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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
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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.
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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
Slurpable pho or meaty burritos.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
Cinnamon Cinnamon appears in both sweet and savory dishes, such as apple pies, cinnamon rolls, and Vietnamese pho.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pho
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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
Slurpable pho or meaty burritos.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
Cinnamon Cinnamon appears in both sweet and savory dishes, such as apple pies, cinnamon rolls, and Vietnamese pho.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pho
Cite this Entry
“Pho.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pho. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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