Hirundinidae
Họ Nhạn

General

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections are welcome.

Note on Vietnamese naming: With the exception of ducks and chickens, it is common for Vietnamese bird names to be preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird', although it is normally omitted in Vietnamese bird lists. All bird names, whether they include chim or not, can be preceded by the classifier con, which is used for living creatures.

The Vietnamese name for the swallow is Chim nhạn or Chim én.

Chim nhạn, which is used in the official names, is actually derived from Chinese 雁 (modern Mandarin pronunciation yàn), 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. 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 preserving 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 (specifically from the 'Story of Kieu') in which the word Nhạn means 'goose'.

Chim én originates from the Chinese word 燕 'swallow' (modern Mandarin pronunciation yàn). In addition to Chim én, 燕 has also been borrowed into Vietnamese in the form Yến, now used for the swifts.

Species names

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HIRUNDININAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Riparia
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese (incl. Taiwan)	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)'		褐喉沙燕 (褐喉沙燕) hè-hóu shā-yàn 'brown throated sand-swallow' Taiwan: (棕沙燕) 棕沙燕 zōng shā-yàn '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)'
Riparia riparia	Collared sand martin Sand martin Bank swallow Hirondelle de rivage	Chim Nhạn nâu xám 'grey brown swallow (bird)'		崖沙燕 (崖沙燕) yá shā-yàn 'cliff sand-swallow' Taiwan: (灰沙燕) 灰沙燕 huī shā-yàn '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)'
Hirundo
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese (incl. Taiwan)	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Hirundo rustica	Barn swallow House swallow Swallow Hirondelle rustique	Chim Nhạn bụng trắng 'white-bellied swallow (bird)'		家燕 (家燕) jiā-yàn 'house swallow' Taiwan: (家燕) 家燕 jiā-yàn '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)' Name
Hirundo tahitica	Pacific swallow Hirondelle de Tahiti	Chim Nhạn đuôi đen 'black-tailed swallow (bird)'		洋燕 (洋燕) yáng yàn 'ocean swallow' (2, 4, 5) 洋斑燕 (洋斑燕) yáng bān yàn 'ocean striped swallow' (1, 3) Taiwan: (洋燕) 洋燕 yáng yàn '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)' Name
Hirundo smithii	Wire-tailed swallow Hirondelle à longs brins	Chim Nhạn đầu hung 'reddish-headed swallow (bird)'		线尾燕 (線尾燕) xiàn-wěi yàn '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)'
Ptyonoprogne
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese (incl. Taiwan)	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Ptyonoprogne concolor Hirundo concolor	Dusky crag martin Dusky crag-martin Dusky crag swallow Hirondelle concolore	Chim Nhạn nâu hung 'reddish brown swallow (bird)'		纯色岩燕 (純色岩燕) chún-sè yán-yàn '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)
Delichon
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese (incl. Taiwan)	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)'		毛脚燕 (毛腳燕) máo-jiǎo-yàn 'hair-leg swallow' or 白腹毛脚燕 (白腹毛腳燕) bái-fù máo-jiǎo-yàn 'white-breasted hair-legged swallow' (Alternative 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')
Delichon dasypus	Asian house martin Asian house-martin Hirondelle de Bonaparte	Chim Nhạn hông trắng Á châu 'Asian white-rumped swallow (bird)'		烟腹毛脚燕 (煙腹毛腳燕) yān-fù máo-jiǎo-yàn 'smoky-bellied hair-legged swallow' Taiwan: (东方毛脚燕) 東方毛腳燕 dōngfāng máo-jiǎo-yàn '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)' Name
Delichon nipalense Delichon nipalensis	Nepal house martin Nepal house-martin Hirondelle du Népal	Chim Nhạn hông trắng Nêpan 'Nepalese white-rumped swallow (bird)'		黑喉毛脚燕 (黑喉毛腳燕) hēi-hóu máo-jiǎo-yàn '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')
Cecropis
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese (incl. Taiwan)	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Cecropis daurica Hirundo daurica	Red-rumped swallow Golden-rumped swallow Hirondelle rousseline	Chim Nhạn bụng xám 'grey-bellied swallow (bird)'		金腰燕 (金腰燕) jīn-yāo yàn 'gold-rumped swallow' Taiwan: (金腰燕) 金腰燕 jīn-yāo yàn '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) Name 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)' Name
Cecropis striolata Hirundo striolata	Striated swallow Greater striated swallow Hirondelle striolée	Chim Nhạn bụng vằn 'stripe-bellied swallow (bird)'		斑腰燕 (斑腰燕) bān-yāo yàn 'stripe-rumped swallow' Taiwan: (赤腰燕) 赤腰燕 chì-yāo yàn '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) Name	Burung Layang-layang Loreng 'barred swallow (bird)'

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