noun
Common
dong
dong
Dong (noun) means the basic unit of currency in Vietnam. Example: “She exchanged her dollars for Vietnamese dong at the airport.”
noun
1
The basic unit of currency in Vietnam.
"She exchanged her dollars for Vietnamese dong at the airport."
"The shop owner handed me my change in Vietnamese dong."
"Tourists often carry plenty of dong notes after changing money."
2
A low, deep, ringing sound like that of a large bell.
"The clock tower let out a single dong at noon."
"We heard a deep dong from the church bell across the valley."
"Dong, dong, went the bell as the wedding guests arrived."
3
Vulgar slang for the penis.
"The joke was crude enough that it got a laugh anyway."
verb
1
To make a low, deep, ringing sound.
"The old bell donged twice before falling silent."
"The cathedral bell donged slowly across the quiet town."
"The bell will dong once every hour through the night."
How to use dong
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither Vietnam's currency or the deep "bong" sound of a large bell — context makes it obvious which.
When to use it
The slang sense for male genitalia is crude and best avoided in formal or professional writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- dongs
- Third person singular
- dongs
- Past tense
- donged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She exchanged her dollars for Vietnamese _____ at the airport.
Etymology
The currency sense comes from Vietnamese đồng, ultimately from a Chinese word for "copper"; the sound sense is imitative, echoing the noise itself.
Related words
Rhymes for dong
See all rhymes for dong →Frequently asked questions
What does “dong” mean?
The word “dong” means the basic unit of currency in Vietnam. In plain terms, either Vietnam's currency or the deep "bong" sound of a large bell — context makes it obvious which.
How do you pronounce “dong”?
“Dong” is pronounced dong (/dɔŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dong” in a sentence?
Here is “dong” used in a sentence: “She exchanged her dollars for Vietnamese dong at the airport.”
What part of speech is “dong”?
Depending on how it is used, “dong” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dong” come from?
The word “dong” comes from Chinese. The currency sense comes from Vietnamese đồng, ultimately from a Chinese word for "copper"; the sound sense is imitative, echoing the noise itself.
Is “dong” a common word?
“Dong” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dong” have?
“Dong” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the basic unit of currency in Vietnam.
Is "dong" the correct name for Vietnam's official currency?
Yes, the dong is the basic unit of currency in Vietnam. It is the term used for the country's official monetary unit.
What is the difference between "dong" as a currency and "dong" as a sound?
As a currency term, "dong" refers to Vietnam's basic monetary unit. As a sound term, "dong" describes a low, deep, ringing noise like that of a large bell, and it can also be used as a verb meaning to make that sound.
Can "dong" be used as a verb?
Yes, in its sound-related sense, "dong" can function as a verb meaning to make a low, deep, ringing sound, similar to a large bell tolling.
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