General
The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome. Malaysian names are now being updated. For consistency, Vietnamese bird names (except for ducks and chickens) are preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird'. Ornithological lists mostly omit this as understood. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.
The Vietnamese name for the swallow is nhạn (con nhạn) or én.
Nhạn, which is used in the ornithological names, is actually derived from Chinese 雁 (modern Mandarin pronunciation ), meaning 'wild goose'. Indeed, Nhạn originally meant 'wild goose' in Vietnamese, but for some reason has since undergone a change to mean 'swallow' in the modern language. Most dictionaries (including the online dictionary at KSVN) still give the meaning as 'wild goose'.
Even dictionaries that give 'swallow' as the primary meaning list literary expressions preserving the older meaning. For instance, Bui Phong's 'Vietnamese-English Dictionary' gives 'swallow, hirundo' for Nhạn, but also quotes an expression from 18th century Vietnamese literature (specifically from the 'Story of Kieu') in which the word Nhạn means 'goose': đầu cành quyên nhặt cuối trời nhạn thưa 'on trees cuckoos galore, at heaven's edge some geese'.
Én originates from Chinese 燕 'swallow' (modern Mandarin pronunciation ). Dictionaries give both Én and Nhạn as the Vietnamese equivalent of 'swallow'.
In addition to Én, 燕 has also been borrowed into Vietnamese in the form Yến, which is now used for the swifts.
Võ Quý and Nguyễn Cử (12) treat Cecropis striolata as occurring in Vietnam. TVC (34) treats this as Cecropis badia.
Cultural
The following expression ties the behaviour of swallows to the weather:
Nhạn bay cao mưa rào lại tạnh, nhạn bay thấp mưa ngập bờ ao.
When swallows fly high the rain stops, when swallows fly low rain floods the ponds.
The same expression may be found using én:
Én bay thấp mưa ngập bờ ao, én bay cao mưa rào lại tạnh.
When swallows fly low rain floods the ponds, when swallows fly high the rain stops.
Species names
ABOUT THIS TABLE| HIRUNDININAE | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
VIETNAMESE |
EAST ASIAN |
S. E. ASIAN |
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| Delichon | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Delichon urbicum Delichon urbica  |
Northern house martin Northern house-martin Common house martin House martin Hirondelle de fenêtre |
Chim Nhạn hông trắng Xibêri 'Siberian white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
毛脚燕 (毛腳燕) 'hair-leg swallow' or 白腹毛脚燕 (白腹毛腳燕) 'white-breasted hair-legged swallow' (alt in 1) |
ニシイワツバメ (西岩燕) nishi iwa-tsubame 'Western rock-swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์ไซบีเรีย nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan say-bii-ria 'Siberian species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') |
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| Delichon dasypus |
Asian house martin Asian house-martin Hirondelle de Bonaparte |
Chim Nhạn hông trắng Á châu 'Asian white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 13) |
Chim Nhạn hông trắng châu Á 'Asian white-rumped swallow (bird)' (34) |
烟腹毛脚燕 (煙腹毛腳燕) 'smoky-bellied hair-legged swallow' Taiwan: (东方毛脚燕) 東方毛腳燕 'eastern hair-legged swallow' |
イワツバメ (岩燕) iwa-tsubame 'rock-swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์เอเซียใต้ nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan ee-sia-tây 'South Asian species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') |
Burung Layang-Layang Belakang Putih 'white-backed swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-Layang Bukit 'hill swallow (bird)' (27) Burung Martin Asia 'Asian martin (bird)' (martin from English) (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Rumah 'house swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Apus nipalensis） |
| Delichon nipalense Delichon nipalensis |
Nepal house martin Nepal house-martin Hirondelle du Népal |
Chim Nhạn hông trắng Nêpan 'Nepalese white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
黑喉毛脚燕 (黑喉毛腳燕) 'black-throated hair-legged swallow' |
ノドグロイワツバメ (喉黒岩燕) nodo-guro iwa-tsubame 'black-throated rock-swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์เนปาล nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan nee-paan 'Nepalese species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') |
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| Cecropis | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Cecropis daurica Hirundo daurica |
Red-rumped swallow Golden-rumped swallow Hirondelle rousseline |
Hirundo daurica: Chim Nhạn bụng xám 'grey-bellied swallow (bird)' (12, 13) |
Chim Nhạn đít đỏ 'red-vented swallow (bird)' (34) |
金腰燕 (金腰燕) 'gold-rumped swallow' Taiwan: (金腰燕) 金腰燕 'gold-rumped swallow' |
コシアカツバメ (腰赤燕) koshi-aka tsubame 'red-rumped swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นตะโพกแดง nók naaŋ-àeen tà-pʰôok-daeeŋ 'red-rumped swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Api 'fire swallow (bird)' (26) (Conflicts with Indonesian name for Hirundo rustica) Burung Layang-Layang Ekor Hitam 'black-tailed swallow (bird)' (27) Burung Sualo Gua 'cave swallow (bird)' (sualo from English 'swallow') (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Gua 'cave swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Aerodramus fuciphagus) |
| Cecropis striolata Hirundo striolata |
Striated swallow Greater striated swallow Hirondelle striolée |
Hirundo striolata: Chim Nhạn bụng vằn 'stripe-bellied swallow (bird)' (12) |
斑腰燕 (斑腰燕) 'stripe-rumped swallow' Taiwan: (赤腰燕) 赤腰燕 'red-rumped swallow' |
オオコシアカツバメ (大腰赤燕) ō koshi-aka tsubame 'large red-rumped swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นลาย nók naaŋ-àeen laay 'striped swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Batu 'rock-swallow (bird)' (27) (Conflicts with Indonesian name for Hirundo tahitica) |
Burung Layang-layang Loreng 'barred swallow (bird)' |
|
| Cecropis badia | Rufous-bellied swallow | Chim Nhạn bụng hung 'reddish-bellied swallow (bird)' (34) |
นกนางแอ่นท้องแดง nók naaŋ-àeen tʰóaaŋ-daeeŋ 'red-bellied swallow (bird)' |
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| Hirundo | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Hirundo tahitica |
Pacific swallow Hirondelle de Tahiti |
Chim Nhạn đuôi đen 'black-tailed swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
洋燕 (洋燕) 'ocean swallow' (2, 4, 5) 洋斑燕 (洋斑燕) 'ocean striped swallow' (alt in 1, 3) Taiwan: (洋燕) 洋燕 'ocean swallow' |
リュウキュウツバメ (琉球燕) ryūkyū tsubame 'Ryukyu swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นแปซิฟิค nók naaŋ-àeen paee-sí-fík 'Pacific swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Pasifik 'Pacific swallow (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Sualo Batu 'rock-swallow (bird)' (sualo from English 'swallow') (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Batu 'rock-swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Cecropis striolata) |
|
| Hirundo smithii |
Wire-tailed swallow Hirondelle à longs brins |
Chim Nhạn đầu hung 'reddish-headed swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
线尾燕 (線尾燕) 'wire-tailed swallow' |
ハリオツバメ (針尾燕) hari-o tsubame 'wire-tailed swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นหางลวด nók naaŋ-àeen hăaŋ-lûat 'wire-tailed swallow (bird)' |
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| Hirundo rustica |
Barn swallow House swallow Swallow Hirondelle rustique |
Chim Nhạn bụng trắng 'white-bellied swallow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
家燕 (家燕) 'house swallow' Taiwan: (家燕) 家燕 'house swallow' |
ツバメ (燕) tsubame 'swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นบ้าน nók naaŋ-àeen bâan 'house swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Hijrah 'emigrating swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-Layang Pekan 'market swallow (bird)' (27) Burung Sualo Api 'fire swallow (bird)' (sualo from English 'swallow') (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Api 'fire swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Cecropis daurica) |
|
| Ptyonoprogne | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Ptyonoprogne concolor Hirundo concolor |
Dusky crag martin Dusky crag-martin Dusky crag swallow Hirondelle concolore |
Hirundo concolor: Chim Nhạn nâu hung 'reddish brown swallow (bird)' (12) |
Chim Nhạn đá thuần sắc 'pure-coloured rock swallow (bird)' (34) |
纯色岩燕 (純色岩燕) 'pure-coloured rock-swallow' |
インドチャイロツバメ (インド茶色燕) indo cha-iro tsubame 'Indian brown swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นผาสีคล้ำ nók naaŋ-àeen pʰăa sĭi-kʰlám 'dark cliff-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Kelabu 'grey swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-layang Tubir 'ravine swallow (bird)' (27) |
|
| Riparia | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Riparia paludicola | Plain martin Brown-throated sand martin African sand martin Hirondelle paludicole |
Chim Nhạn nâu đỏ 'red-brown swallow (bird)' (12) |
Chim Nhạn nâu nhỏ 'small brown swallow (bird)' (34) |
褐喉沙燕 (褐喉沙燕) 'brown throated sand-swallow' Taiwan: (棕沙燕) 棕沙燕 'reddishbrown sand-swallow' |
タイワンショウドウツバメ (台湾小洞燕) taiwan shōdō tsubame 'Taiwan small hole swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นทรายสีน้ำตาล nók naaŋ-àeen saay sĭi-nám-taan 'brown sand-swallow (bird)' |
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| Riparia riparia |
Sand martin or Bank swallow Collared sand martin Hirondelle de rivage |
Chim Nhạn nâu xám 'grey brown swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
Chim Nhạn cát 'sand swallow (bird)' (34) |
崖沙燕 (崖沙燕) 'cliff sand-swallow' Taiwan: (灰沙燕) 灰沙燕 'grey sand-swallow' |
ショウドウツバメ (小洞燕) shōdō tsubame 'small hole swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นทรายสร้อยคอดำ nók naaŋ-àeen saay sôaay-kʰoaa-dam 'black-necklaced sand-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Awan 'cloud swallow (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Martin Awan 'cloud martin (bird)' (martin from English) (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Pasir 'sand-swallow (bird)' |
中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000
中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005
中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000
世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002
世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002
Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981
(List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981)
A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam, Allen and Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1999
The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 - Passerines by Wells, David R., Christopher Helm, A&C Black, London 2007
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009
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