kẻ cả

Vietnamese

Etymology

kẻ (“person”) +‎ cả (“firstborn; most senior among siblings or wives of the family”)

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [kɛ˧˩ kaː˧˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kɛ˧˨ kaː˧˨]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [kɛ˨˩˦ kaː˨˩˦]

Noun

kẻ cả

1. (dated) an elder; senior
2. (figurative) a big shot; VIP; boss
3. (derogatory, figurative) a condescending person; self-important person

Adjective

kẻ cả

1. (derogatory, by extension) condescending; self-important

   lên giọng kẻ cả ― to raise a condescending voice