Learn Hardcore Vietnamese: Bạn có muốn uống thêm cà phê không?

The word có here is an auxiliary used in yes/no questions, usually paired with the question tag không at the end. It’s similar to adding do in English (Do you want…?). Using có can soften the question or make it feel more polite, but it’s optional. Without có, Bạn muốn uống thêm cà phê không? is equally correct.

Can you explain the role of thêm in this sentence? Could we use nữa instead?

Thêm means more or additional and comes before the noun it modifies: uống thêm cà phê = “drink more coffee.” You can also use nữa, but it goes after the noun or verb: uống cà phê nữa. Both mean “more coffee,” but thêm emphasizes the act of adding, while nữa often implies continuation or repetition.

Why is không placed at the end of the sentence?

In Vietnamese, yes/no questions are typically formed by adding a question tag such as không at the end, much like adding “right?” or changing intonation in English. It signals to the listener that you expect a yes/no answer:
• Bạn ăn rồi không? = “Have you eaten yet?”
• Bạn có muốn… không? = “Do you want…?”

How would you answer this question in Vietnamese if you do or don’t want more coffee?

To say yes (you do want more):
• Vâng, tôi muốn. (formal)
• Có, cho tôi thêm cà phê.
• Mình muốn. (informal)
To say no (you don’t want more):
• Không, cảm ơn.
• Không, mình không muốn.

Can you omit có and say Bạn muốn uống thêm cà phê không? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can omit có. Bạn muốn uống thêm cà phê không? is perfectly natural and means the same thing. Leaving out có makes the question a bit more direct; including có often sounds slightly softer or more casual.

Why does the sentence start with Bạn? How do you choose the right pronoun?

Bạn is a neutral way to say “you” among peers or strangers of similar age. In more respectful contexts, replace Bạn with:
• Anh (to an older brother–aged male)
• Chị (to an older sister–aged female)
• Cô, Ông, Bác, etc., for teachers or elders.
Omitting the pronoun is also possible if the context is clear: Có muốn uống thêm cà phê không?

Are there alternative ways to offer someone more coffee in Vietnamese?

Yes, you can vary the phrasing or use softening particles:
• Bạn có muốn thêm một tách cà phê không? (“one more cup”)
• Uống thêm cà phê nhé? (using nhé to soften the invite)
• Mình uống thêm cà phê đi. (suggestive tone, like “let’s have more coffee”)
Each has a slightly different nuance but conveys the same basic invitation.