Ma Series Practice
Practice all 6 tones on the classic syllable ma (ma má mà mả mã mạ) with audio references and instant recording feedback.
AEO Summary
The 6 Vietnamese Tones at a Glance
Standard Vietnamese uses 6 distinct tones (thanh điệu). Five are marked with diacritics, and one has no mark (ngang).
| Diacritic | Tone Name | Pitch Shape (IPA) | Acoustic Description | Sample Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (none) | Ngang (Level) | 33 (Mid) | Flat, sustained mid-level pitch | ba (three / father) |
| ´ (acute) | Sắc (Rising) | 35 (Mid-High) | Sharp, energetic rise to upper register | bá (governor / uncle) |
| ` (grave) | Huyền (Falling) | 21 (Low-Falling) | Smooth, relaxed downward glide | bà (grandmother) |
| ˀ (hook) | Hỏi (Dipping) | 313 (Dip-Rise) | Dips deep into throat, slight recovery | bả (poison bait) |
| ~ (tilde) | Ngã (Broken) | 35ˀ (Glottal) | High rise with mid-syllable glottal catch | bã (residue / pulp) |
| . (dot below) | Nặng (Drop) | 21ˀ (Drop-Stop) | Abrupt plunge cut short by tight glottal stop | bạ (at random / careless) |
Interactive Practice Loop
Test Your Pitch Contour Live
Select any tone, listen to the reference curve, record in a quiet room, and receive one bounded cue per retry.
Target Tone Contour
má
Reference: Standard Northern acoustic curve
Visual Pitch Line
Listen to the curve, then record your attempt.
Recording check before tone feedback
Speak clearly in a reasonably quiet space. We check signal quality locally in your browser. Audio is never stored.
Your single correction cue
Start in your mid-range and sweep sharply upward through the vowel.
Focus on this one physical adjustment and tap retry.
Dedicated Practice Suites
Focus on the Hardest Tonal Contrasts
Master minimal pairs and specific tone pairs with our dedicated practice tools.
Hỏi vs Ngã Contrast
Understand the physical difference between the dipping hỏi tone and the glottal break on ngã. Minimal pairs for English speakers.
Our Methodology
Read how Đúng Chưa? avoids fake scores by requiring recording checks and providing one bounded cue at a time.
Mobile App Access
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