarily a permanent speech impediment.
  • Cô ấy trả lời ngọng nghịu vì quá xúc động. (She answered falteringly because she was too emotional.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngọng (adj): The more common, shorter form meaning "to have a lisp" or "to speak unclearly." "Ngọng nghịu" often carries a more descriptive or slightly more emphatic nuance.
• Nói ngọng (verb phrase): To speak with a lisp.
  • Cậu bé ấy nói ngọng. (That boy speaks with a lisp.)

Synonyms

• Lắp bắp (adj/adv): To stammer, to stutter (often due to nervousness or emotion, focusing on repetition and breaks rather than specific sound distortion).
• Ụt ịt (adj/adv): To mumble, to speak in a low, unclear voice (focusing on low volume and lack of clarity).

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Nói ngọng nghịu như trẻ lên ba: To speak as falteringly as a three-year-old child. (An idiom emphasizing very childish or unclear speech.)
  • Sau cú sốc, ông ấy nói ngọng nghịu như trẻ lên ba. (After the shock, he spoke as falteringly as a toddler.)

1. Lisp