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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
Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
These ten titles are bursting with tasty food, from rugelach to pho, as well as amusing and captivating storytelling on everything from the history of refrigeration to Julia Child’s kitchen, transporting readers from Cambodia to Bethlehem to McDonald’s franchise locations around the globe.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Nov. 2024
The Vietnamese scene along Stockton Boulevard is vibrant and authentic, with numerous eateries dishing out beloved favorites like pho and banh mi.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Found a half-block from Cesar Chavez Plaza, it’s become a state worker favorite for affordable yet tasty banh mi and pho.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 19 July 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near pho
Cite this Entry
“Pho.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pho. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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