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Definition of pho
pho
/fʌ/
pho
Plural:pho
pho Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
5
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
pho Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A traditional Vietnamese soup consisting of a rich, aromatic broth, flat rice noodles, fresh herbs, and thinly sliced meat, typically beef or chicken.
Example
"We went to the local Vietnamese restaurant to warm up with steaming bowls of beef pho."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for phoWord Nuance & Usage
In English-speaking countries, the word is frequently mispronounced to rhyme with 'foe', although the native Vietnamese pronunciation is much closer to 'fuh' with a rising tone.
• Rhymes for pho
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the mid-20th century from Vietnamese 'phở'. Its ultimate origin is debated; some linguists theorize it derives from the French beef stew 'pot-au-feu', while others trace it to a Cantonese term for flat rice noodles.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pho. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pho