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

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

The location was recently awarded best pho by Kansas City Magazine. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026

Consider it a hometown tour led by a queen who’s captivated the world but still knows exactly where to find the best pho, the coolest art, and the perfect perch to watch someone else tear up the dance floor. —Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026

The menu includes pho with 24-hour beef broth, vermicelli bowls and small plates like Saigon crunch rolls and shrimp-avocado spring rolls. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Vietnamese phở

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!