pho

noun

ˈfə 

ˈfō

: a soup made of beef or chicken broth and rice noodles

Did you know?

Pho, which first appeared in print in English in 1935, was borrowed from a Vietnamese word which was spelled phở. English speakers replaced the vowel with "o" but preserved the pronunciation as "fuh," rather than "foh." Another Vietnamese food word that was borrowed into English is nuoc mam, which refers to a type of fish sauce that is fermented in brine. In that case as well, the original Vietnamese word had accent marks that were lost on the journey into English. Nuoc mam was recorded in English just a few years before pho arrived.

Examples of pho in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Snow crab legs, green mussels and big shrimp boil are options for the Cajun side, while pho options include pho dac biet (a combination of beef cuts), pho tai san (seafood mix) and pho ga (tender chicken). — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

Gollan appears with our pho sandwiches, wrapped in spinach tortillas. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026

Kitchens with Vietnamese roots began dishing up teriyaki alongside steaming bowlfuls of pho. — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

As Sacramento’s crisp autumn nights approach, a new Vietnamese spot has opened downtown, serving warm and comforting pho. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Vietnamese phở

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

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