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Definition of pho

pho

/fʌ/
pho

Plural:pho
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pho Lexical Profile

pho Game Scores & Validity

• 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."

Word 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

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

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pho. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pho
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