dong

¹ American  

[dawng, dong] / dɔŋ, dɒŋ /

noun

1. a deep sound like that of a large bell.

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dong ² American  

[dawng, dong] / dɔŋ, dɒŋ /

noun

plural

dong

1. the basic monetary unit of Vietnam: replaced the southern piaster and the northern dong in 1978.

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dong ³ American  

[dawng, dong] / dɔŋ, dɒŋ /

noun

Slang: Vulgar.

1. penis.

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dong ¹ British  

/ dɒŋ /

noun

1. the deep reverberating sound of a large bell

2. informal a heavy blow

3. a slang word for penis

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verb

1. (intr) (of a bell) to make a deep reverberating sound

2. informal (tr) to strike or punch

dông ² British  

/ dɒŋ /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Vietnam, divided into 10 hào or 100 xu

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Etymology

Origin of dong¹

First recorded in 1880–90; imitative; see ding-dong

Origin of dong²

First recorded in 1820–25; from Vietnamese đồng “copper”

Origin of dong³

First recorded in 1890–95; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

"I have suddenly become very rich. I am a billionaire now," said the retired shop owner, counting in Vietnamese dong.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

When I raise the subject of her 2018 wedding, there is a ding dong.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2023

“I’ve always had fun dong this. I can’t believe I get to do music as a career. That’s crazy,” Swift told her audience on Monday.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2023

She was also made to pay a cash fine of 100 million dong, her lawyer said, adding that she has 15 days to make a decision to appeal the verdict.

From Reuters • Sep. 28, 2023

Now it takes two hundred dong to buy the same things.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai