General names
The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections are welcome.
The official Vietnamese name for the swallow is Nhạn. Another common word for swallow is Én, derived from the Chinese word 燕 'swallow'.
The Vietnamese word Nhạn is actually derived from Chinese 雁 , meaning 'wild goose'. This is also the original meaning of the word in Vietnamese, but it has since undergone a change in the spoken language and means 'swallow' in modern Vietnamese.
However, many Vietnamese 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 that preserve the older meaning. For instance, Bui Phong's 'Vietnamese-English Dictionary' gives 'swallow, hirundo' for Nhạn, but also quotes two expressions from 18th century Vietnamese literature (the 'Story of Kieu') in which the word Nhạn means 'goose'.
Species names
ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see) 
| HIRUNDININAE | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
VIETNAMESE |
EAST ASIAN |
S. E. ASIAN |
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Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malay |
Indonesian |
| Riparia | ||||||||
| Riparia paludicola | Plain martin Brown-throated sand martin African sand martin Hirondelle paludicole |
Nhạn nâu đỏ 'red brown swallow' |
褐喉沙燕 'brown throated sand swallow' Taiwan: 棕沙燕 'reddish-brown 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 naang-àen saai sĕe-náam-dtaan 'brown sand lady-swift' |
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Riparia riparia |
Collared sand martin Sand martin Bank swallow Hirondelle de rivage |
Nhạn nâu xám 'grey brown swallow' |
崖沙燕 'cliff sand swallow' Taiwan: 灰沙燕 'grey sand swallow' |
ショウドウツバメ (小洞燕) shōdō tsubame 'small hole swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นทรายสร้อยคอดำ nók naang-àen saai sôi-kor dam 'black-necklaced sand lady-swift' |
Martin Awan 'cloud martin' Layang-Layang Awan 'cloud swallow' |
Layanglayang Pasir 'sand swallow' |
|
| Hirundo | ||||||||
| Hirundo rustica |
Barn swallow House swallow Swallow Hirondelle rustique |
Nhạn bụng trắng 'white-bellied swallow' |
家燕 'house swallow' Taiwan: 家燕 'house swallow' |
ツバメ (燕) tsubame 'swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นบ้าน nók naang-àen bâan 'house lady-swift' |
Sualo Api 'fire swallow' Layang-Layang Hijrah 'hejira swallow' |
Layanglayang Asia 'Asian swallow' |
|
| Hirundo tahitica |
Pacific swallow Hirondelle de Tahiti |
Nhạn đuôi đen 'black-tailed swallow' |
洋燕 'ocean swallow' (2, 4, 5) 洋斑燕 'ocean striped swallow' (1, 3) Taiwan: 洋燕 'ocean swallow' |
リュウキュウツバメ (琉球燕) Ryūkyū tsubame 'Ryukyu swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นแปซิฟิค nók naang-àen bpae-sí-fík 'Pacific lady swallow' |
Sualo Batu 'stone swallow' Layang-Layang Pasifik 'Pacific swallow' |
Layanglayang Batu 'stone swallow' |
|
| Hirundo smithii |
Wire-tailed swallow Hirondelle à longs brins |
Nhạn đầu hung 'reddish-headed swallow' |
线尾燕 'wire-tailed swallow' |
ハリオツバメ (針尾燕) hari-o tsubame 'wire-tailed swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นหางลวด nók naang-àen hăang lûat 'wire-tailed lady-swift' |
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Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malay |
Indonesian |
| Ptyonoprogne | ||||||||
| Ptyonoprogne concolor Hirundo concolor |
Dusky crag martin Dusky crag-martin Dusky crag swallow Hirondelle concolore |
Nhạn nâu hung 'reddish brown swallow' |
纯色岩燕 '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 naang-àen păa sĕe-klám dark-coloured cliff lady-swift' |
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| Delichon | ||||||||
| Delichon urbicum Delichon urbica |
Northern house martin Northern house-martin Common house martin House martin Hirondelle de fenêtre |
Nhạn hông trắng Xibêri 'Siberian white-rumped swallow' |
毛脚燕 'hair-leg swallow' or 白腹毛脚燕 'white-breasted hair-leg swallow' (Alternative in 1) |
ニシイワツバメ (西岩燕) nishi iwa tsubame 'Western rock swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์ไซบีเรีย nók naang-àen maa dtì nor pan sai-bee-ria reading needs confirmation 'Siberian species maa-dti-nor lady swift' |
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| Delichon dasypus |
Asian house martin Asian house-martin Hirondelle de Bonaparte |
Nhạn hông trắng Á châu 'Asian white-rumped swallow' |
烟腹毛脚燕 'smoky bellied hair-leg swallow' Taiwan: 東方毛腳燕 'eastern hair-leg swallow' |
イワツバメ (岩燕) iwa tsubame 'rock swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์เอเซียใต้ nók naang-àen maa dtì nor pan ay-sia reading needs confirmation 'Asian species maa-dti-nor lady swift' |
Martin Asia 'Asian martin' Layang-Layang Belakang Putih 'white-backed swallow' |
Layanglayang Rumah 'house swallow' |
|
| Delichon nipalense Delichon nipalensis |
Nepal house martin Nepal house-martin Hirondelle du Népal |
Nhạn hông trắng Nêpan 'Nepalese white-rumped swallow' |
黑喉毛脚燕 'black-throated hair-leg swallow' |
ノドグロイワツバメ (喉黒岩燕) nodo-guro iwa tsubame 'black-throated rock swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์เนปาล nók naang-àen maa dtì nor pan nay-bpaan reading needs confirmation 'Nepalese maa-dti-nor lady swift' |
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| Cecropis | ||||||||
| Cecropis daurica Hirundo daurica |
Red-rumped swallow Golden-rumped swallow Hirondelle rousseline |
Nhạn bụng xám 'grey-bellied swallow' |
金腰燕 'golden-rumped swallow' Taiwan: 金腰燕 'golden-rumped swallow' |
コシアカツバメ (腰赤燕) koshi-aka tsubame 'red-rumped swallow' |
นกนางแอ่นตะโพกแดง nók naang-àen dtà-pôhk daeng 'red-rumped lady swift' |
Sualo Gua 'cave swallow' Layang-Layang Api 'fire swallow' |
Layanglayang Gua 'cave swallow' |
|
| Cecropis striolata Hirundo striolata |
Striated swallow Greater striated swallow Hirondelle striolée |
Nhạn bụng vằn 'striped bellied swallow' |
斑腰燕 'striped-rump swallow' Taiwan: 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 naang-àen laai 'patterned lady swift' |
- | Layanglayang Loreng 'camouflage swallow' |
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Floating Menu by Milonic |
Tool tips by Walter Zorn |
