Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a lisp; speaking with a speech impediment: Refers to a person who has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds correctly, often substituting one sound for another (e.g., saying "th" for "s").
   • (Colloquial) Stupid, dull, incapable: Used informally to describe someone who is perceived as foolish, slow-witted, or incompetent.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Lisp):
  • Cậu bé ấy hơi ngọng, nên phát âm chữ "l" và "n" khó khăn. (That boy has a slight lisp, so he has difficulty pronouncing the sounds "l" and "n".)
• Adjective (Stupid/Colloquial):
  • Đừng có ngọng thế, bài toán đơn giản vậy mà không làm được. (Don't be so stupid/dense; you can't even solve such a simple math problem.)
  • Nó không ngọng đến thế đâu nhé. (He is not so stupid/incapable, you know.)

Advanced Usage

• The colloquial meaning of "stupid" is strong and often derogatory. It implies a lack of basic intelligence or common sense.
• The phrase "ngọng miệng" (literally "mouth-lisped") is an idiom meaning to be tongue-tied or unable to speak, often due to surprise, guilt, or confusion.
  • Bị bắt quả tang, nó đứng ngọng miệng không nói được câu nào. (Caught red-handed, he stood there tongue-tied, unable to say a word.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nói ngọng (Verb Phrase): To speak with a lisp; to mispronounce words.
  • Đứa trẻ tập nói đôi khi còn nói ngọng. (A child learning to speak sometimes still lisps.)

Synonyms

• For "lisp": speech impediment, speech defect.
• For "stupid" (colloquial): dull, foolish, dim-witted, incompetent.

Related Idioms

• Ăn xôi chùa ngọng miệng: Literally "to eat temple sticky rice and get a lisp". This idiom means to be unable to speak out or complain because one has accepted a favor or bribe, making them complicit or obligated to stay silent.
  • Hắn đã nhận tiền, giờ thì ăn xôi chùa ngọng miệng rồi. (He took the money, so now he's obligated to stay silent / has lost his voice to complain.)

1. Lisp.
2. (khẩu ngữ) Be stupid, be dull
   • Nó không ngọng đến thế đâu nhé
     He is not so stupid