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

On Yelp, customers love the pork vermicelli bowl, beef pho and tofu spring rolls. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026

Popular dishes include pho, vermicelli bowls and fresh spring rolls. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026

In July, owners chef Tam Pham and sommelier Harrison Ramhofer will debut their second concept, Pho Nam, in Downtown Miami with a focus on more traditional Vietnamese cooking, with a spotlight on pho. — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026

Try Bonjour Vietnam for a big bowl of aromatic pho, or refreshing summer rolls. — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Vietnamese phở

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

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